The genesis of Tenebrae was a scary real-life incident that Argento experienced when the director was writing in Los Angeles in 1980. The director was harassed by a disturbed fan who claimed to want to harm Argento in the way that his films had harmed him. Although he wasn't physically assaulted, Argento was left shaken by the whole thing (understandably so). Tenebrae sees Argento return to the giallo after his foray into supernatural horror. As well as being a mediation on the notion of fame (novelist Peter Neale is targeted by a mysterious killer), it also comments on Argento's reputation as a filmmaker, particularly the accusation that he is a misogynist due to his penchant for depicting the murders of young, beautiful women. Certainly the infamous Louma crane tracking shot, which sees a camera effortlessly glide up to, over and into a house, whereupon two female inhabitants are brutally slain, caused debate (it is a beautiful piece of filmmaking but, again, is is misogynistic?). Regardless of what you make of the film's politics, as an exercise in style and horror it is simply a joy to watch.