Tags
1970's, Alida Valli, Dario Argento, Horror, Jessica Harper, Joan Bennett, Stefania Casini, Suspiria
Film Title
Suspiria
Director
Dario Argento
Starring
- Jessica Harper as Suzy Bannion
- Joan Bennett as Madame Blanc
- Alida Valli as Miss Tanner
- Stefania Casini as Sara
An overwhelmingly visual and sinister horror movie from Italian maestro Dario Argento, Suspiria is rightfully regarded as a work of arresting quality and bold aesthetic. If there’s a horror movie that can hold the distinction of being beautiful, Suspiria is the victorious champion.
From the moment American dancer Suzy Bannion arrives in Germany to attend a prestigious ballet academy, there is something not quite right. Firstly, she encounters a panicked student, who later turns up murdered. Then the whole atmosphere of the place is laced with a certain menace, not helped by the domineering and eerie presence of vice director Madame Blanc and teacher Miss Tanner. Suzy struggles to fit into her new surroundings, but this is nothing compared to the spine tingling things that will soon take shape. A series of creepy occurrences take place; maggots rain from the roof, there are strange footsteps at night and it would appear that the teachers are guarding something frighteningly shocking. Aided by a fellow student Sara, who is the first to think something strange is happening, Suzy sets out to uncover what is really going on at the academy. As more unusual events(complete with more murder and sickly ailments inhabited by Suzy) take place with many suggesting something supernatural at work, Suzy is thrown into the pit of horror as she strives to piece together the meaning of the school and the designs of its inhabitants.
Dario Argento is the showman, richly displaying his craft in full glory. His flair for the theatrical and stunning is left on every frame of this strangely beguiling horror fantasy. It’s clear from Suspiria that Argento is an artist of the highest order and a horror icon to treasure for his baroque attitude. Plot and character development are not what this movie is about; tension and spooky atmosphere are the main components and things it accomplishes with ease. Argento grabs you from the opening frames and pulse you into this ghoulish world he has created, where uneasy and weird things build to a crescendo of high art and horror. Most worthy of praise is the bold use of colour, in particular red, blue and green. Red is the most employed; saturating the screen in a haze of nightmarish fantasy that is as spellbinding as it is creepy. One can’t help but wax lyrical about the eye-popping and sensory areas of Suspiria, that stick with you long after the film’s finish. A certain fairy tale quality, albeit one of the unnerving and eerie variety, is ever-present here in a lot of shots, specifically the gripping opening. We witness arrival as a storm hits and she briefly sees a fellow student run away from the school. Later, the incoherent girl who fled the academy is traumatised by strange sights and then brutally murdered by a largely unseen assailant. Her lifeless body crashes through a stained glass ceiling, her neck in a noose and the glass causing the death of a friend. It’s a successful opening that clearly establishes the strange tone and often horrifying but stylish visions that Suspiria will bring in abundance. Gory violence is startlingly seen, but rendered mesmerize through the lens of artistry that colours everything here. It seems strange to describe a horror movie as lush and beautiful, but Suspiria is both of those things and more. While a lot of horror favours darkness , Suspiria is strikingly colourful and filled with a prowling eye from adventurous camerawork. This distinction makes it stand out in horror for all the right reasons. As a relentless exercise is stupendous visual splendour and growing tension, Suspiria is compelling and filled with imagination. And no talk of Suspiria would be complete without mentioning the thundering music score, provided by Goblin. An intense roller coaster of twinkling percussion, loud drums and snatches of scratchy whispers, it’s another element that sucks you into the vivid world brought to life in pulsing form.
Although plotting and characters aren’t the important parts of Suspiria, the cast is still pretty serviceable. Jessica Harper is appropriately beautiful, waif-like and innocent as the heroine and while not the best actress, she still presents an air of spirited nature as Suzy heads into the disturbing machinations at work. Joan Bennett and Alida Valli successfully transfer something sinister and unusual as two of the academy’s staff, who immediately set your nerves and mind on edge from the first moment they are glimpsed. Stefania Casini is also pretty good as a student, very suspicious of what’s going on. There are various other characters in the film, but the biggest star is Argento himself.
Gorgeously shot, hauntingly creepy and artistic to within am inch of its life, Suspiria is simply put an experience for and grandiose assault on the senses.
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beetleypete said:
Argento’s work has a definite style, and that style can be a matter of taste. I remember being overwhelmed by the colours in this film, with reds too red, blues too blue, etc. It is certainly different though, even though the actors adopt a rather melodramatic style, and the dubbing of some of the cast into English can seem clunky at times.
I think it is an indication of the way that he wanted to take the horror genre, and a good example of a certain period in horror films.
If you like that film, you might enjoy this one. Not gory, but a similar feel in some ways,
and set in an Italian horror film studio, appropriately. A superb lead from Toby Jones too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberian_Sound_Studio
Best wishes, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
I don’t think his movies are for everyone, but they are captivating spectacles. Colour wise, my eyes were popping observing the ways in which it was employed. Like a vivid dream. Thanks for the recommendation, Pete.
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Mr. Bobinsky said:
I was almost going to watch it few days ago but then finally choose another movie. Now one more reason to get back to it. I was attracted by the colours…
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vinnieh said:
Oh you have to experience Suspiria.
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fragglerocking said:
Nope! There is no way that raining maggots can be beautiful. 🤢
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vinnieh said:
That’s probably the least beautiful part. But everything else has this vivid dreamlike impact to it.
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daboogieblog said:
I’m in a a terrible dilemma now! I can’t handle horror movies but your review was so damn good that it made me want to watch it!
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vinnieh said:
You could give it a try and see what you thought. I’m happy my review made you consider it.
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daboogieblog said:
It did because it was so insightful about each detail of the movie, and I feel like I’m going to watch it tonight.
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vinnieh said:
I try my best to really get to the heart of the movie. Suspiria was an experience and an assault on the senses.
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daboogieblog said:
I could clearly see that on the way you reviewed it!
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vinnieh said:
Appreciate the praise. I just love writing about movies.
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daboogieblog said:
That’s inspiring to a new blogger like me.
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vinnieh said:
If I can inspire, I’ve done what I set out to do.
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daboogieblog said:
Great job buddy!
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vinnieh said:
I’m happy to have a great fanbase. And I promise to visit your blog soon.
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daboogieblog said:
I’m honored sir and it would be a pleasure of mine.
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maddylovesherclassicfilms said:
Very weird and freaky film. Very interesting though from a visual perspective.
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vinnieh said:
Freaky is the name of the game. Those visuals were gorgeous and haunting. Really hard to forget some of them.
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vinnieh said:
I could definitely see that some of the visuals influenced Black Swan.
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Kenzie said:
I loved Suspiria when I watched it… it’s so weird and visually appealing. Very much of its time.
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vinnieh said:
It’s so gorgeously shot and creepy. Can’t beat it for atmosphere.
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houstonphotojourney said:
Gonna pass on this due to the horror parts especially maggots – gross! As it is now I better go read something funny to get the visual of raining maggots out if my head! You might need to post another photo if your booty to clear my mind 😂
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vinnieh said:
Sorry about that image i put in your head. Just think of happy things.
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houstonphotojourney said:
Thus the booty😂
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vinnieh said:
Here you go. https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/love-your-bum-part-3/
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vinnieh said:
And there’s always this post too. https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/what-makes-a-good-bum/
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houstonphotojourney said:
Good thing!😂
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vinnieh said:
Enjoy both posts.
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Dell on Movies (@w_ott3) said:
In October, I’ll be watching this for the first time. Really looking forward to it.
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vinnieh said:
I’m sure you’ll appreciate it. And I’m sorry for my absence on your blog, things have been busy for me.
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Alphonso White said:
Please accept my nomination for the Unique Blogger Award
https://alphonsowhite.wordpress.com/2017/08/04/unique-blogger-award/
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vinnieh said:
Thanks so much for the nomination. I’ll stop by your post later.
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sati said:
Great review! This is such a fantastic and memorable film, I hope the remake won’t suck too much
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vinnieh said:
It casts an immensely immersive spell. Had no idea there was a remake in the works. It’d be difficult to top this though.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Nice pick and phenomenal review Vinnie! Despite the maggots, I absolutely love the sound of this! I hope I can find it through my library.
💁🏻
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vinnieh said:
The maggots really have been mentioned a lot today. This is a film you taste with your eyes and ears, a real experience.
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ninvoid99 said:
Fucking love this film. I saw this as a Blind Spot a few years ago and man, it blew me away. The visuals and the soundtrack. Definitely a horror film that everyone should see.
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vinnieh said:
This was my first viewing and it left a deep impact. Colour and sound where used so tremendously here, I can’t imagine the film without them.
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alexraphael said:
You know. I think I’ve sent plenty of films. But you always remind me how many more there are to see. Always a pleasure to read your thoughts.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks Alex. This is visual and vivid horror at its finest, so colourful and mesmerising.
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Mario said:
Yay, finally! Great review. I love this film so much. Did you know that it’s part of a trilogy?
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vinnieh said:
I knew you’d approve Mario. I wasn’t aware it was part of a trilogy. What other films are in it?
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Mario said:
Inferno and The Mother of Tears. Suspiria is the best by far, though. I can’t imagine what the remake will have to offer, but I am curious.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the info on the other two.
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Kaustav Ray said:
Great Read!
Here, check this out
The Indianindiehead finally writes about Indian Indie. Find out the journey and artists that shaped Indian indie music!
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vinnieh said:
I’ll be over tomorrow to read it.
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nuwansenfilmsen said:
Sounds Visually Stunning!!! And Creepily Brilliant!!!
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vinnieh said:
That’s exactly what it is. It’s the equivalent of stepping into a very macabre fairy tale.
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MIB said:
Good review but I still don’t like this film. Sorry…
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for commenting. I don’t think it’s a movie for everyone. I think the style is an acquired taste.
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MIB said:
I will say it’s visuals were different but nothing else grabbed me. I think it was just a case of not being able to live up the hype for me. It works for some, but not for others.
C’est la vie and all that! 😉
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vinnieh said:
I totally understand. We can’t all agree on the same thing. There would be no fun in it.
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Sartaj Govind Singh said:
Fantastic review that vividly expounds upon the film’s persistently surreal style. I think the film is fascinating in its portrait of Witches as outlined in my review:
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vinnieh said:
Thank you so much for your comments. I’m a sucker for visuals in a movie. I’ve bookmarked your post to read soon. Your blog looks fantastic.
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Sartaj Govind Singh said:
Thank you kindly for the warm words. I look forward to reading your other Argento reviews.
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vinnieh said:
I plan to view more of his movies in the future.
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