Dark Glasses is the Master of Horror’s 2022 Giallo Bloodbath

Call me what you will, but I watched Dark Glasses (aka Black Glasses or Occhiali Neri) not knowing it was Dario Argento’s first film in a decade. My dedication to watching movies with as little information as possible helps me to not have preconceived ideas. Sometimes, not knowing who directed is a fun way to see a film for the first time too. Unsurprisingly when looking at my notes after watching Dark Glasses, I described the film as cheesy. Like a daytime TV Soap opera with stilted performances that went over the top at just the right moments. The nonsensical plot pivots alongside character decisions that could make the most well-versed slasher enthusiast laugh.

The thing about Dark Glasses though is, I liked it. And that’s saying something considering I have an aversion to films with heavy synth. Judging by early reviews of the film, this is a Dario Argento movie that takes fans back to his early works. Fortunately for me, that insight gives me a place to start watching his movies.

The story follows a sex worker lovingly named Diana. Diana doesn’t engage in “gross” activities and spares the polite talk to Johns, who fail in their ability to smell nice or insist on her taking off her sunglasses to have sex.

In the first act, a local sex worker is grabbed after completing her task only to be given a fatal laceration to the throat. Subsequently, what I loved in some of the early scenes were the bare and almost still shots of gore. Additionally, there were odd choices with camera work too. In a conversation with one of Diana’s regulars, she comments that her glasses won’t affect her ability to satisfy his pendulum and the camera follows her mouth into darkness.

Where to Watch Dark Glasses 2022

Dark Glasses was released to the streaming platform Shudder on October 13, 2022. The title was screened at 2022’s Fantasia Film Festival on July 30th. Written by Dario Argento and Franco Ferrini. Directed by Dario Argento.

The Dark Glasses storyline reads like some kind of Sharknado script for serial killer Argento fans. The difference here is, that I liked this way more than Sharknado. When hunted by a mysterious maniac, Diana manages to escape only to end up in a car crash and lose her vision. Now blind, Diana is given a seeing-eye dog that is suspiciously trained to attack, on command. She visits a boy called Chin at a local orphanage when she discovers the only remaining survivors of the crash are his mother, who is in a coma, and a small Chinese boy.

Dario Argento Movies With Serial Killers

The Dark Glasses movie doesn’t keep an air of mystery surrounding who the killer is. However, the great thing about this script is that you’re too busy being distracted by Diana and Chin being attacked by snakes in swampland to think about figuring out who it is. By the time the serial killer, nicknamed The Cellist, is revealed you’re just kind of waiting to see what Dario will throw at you next. And by golly, he and co-writer Franco Ferrini don’t disappoint. Spinning a magical finale into something akin to what would happen if a breeder mated “Old Yeller” and “Cujo” together.

Whatever the case, whether you’re an Argento fan or looking to become one, Dark Glasses is a must-see.

The Dark Glasses movie is rated

4 Rita can train my dog anytime out of 5

Sunglasses Like Pit Vipers

This Giallo bloodbath by director Dario Argento was provided as a screener for review purposes from distributors.