A classic Italian giallo genre film from widely acclaimed master of the craft Dario Argento. Now in his eighties, the filmmaker hadn't released a film in 10 years, and had lost a lot of the magic he enthralled the audiences with back in the 1970s and the 1980s, being always rightfully regarded as one of the masters of horror. With the help of two other screenwriters: Franco Ferrini and Carlo Lucarelli, Dark Glasses, the new 2022 Argento's comeback, suggests there still are ways the well known director can be inspirational and deliver slasher horror, which stands out with its themes, cinematography and various plot aspects when compared to what is nowadays available of the genre on various streaming platforms.
The lead character Diana (Ilenia Pastorelli) is a sex worker. A tragic accident happens, and she is left without eyesight. At the same time a child (Xinyu Zhang) becomes an orphan as a result of the same accident. Against odds these two human beings end up taking care of each other in a world that has suddenly become a lot more uncertain and perilous for either of them as the maniacal killer, who's caused all these events, is out there targeting sex workers; that includes Diana.
WHAT I LIKED
The level at which the lead character had been developed. Dark Glasses manages to touch on topics of how unsafe and dangerous the life of a sex worker can be while also introducing the viewer to everyday realities of a blind person. The latter aspect of the plot also involves having a guide dog, which plays particularly important part in the film during the finale.
The presentation of options an orphaned kid has in terms of where he ends up, and how he chooses Diana over any of those.
The unusual team of protagonists, who manage to have each other's backs at crucial moments.
Key moments that involve the film's antagonist – "The Cellist": how he changes lives of people fundamentally (not in a good way obvs) and how, when he is already at Diana's apartment, he ends up meeting with some other people instead of her (even if for a very short while); a fabulously crafted coincidence, imo.
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Dark Glasses promotional still with Xinyu Zhang and Ilenia Pastorelli (plus the guide dog). Photo by Matteo Cocco. Source
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Editing part. This film could have been so much better with an approach to it as meticulous and invested as the development of its lead character had been.
I think Rita (Asia Argento) from the Blind Society had played her part well when it comes to helping to acquaint the viewer with aspects of life of a blind person, and all the various settings in which Diana has to survive is a bit too much for the story not to lose its intensity and focus. It is supposed to be a giallo film after all.
Dark Glasses can be streamed on Shudder.