a_chinn
Writer/director Dario Argento's modern day horror masterpiece still holds up as a brilliant and disturbing piece of filmmaking. With a strong emphasis on visuals, musics, and atmosphere, the film tells the hallucinatory tale of Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper), an American ballerina who joins a prestigious European ballet school, but begins to suspect the school is harboring some sort of secret following a series of mysterious events, not the least of which is a series of bloody horrific deaths. "Suspiria" is probably one of the scariest films ever produced and certainly has the most frightening horror film score of all-time, which was composed by Argento and the prog rock band Goblin. Prior to this film, Argento has mostly made Giallo thrillers (ultra-violent Hitchcockian type of thrillers) and had not done much in the way of supernatural horror, but he does an amazing job with the genre. What makes this film so scary is not so much the story, which is certainly serviceable, but it's Argento's direction, the wild production design, the stylish photography, and the over-the-top frightening music that make the film so memorable. There is no way anyone can watch this film and not have it burned into your memory as something wholly unique. I will concede that this film will not be everyone's cup of tea and that there will be many who will watch this film and find it off-putting and/or ridiculous and even an endurance test, but I find this film to be an amazingly unique surreal nightmare and an example of "pure cinema."
Osmosis Iron
There is just something about this movie, that sets it apart and makes it really memorable and special. The ominous boarding school setting might sound like a cliche but it works. The whole movie feels "unsafe" as it should.. but somehow I don't really know many other movies that manage to do this, at least not so well! Absolutely sublime use of color and sounds, again perhaps the best in the whole genre? If you have any interest at all in the horror genre you owe yourself to see this, it might very well be your new favorite!
Scott LeBrun
The lovely and appealing Jessica Harper stars in this horror classic as Suzy Bannion, an American ballet dancer who travels to Europe to study and train. Arriving at the German school known as Tam Academy, she soon witnesses various strange goings-on, and comes to a horrifying realization regarding the identities and motives of the top dogs at this school."Suspiria" ranks as the personal favorite Dario Argento film for this viewer, and is definitely one of his most famous. The story, concocted by Argento and his former partner / sometime leading lady Daria Nicolodi, isn't necessarily a great one, but then great storytelling has never been Argentos' true strong suit. It's not what you watch his films for; you watch them for the virtuoso filmmaking, and it's on full display here.One thing you notice right away is how powerful the film is visually. It's a marvel of eye-popping images, colorful lighting choices, and fluid camera work. Certainly cinematographer Luciano Tovoli plays a big part in why this film works as well as it does.Overall, it's a stunning if not perfect marriage of stifling atmosphere, the beautiful brutality that hardcore horror fans crave, the dark and twisted nature of many a fairy tale, and the sometimes overpowering but compelling music score by renowned Italian prog-rock group Goblin. It features an amazing murder set piece within the first dozen or so minutes, and rarely lets up until an abrupt but creepy finale. Some scenes in "Suspiria" are iconic and have burned their way into the minds of its audiences over the decades.The performances are generally engaging: Ms. Harper, 40s icon Joan Bennett, Italian character actress Alida Valli, the great German cult actor Udo Kier, the distinctively featured Giuseppe Transocchi, handsome Miguel Bose, Stefania Casini (playing Suzy's new friend Sara), and sultry Barbara Magnolfi as the sardonic Olga.Well worth watching for any horror fan, especially now that the film has been restored and the picture looks more gorgeous than ever.Nine out of 10.
Kirpianuscus
not the story is the most important fact. but the refined art to build the fear. light, shadows, music, the precise performances, memories about similar stories, crumbs from Snow White and the fragile ballet as the pillar of a thriller who seems be magnificent puzzle for explore states more than a story. a film of details. like each movie by Argento. and this is the motif to be victim of fascination for a perfect world who use yours deep fears as bricks for a splendid story about appearances and the dark truth.
AD
