Opera (1987)

"It's Not Over Until the...What Have You Got That Big Shiny Knife For? "

Dario Argento's final great giallo (arguably but we'll leave that for another time) gets a new UK release from Cult Films in a 2K transfer on dual format DVD & Blu-ray, and Video on Demand. 

When the lead in a new version of Verdi's opera Macbeth breaks her leg after a temper tantrum, understudy Betty (Cristina Marsillach) finds herself the centre of attention, both as Lady Macbeth and as the obsession of a crazed killer who wants to tie Betty up and stick needles under her eyelids, forcing her to watch as they murder people stylishly before her very wide open eyes. 

Oh yes we're very much in Argento land with OPERA, from the impressive opening shot of the orchestra reflected in a raven's eye to the use of those very birds to unmask the killer to the utterly daft finale that doesn't stand up to any kind of logical analysis, so don't even try.

Instead, revel in Argento's gliding camera, play spot the 1980s Italian horror star (Barbara STAGEFRIGHT Cupisti, Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni from DEMONS 2 and others), delight in the considerable variety of musical styles on offer on the soundtrack, surely the most eclectic to any Argento movie, and once you've done all that, mourn that this is a kind of film and style of film-making we're unlikely to see much of (if any) in the future. 

Cult Films' Blu-ray transfer of OPERA is presented in the correct 2.35:1 aspect ratio and the transfer is a vast improvement over the old Anchor Bay DVD. You get the option of either English or Italian dialogue tracks (both 2.0 stereo) and there are removable English subtitles. 

Extras start off with over 44 minutes of behind the scenes footage (with English subtitles). Aria of Fear is a new 40 minute interview with Argento in which he goes into detail about the making of the film. Finally, there's just over eight minutes of  comparing the 35mm 'open gate' version with the restored colour corrected 2.35:1 print.

Dario Argento's OPERA is getting a dual format release 

and a VOD release from Cult Films on 

Monday 21st January 2019