Opera
Opera

Movie spotlight

Opera

1987
Movie
107 min
Italian

A young opera singer is stalked by a deranged fan bent on killing the people associated with her to claim her for himself.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Google Users65%
Director: Dario ArgentoGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A young opera singer, Betty, gets her big break in Verdi's 'Macbeth' but finds herself embroiled in a series of brutal murders that mirror the opera's violent themes. As the body count rises, Betty becomes increasingly disturbed and paranoid, suspecting everyone around her might be the killer. The investigation uncovers a twisted plot connected to the opera house and its dark secrets.

Critical Reception

Dario Argento's 'Opera' is a visually stunning but narratively flawed entry in the giallo genre. While praised for its macabre set pieces, atmospheric tension, and striking cinematography, it has been criticized for its convoluted plot, uneven pacing, and somewhat underdeveloped characters. It remains a cult favorite among horror aficionados for its signature Argento style and gruesome inventiveness.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually striking with memorable, gruesome set pieces.

  • A typical Argento film, strong on atmosphere and style, weaker on plot coherence.

  • Contains some of the director's most infamous and shocking death scenes.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's effective scares and Argento's distinctive visual flair, but many also note that the plot can be difficult to follow and that some character motivations are unclear.

Fun Fact

The film's iconic scene involving a raven flying into a woman's eye was achieved using a prosthetic eye and a trained bird, which reportedly took many takes to get right.

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