OPERA (1987) – Episode 275 – Decades of Horror 1980

“I think it’s unwise to use movies as a guide for reality. Don’t you, Inspector?”  Now they tell you! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take in Dario Argento’s Opera (1987).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 275 – Opera (1987)

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

• Directed by: Dario Argento
• Writing Credits: Dario Argento & Franco Ferrini
• Special Effects by: Renato Agostini (special effects designer)
• Selected Cast:
  • Cristina Marsillach as Betty
  • Ian Charleson as Marco
  • Urbano Barberini as Inspector Alan Santini
  • Daria Nicolodi as Mira
  • Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni as Giulia (as Coralina Cataldi Tassoni)
  • Antonella Vitale as Marion
  • William McNamara as Stefano
  • Barbara Cupisti as Signora Albertini
  • Antonino Iuorio as Baddini (as Antonio Juorio)
  • Carola Stagnaro as Alma’s Mother
  • Francesca Cassola as Alma
  • Maurizio Garrone as Maurizio – Raven Trainer
  • Cristina Giachino as Maria – Assistant Director
  • György Gyõriványi as Miro (as Gyorivany Gyorgy)
  • Bjorn Hammer as Cop #1
  • Peter Pitsch as Mara Czekova’s Assistant
  • Sebastiano Somma as Cop #2

Dario Argento’s Opera (1987) is set during a production of Macbeth, a Giuseppe Verdi opera, and is filmed mainly in Teatro Regio di Parma, an opera house in Parma, Italy. The film features lavish costuming and many of the standard giallo tropes – a killer in black gloves, inept police, creative cinematography, and innovative kills – along with an unkindness of ravens. Or is it a conspiracy of ravens? There’s not much new in Opera story-wise, but the Grue Crew still had fun with the visuals and the ravens plopped down right in the middle of an operatic production of Shakespeare’s legendary, cursed play.

At the time of this writing, Opera (1987) is available to stream from Shudder and Night Flight with subscriptions and PPV from Apple TV. It is also available on physical media from Severin as a 2-Disc Blu-ray, a 3-Disc 4K UHD, and a Limited Edition 5-Disc 4K UHD + Booklet w/Slipcase.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Crystal, will be Dead and Buried (1981), a film covered over 8 years ago by a different 80s crew. Eerie deaths in a sleepy coastal town with effects by Stan Winston? The Crew is in… again!

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected].