Three Mothers: Suspiria (1977)

Suspiria

1977

Director: Dario Argento

Starring: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bose, Alida Valli, Joan Bennett, Udo Kier

Rated: X

Suzy, do you know anything about...witches?

          ~Sarah

I'll be making an announcement here on this page in the near future. Logging back in, I noticed I've had this piece in draft since October of 2015. Since then, I'd written a Blu-ray review for SUSPIRIA (1977) on Why So Blu. So, that will suffice for now and finally publish it 5 years later. Will I complete the set of Three Mothers pieces? Likely, no. But for now, rather than hit delete, I'll just copy and paste and fulfill the promise to publish this. You'll hear from me soon. Enjoy (again)!

Suzy travels to Germany to attend ballet school. When she arrives, late on a stormy night, no one lets her in, and she sees Pat, another student, fleeing from the school. When Pat reaches her apartment, she is murdered. The next day, Suzy is admitted to her new school, but has a difficult time settling in. She hears noises, and often feels ill. As more people die, Suzy uncovers the terrifying secret history of the place.

For all intents and purposes, this is a Blu-ray review, so a little personal home video history with the film shouldn’t be too out of place. I’m a nut for a lot of Italian horror and schlock thanks to the advent of Blu-ray in a way I never was before. Suspiria was always one that impressed, but many others I tried and would be left scratching my head. Blu-ray has actually helped me find what I was missing out on, understand and see what the big deal and appreciation was for so many of these films. They all had Pan and Scan VHS releases, crappy DVD transfers and a lot of the times were some incorrect or censored cut of the film. Now, with these restorations and seeing the film as they were intended to look and sound and close to what they were on the big screen, its easy to see what it was. These films are an “experience” of sight and sound. Something lesser formats had kneecapped these films in their effectiveness for all these years. But no matter what, none of them will probably ever be as beautiful or eye popping as the crown jewel of Italian horror; Suspiria.

No one is actually ever going to truly capture a nightmare on film, but damn if Dario Argento hasn’t come close. Suspiria is the living embodiment of terror. And not just for the characters in the movie, as an audience member, you’re almost a participant in the proceedings as you feel the tension and horror of the dancers discovering the dark secrets of their academy. Argento puts together a fine collaboration with Goblin, whom he frequently uses, to add another layer to the terror. Italian horror scores are a thing among themselves usually, but Goblin’s work here is almost a character of itself. Its as unsettling as it is hynpotic and beautiful, while also bring a sting and jumping insanity to it all. And within just a few minutes of the film starting, it has earned its place as one of the best and most memorable scores of all time.

One of the best aspects of Suspiria is the shot compositions all throughout. Every piece of costume, color choice and every set is designed so perfectly as to create a well balanced and gorgeous frame.  While my favorite sequence in any Argento movie would come in his next film Inferno (And said sequence was advised by legend Mario Bava apparently), pick anything here in this movie and you’ll be just amazed. Its hard to not just be dumbfounded in appreciation of the visuals here even if its just a certain wallpaper. From the opening 15 minutes, Argento has announced exactly everything this movie is to be and just delivers such a hook. As one spends years and studies the film you’ll also notice and discover the tiniest of details, like the door handles being higher up on the doors, so as to have the girls always subtly being the idea of children in a fairy tale without you realizing it. With that and other things, its a lifelong rewarding experience to constantly return to the film.

Suspiria is a film that I really feel is timeless if the viewers are willing to give themselves to it. Its a measure in style, deep thematic, visuals, sound and a complete experience. These are things modern audiences tend to lend themselves to, but one with a good understanding of film should have no trouble appreciating it. Some of the most horrifying moments, amazing sets, usage of color, music and beautiful overall composition ever captured on celluloid are right here in Dario Argento’s film. At 43 years of age, Suspiria still works as well as it did upon its debut back in 1977.

NEXT TIME: My next adventure!