I can't even imagine what audiences in 1977 felt when they stepped into that dark theater to see Dario Argento's 'Suspiria'. When I first saw the film as a teen, I was blown away by just how bizarre, confusing, beautiful and blood drenched it is so thinking what people thought back when this kind of thing was truly unique and rare they must have lost their minds. Even 40 years later and having seen it again on this beautiful new Blu-Ray from Synapse, I am still mesmerized and pulled in by 'Suspiria' and if you've yet to check out this dark fairy tale there's no better time.
The story is simple on the surface: a young ballet student named Suzy Bannon (Jessica Harper) travels to a distinguished dance school in Germany, only to find herself targeted by a coven of witches. Italian horror films are notorious for having very little story or dialogue but rather having the visuals help the audience along. Naturally, this turns off a lot of audiences but 'Suspiria' is one of Argento's easiest films to follow. Whether that is a contributing factor as to why audiences speak so much more highly of it than his other works is debatable, but I think it is a good starting point for new fans.
The story isn't really important in 'Suspiria' to be honest, but rather its excellent directing, beautiful and haunting cinematography, and of course the disturbing and unforgettable horror scenes. The film's bright and colorful nature was a deliberate choice, as Argento had wished the film to look like the classic Walt Disney film 'Snow White' and you can see that in the color scheme. You can also see the film as a whole being inspired by the classic Disney cartoon, with the young dark haired heroine, witches, and even little things like images of hearts etc. It's a throwback to the original versions of these tales and could easily come off as an old tale if not for the contemporary setting.
Really, I think the only real negatives you can lob at 'Suspiria' are its narrative and acting. The audio was not recorded during the filmmaking process, but rather dubbed in after the fact. This was a common technique that still continues today in order to help widen the audience better, but it can lead to somewhat stiff dialogue that doesn't always match the intense sequences, even though the actors are doing their best to match it. As I said before, the story can leave people confused unless you are always following it which can be too much for some viewers and I get it. To be honest, it took me a couple of watches to fully appreciate 'Suspiria' and I would imagine that is the case for most.
The final aspect that really sells this film is the amazing music by Italian band Goblin, who would produce the score to 'Dawn of the Dead' a year after this film but I think 'Suspiria' is by far their best work. From the moment that haunting theme begins, I was hooked and I feel that more than a lot of films is a major factor in pulling in its audience. It's such a memorable score that you will hear it in your head for days, especially if you find yourself in a long hallway of an empty hotel like I did after my first viewing of this film.
So there you have it, 'Suspiria' is pretty much perfect in my eyes but I must again say that it will take more than one showing whether you like it or loath it. It's a shame modern horror movies are so dreary and muddy looking and I feel that its not only overdone, but somewhat lazy. Even classics like 'Halloween' had some color to it dammit and 'Suspiria' is a perfect example of style really helping with your enjoyment of horror films.
The 2-Disc Blu-Ray release from Synapse is now available and has documentaries, interviews, and commentaries along with a beautifully remastered 4K picture. Check it out.
10/10
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