Opera
dir. Dario Argento · 1987
Feature
Psychological Horror
Mood
Tense / Dark
Look
vivid, stylized cinematography with striking color contrasts and elaborate set designs
Structure
linear progression with dreamlike interludes
Plot
Young opera singer Betty gets her big chance when the previous star of a production of Verdi's 'Macbeth' is run over by a car. Convinced that the opera is bad luck, she accepts--and becomes the target (in Argento's unmistakable style) of a psychopath--a man who has inhabited her nightmares since her childhood.
Why watch
"Opera" is a masterclass in psychological horror, where the stage becomes a haunting battleground for ambition and fear. Dario Argento's vivid visual style and relentless suspense create an operatic dread that lingers long after the final curtain falls.
Cultural context
1980s Italian horror revivalthe intersection of art and madnessthe cult of celebrity in performance arts