also Terror at the Opera

The leading lady of a production of Verdi's MacBeth is hit by a car. Her understudy (Cristina Marsillach) takes her place, and develops a rabid fan. After a great first night, she is tied up and has pins taped under her eyes and forced to watch the stalker kill her boyfriend. Marsillach and the dressmaker find a clue, but the killer gets it back pretty gruesomely. Earlier in Opera the killer had killed three of the ravens that were used in the play, and the ravens do play an important part in finding out the identity of the murderer in the opera house climax. This film has some good murder sequences that really have to be seen to be believed. It also blends classical music and heavy metal music effectively. Also look out for a reference to Phenomenon towards the end of the film.

Director: Dario Argento. Producer: Dario Argento. Screenplay: Dario Argento and Franco Ferrini, based on an original idea by Dario Argento. Director of Photography: Ronnie Taylor. Music: Brian Eno, Roger Eno, Claudio Simonetti, Bill Wyman and Terry Taylor. Production Designer: Davide Bassan. Editor: Franco Fraticelli. Special Effects: Renato Agostini, Sergio Stivaletti and Barbra Morosetti. Special Make-Up Effects: Antonio and Giovanni Corrodori and Germano Natale.

Cast: Cristina Marsillach (Betty), Ian Charleson (Marco), Urbano Barberini (Inspector Alan Satini), Antonella Vitale (Marion), Barbra Cupisti (Albertini), Coralina Cataldi Tassoni (Julia), Daria Nicolodi (Miro), Francesca Cassola (Alma), William McNamaro (Urbano).