Suspiria

I watched a movie called Suspiria, directed by Dario Argento, released in 1977. It stars Jessica Harper, Joan Bennett, Stefania Casini. It is a horror movie that is suspenseful in nature. The first of the Argento Three Mothers Trilogy, the other two being Inferno, released in 1980 and Mother of Tears released 2007. The story of Suspiria is about an American ballet student named Susie, played by Jessica Harper, who transfers to a dance academy in Germany that is very prestigious but is also controlled by dark forces. The Mothers Trilogy itself is the story of a coven of witches, the “Mothers”, and each film represents them. In Suspiria’s case, it is the Mother of Sighs. Right away, Susie (and the viewer) can tell there is something not quite right going on the moment she leaves the airport terminal. The whole film is very atmospheric and disorienting throughout, by the use of primary colours, mostly red, and odd set pieces that seem larger than the actors. The soundtrack was performed by Italian progressive rock band Goblin and it set a more eerie mood with the cacophonous droning however still melodic in many ways that gets right in your head as you watch the film.
I came across this film through a documentary series called Masters of Horror. John Carpenter had discussed his work and brought up Dario Argento, whom at the time I’d not heard of despite being an extensive horror movie watcher (mostly American).  Sometime later in this series they spoke to Argento and showed clips of Suspiria and some of his other films though Suspiria stood out to me is such a way that I had even thought imaginable. It is full of gore and very visceral for 1977. One character gets literally gets stabbed in the heart, which is something that I didn’t think I’d ever see in a film. Admittedly, the first watches I loved the gore and how calculating each kill was, mostly because it wasn’t sloppy like most American stalker killer films. As I have come to see more of Argento’s films and Italian Giallo and horror films in general, I appreciate Suspiria more and more for its simplicity and accessibility, believe it or not. This is certainly one of my favourite of all of Argento’s films or at the very least, in the top 5. I also freely admit that I have only seen the American version, the dvd I own is Blue Underground version so I’m sure there is a more definitive version that is Italian that I have yet to see since Argento films are routinely cut and butchered (no pun intended) for international release.

I am a bit bias on this review since it is a favourite however, I feel like it should be more widely known because of how great it is, not only for the gore but for the suspense, how Argento creates an atmosphere that is so alien and horrifying and generally for the acting by Jessica Harper, Joan Bennett and Stefania Casini.