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Who can say no to flashily lit gore?

Suspiria is about a bunch of gorgeous young dancers getting butchered in front of really lurid sets, with really cool music blaring in the background. OK, there's a plot about supernatural stuff at a European ballet school but it's really about the sets and the music. And the lighting, which is usually bright purple, or red, or blue. This is one of those movies where every possible glass object is likely to shatter and cut somebody to ribbons, probably while they're not wearing very much. Some people describe it as a masterpiece and they've got a point, because there are so many set-pieces that stick in your memory. Dario Argento really went overboard with this one and watching such unfettered creativity is a rare pleasure. One small problem: it's not scary. Still, it's never boring and it's got a secret door, too. What more could you want?

Stylish and Pulse-Pounding!

Now, I will state from the beginning outright that this is one of the only films of Argento's that I have seen. With that stated, I rated this 4 out of 5 stars since out of the two films I've seen I really have no basis for comparison that would be fairly accurate.

The complaints coming from other reviewers are slightly unjust, possibly some are conventional fans of the horror genre itself and aren't all that familiar with Argento's work.


Argento has admitted that he is a director who prefers style over substance and more often than not he has a dislike of working with actors. He enjoys them as other human beings, but he believes that focus shouldn't solely stay on them throughout an entire film.

With that out of the way, let me get down to the actual review of Suspiria:

This is truly a classic film, but it is one that needs to be viewed not with high expectations but fairly low ones. The visual styles Argento implemented along with his unconventional camera shots are truly innovative and when viewing this film, you will notice that a lot of modern directors have borrowed a trick or two from him.

Suspiria is the first entry into a scrapped, then (supposedly) renewed trilogy of films, centered around The Three Mothers, figures of diabolical evil that inhabit various parts of the world.

The plot centers around an American dancer who comes to a foreboding dance academy and bears witness to a strange series of events.

Soon after the opening sequence, a sense of paranoia lurks beneath the entire film. The viewer bears witness to a murder of two of the dance academy girls while never knowing who or what exactly killed them. A heightened feeling of mystery accompanies the paranoia, as soon after, the American girl and her newfound roommate soon try to uncover the source of all the strange things that occur in what appears to be a haunted dance academy.

I do not want to spoil anything for those interested in the film, so I will stop there with the plot overview.

What makes this film an effective piece of horror and suspense is not only the paranoia and mystery embedded firmly within it, but the visuals created by it as well. Vivid colors merge with dark backlights and help to create an atmosphere which adds to the mental anguish of the viewer. When I first viewed this film, it was almost as if it were surreal in the way it looked.

One staple of any horror film, be it foreign in origin or not, is a decent soundtrack. Without one, the film will most likely fail to appease a viewer. With Suspiria, Argento teamed with his frequent collaborator, the italian progressive rock band Goblin, and the score and soundtrack for the film that was composed meshes seamlessly with the film.

During a critical scene, the music will swell and add an eerie ambience as the viewer's tension level will rise as they expect one thing to happen and will witness another. A few people have argued that the music is a distraction in certain scenes, but I personally disagree. Certain scenes within Suspiria wouldn't work well if they lacked the music Goblin had produced.

Argento's camera work here is nothing short of amazing on many levels. The placement of the camera focusing on a wide shot as it looms over the balcony above a massive in-door swimming pool almost adds an effect that leaves the viewer wondering if the pool down below is being watched by some unseen murderer or evil villain without having the distinction of footsteps going toward the balcony or any other noise that would denote so.

The actors and actresses in this film did do a mildly pleasing job with the script. Some of the lines come out forced or stiff, but overall, if a viewer isn't looking for someone to act (or overact, as the case may be) on the level of say, Humphrey Bogart or Marilyn Monroe, then they would be hard pressed to fixate upon and find themselves disappointed by the way the actors helped move the story along.

Overall, Suspiria is a brilliant film in my opinion. I cannot state that it is one of Argento's best ever, but I do know that I enjoyed it greatly. This review is merely my opinion though, with a few additional bits of information for those interested in viewing or purchasing it, and as such should not be considered the final answer on it nor should it be considered the worst either.

Suspiria is a film that not all fans of horror or suspense will truly enjoy. Those fans who are spoiled on more modern films of the same ilk may view it and unfairly pass a death sentence on it afterward, but people who wish to simply broaden their experience within the canon of many films like this may end up adding this film into their personal "best of" or "Top 50" lists.

Don't buy this garbage

I will make this short and to the point. This movie is boring, badly acted, badly directed and badly written; the colorization and styling is more like a stage play by high school kids, without a young kid's energy, talent or sincerity. The story line is so laughable that not once would the viewer feel emotions towards any of the characters. I understand that it was 1976, but the special effects are closer to the 1950's (Plan 9 From Outer Space comes to mind). I felt compelled to write this negative review to warn other unsuspecting would be buyers of this trash and to counter those 5-star rating reviews that baffle the mind. One more thing. This is not an artsie film with the director's vision of blah blah, blah; it is simply a terribly cheap film made to fleece viewers.

candy colored fairy tale from hell

A delirous fairy tale told with the reasoning of a flu induced nightmare, anybody looking for the generic formula horror story ala Scream go elsewhere. To set a few things straight Suspiria, like most Italian films of the period, was post dubbed thus the "flat" ring to the dialogue which only adds to the otherwordliness of the film. The score by Italian pioneers Goblin is one of the finest in film history. Those reviewers crying over "it doesn't make sense" are missing the point completly. If your brain hasn't been fried by the generic offerings of hollywood and MTV, and are looking for one of the purist examples of cinema (and if the site of a still beating human heart being butchered doesn't offend you) check out Suspiria...you won't regret it.

Meh...

Seeing as over 30 years have passed between the initial release of Suspiria and today, it is awful hard for me to say what effect it would have had on me had I been alive to see it when it first hit theaters. Maybe at the time it would have been different, but after watching it for the first time today, well...sorry, but I don't see what the fuss is all about.


All right, I can see how the blatant employment of what appears to be well-hidden red, blue and yellow 30-watt bulbs may have been experimental for its time. And the score does a fair job of creating mood. The problem is that these things come across as transparent and lazy attempts to sift some actual artistic merit out of the bland, unsatisfying stew of a plot. The story here is so weak that it seems a mere afterthought to the visuals. As though Dario Argento just needed some crap for people to say for a few minutes in between drawn-out camera shots awash in primary colors. The dance academy is actually a witches' coven. Really, now? I understand the point must have been to create scenes evocative of nightmares, but much of it seems forced. No matter a movie's alleged contributions to the form artistically, if the story sucks then I just can't give it too much credit. It seems to me that Argento might have been better off not bothering with a plot, let alone one this paper-thin, and just gone with a surreal collage of images and sounds. That would have lent it a more "hallucionatory" feel anyway, which seems to be his primary concern. Since it would take up too much space for me to go into detail about all the weak spots in plot and dialogue, I'll sum it all up with: "If I count their steps, I can figure out where they're going." By the time Suzy solves the "mystery", I'm still trying to solve the one about why I should care.

Just as awkwardly forced into the proceedings is the score. For the first few minutes of what I take to be the de facto theme song of the movie, I was pretty impressed. A hauntingly simple minor-key melody that descends and returns, its unrelenting repetitiveness building almost unbearable tension, the apprehension of what horrifying event is just moments from taking place, and...boom. Nothing. Scene change. The music stops so abruptly that it sounds like someone hit the pause button. This happens many times throughout the movie. I would estimate that song to be playing over around 1/3 of the 98 minute duration. Maybe more. Sometimes it does lead to a horrific scene, but most times it seems to be abused in a cheap attempt to build suspense that the plot can't supply. And then nothing will happen. I've read a bit about the supposed brilliance of the score to this movie in its creating an underlying sense of unease and tension. For the early part of the film, I would have agreed. But not long into it, the tension and unease come not from genuine craft of fear, but rather from tedium and ear fatigue. A movie like this should put you on edge, and it does; it just does it in the wrong way, and the overall effect is for me to want to stop watching. Not because I'm scared in any way, but simply because it is almost too monotonous to bear.

So there it is. Perhaps on repeated viewings I will change my tune on this one, but I somehow doubt it. I give it 3 stars instead of the 2 I think it deserves right now due to its evident status as an artisitic landmark in the horror genre, but I just can't be impressed by this. Don't get me wrong, there were some things done well. Argento often succeeds in his attempt to create trippy visual atmospheres, and I can't deny that I was provoked to cries of "oh, god!" during the girl's dive into the razorwire pool (I found this scene much harder to watch than the first, and far more talked about, murder scene), but overall the movie was funny at best, and excruciatingly boring at worst. Seems to me like one of those ones people claim to "appreciate" because they want to sound intellectual, or maybe I just don't get it. Either way, it seems like a classic case of style over substance to me.

Frightening

this is one of the most atmospherically frightening movies of all time! the film does have some flaws...but what films dont have em? the lighting is AWESOME! and Jessica Harper is GREAT !! the only bad parts are that, the blood looks like paint at times...too pink...and other minor problems.the atmosphere, (not always showing the killer) works for me, it makes it creepy, along with the soundtrack by "Goblin"...this film tops my top 10 horror films...it has that 70's "witch" feel....and with the music,and lighting , it is an unforgetable experience!if you like Italian horror, this is it ,this is THE one to see! again,and again!!!

It's a bit flawed but still its a must see horror film.

Suspiria as you might know is one of Dario Argento's most sucessful and popular horror films the one that made him a more recognizable director and has also given him the reputation from horror fans as a great horror filmmaker. This film is a departure from his usaual giallo films and is more like a surreal and bizzare supernatural horror film, taking place in a European ballet school which is actually a front for a coven of witches when an American student (Jessica Harper) arrives and soon slowly finds out whats realy going on and it seems that the other students including her friend are clueless, watch out for that scene when her friend drops into a room filled with barbwire ouch! that scene in Saw 2 was a total ripoff ha infact Saw 2 was a highly unoriginal rippoff from other Argento films its so obvious gun through the keyhole was from Opera . I'm not going to mention how great all the sets, lights ect. are because everybody else has said it allready, the storyline as you might know is not important but still the film manages to creep you out by its weird visuals, strange whispering noises and the gory death scenes which were fantastic especialy the one at the beggining I'm not going to ruin it but I'll just say that it was spectacular and sick at the same time. The film ofcourse resembles a nightmare and its like the lead actress cannot escape from it, the film has very nice atmosphere that is enhanced by the musical score done by Goblin, while not my favorite Argento film I still preffer Deep red, Phenomena and Tenebrea over this it was still excellent. I have the region 2 edition from Anchor Bay which has great special features that includes the documentary Dario Argento world of horror so I'm not sure what the region 1 edition has, I highly recomend this to all Italian horror fans.

Menacing airport doors are only the beginnnig...

Suspiria is able to overcome a plot that makes little sense, bad dialogue, questionable acting, and bad dubbing and still be one of the best horror films you may ever see. That is a true testament to Argento's talent at creating an overwhelming atmosphere.

This film is difficult to describe. I can say: go and see it. Heck, go and buy it. It's really one of a kind. (Okay, maybe other Argento films approach it.)

The key word is atmosphere, which is a key element in a good horror film. Since the film is about witches, and the supernatural, etc, you know it's fantasy, so it needs another factor: atmosphere.

The film is literally bleeding with color. It's a real, expressionistic horror film. The lighting is the first thing to hit you, and it stays. I've never seen a film use lighting like this since. The composition of the shots, the insane music of Goblin, and the overall weirdness catapult this flick into legendary status.

A young American ballet dancer visits a prestigious German dance academy. She soon realizes something very strange is going on, and sure enough, it's some kind of witch haven. Several students and a staff member die bizarre (but stylish) deaths. The opening is truly macabre and sets the tone.

Argento hasn't matched this film yet. It's part one of a supposed trilogy, the sequel being the inferior but still creepy Inferno. After some of his recent work though, it doesn't seem like investors are flocking to Argento's door.

Highly recommended, this film looks and sounds gorgeous on DVD. There's also a special set with a disc of extras as well as the demented soundtrack CD included.

Reviews are lies

I had read so much about this movie, it was called one of the scarriest movie of all time...please. This was awful. I love the Italian horror movie genre even though they are cheesy, but this movie was not at all scary. The plot was lousy, the special effects awful. Aviod this movie...

mater suspiriorum

in the mid to late '70's Dario Argento was at his peak. "Profondo Rosso","Suspiria" and "Inferno" are his masterpieces. His previous films showed skill and great promise,what has come since has been,with the odd exception,a shame. I don't understand quite how this film casts its spell,possibly serendipity! I find Argento a rather clumsy director,but this is truly entrancing,by luck,by design or black magic...who cares? I think its the sum of its parts;the strange acting:all that whispering! The breathtaking set-designs,ravishing colour and of course,Goblin's music,all conspire together. It's a film that takes you to an inner world,where flowers unlock doors,floors are made of stained glass,secret red and green corridors lead to pits full of razor-wire,walls are M.C.Escher trompe l'oeil labyrinths and everyone talks rubbish. Of course there are the famous murder scenes,very theatrical,but then they do take place in a coven of witches masquerading as a dance academy! The acting is either appalling-Joan Bennet,ludicrous-Barbara Magnolfi,or cool-Jessica Harper,Udo Kier. All this spun together makes this movie a kind of surrealist nightmare acted out in a 1970's fashion boutique. Oh....& beware the bat.

Scary if ure 12 years old

Well I cant say much that I personally found good about this film which is a shame considering some of the review's I read about it.As a 28yo man and used to watching scary films like "Session 9", this was as scary as finding out you've got odd socks on! The film is dubbed all the way through - the theme music is a rip off of Halloween (which is accompanied by a "south park" LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA) which to me make's it very cheesy, but laughable.It didn't make me jump once, rather all the way through I was wondering what the hell was going on half the time, or course the acting is top notch - NOT!!!! I would only recommend this to 12yo who's getting the feel for the horror scene, or someone who's up 4 a right bit of cheese.

One of the best horror films of all time! ***** out of 5

This is the 'Once Upon A Time in the West' of horror movies. It's beautiful, breathtaking, haunting, and even delivers the gory goods.You don't really get films like this nowadays. It's all about trying to make people jump and the majority of the horror films these days feature an unrealistic looking cast and overly CGI death sequences. Blah to that I say.Suspiria still stands out as how horror films truly should be done. Dario Argento's visual style is absolutely unprecedented. Everything is lit with the most bizarre and bright colors you've ever seen. The blood is much brighter than real life and this just adds to the surrealism which most Italian horror films thrive off of.Sure things often don't make much sense, but it's supposed to be that way. When things are too coherent or too literal it isn't quite as nightmarish. This is widely known for being a horror classic but I have noticed that younger people who have seen it for the first time just don't seem to 'get it'. Unfortunately they might feel a horror film is supposed to follow a certain step by step linear form that has become staple in horror films today.I suggest if you are viewing this for the first time that you get a feel of what Italian horror films are all about. Mood, atmosphere, music, sound, surrealism. All of these elements for films like these are often more important than logic.After just watching it I am surprised to say that there is only one minor problem I have with the film and that's towards the beginning when the two girls get in a fuss with one another. It's the 'names that begin with an 'S'' scene and the two get in each others faces. It seems kind of out of place in the film but it does induce something of a chuckle.Aside from that everything is perfect in mine eyes.The music by Goblin is disturbing. The themes throughout the film will forever stick in your mind. The camera work here is superb. It's one of the best looking films you'll ever see. The actors and actresses that played the school teachers are truly creepy. Down to the little boy in a suit and knee socks.Quite possibly the best Italian horror flick ever made and definitely a top 10 horror film for me."WITCH!"

Terrifying

Suspiria is without a doubt the scariest movie I have ever seen. ***SPOILER***The plot is a relatively straight-forward one: we follow a young girl (Jessica Harper) who travels to a German dance academy, only to find that all is not as it seems - it is run by a coven of witches.***END OF SPOILER***However, its simplicity should not put you off - as with most Argento films, the plot is just there to tie the amazing visuals and creepy music together. From start to finish, SUSPIRIA retains a genuinely scary atmosphere and several moments are unbearably tense.Argento masterfully draws the attention of the viewer from the very first scene to the last and leaves them in an almost hypnotic state. Many may try, but few succeed, and this one certainly belongs in the latter category.Rating: 10/10. For horror fans, this is a must-see!

"Suspria" wasn't as good as I'd heard.

I love scary movies, and since this one was so highly recommended by so many people (critics, Top Ten Lists, the guy on `Beat the Geeks,' Imdb posters, etc...) I tracked down a copy. And I don't get it.I guess because it came out before the other "slasher" films of the '70s, is stylishly filmed, and is foreign, it's been hailed as some sort of masterpiece on the genre. I watch horror movies because I like to be scared, and gruesome deaths and gore don't equal suspense in my opinion. There are a few incredibly disgusting murders in this movie. If you don't like sadistic murders and bloody violence you probably won't like this movie; if you do like sadistic murders and bloody violence there probably aren't enough of them to hold your interest.The movie is about an American who goes to Germany to study dance at a prestigious school. Strange things begin to happen. most of which make no sense and are never explained. Is Susie losing her mind or is the school actually run by a coven of witches? The movie IS beautifully filmed, and there IS a maintained sense of foreboding; but the dialogue and the situations are ridiculous. The main character continually makes stupid choices, clues fall right into her lap, which lead her into ridiculously contrived situations. Few of the `scary' scenes have anything to do with what is actually going on at the school, so at the end the viewer is left with a whole lot of unanswered questions.I had probably just heard too much about the film and the director before I actually saw the movie. My expectations were just too high, I guess. In the end, to me, `Suspiria' wasn't any better than a `Friday the 13th' movie with a really, really good cinematographer. (And a horrible soundtrack.)

Beautiful, Haunting, and Enchanting! Argento's Horror Masterpiece!

I love Dario Argento's work. I caught onto him only a few years ago.
However his film Tenebre is among my favorites along with Profondo Roso and this one Suspiria. The typical horror fan may never understand this film, just as a typical film fan may not either. I have heard so many people make fun of the over dramatic sequences in the film. I have heard a lot about the color of the blood. I have heard even more about the eyes in the window. So many people have lost their ability to think in an abstract sense that the world's art has gone to dung over the years.
In Suspiria, Argento paints a picture. He has been the only person who has been able to put on film the way we all see things when we are afraid.
When we are afraid we do not pay attention to the details simply because we are in a euphoric state of mind. Fear is the greatest boost of adrenaline anyone can receive. Fear unto itself is like a drug, it can give us a very abnormal view on our surroundings. Don't you remember the shadows of your teddy bears when you were children, becoming monsters? Don't you remember seeing things that could never possibly move do the impossible? That is the abstract idea of the famous words "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." The point is when we are afraid our minds become playgrounds for extreme paranoia to the point of delusion. You can scare yourself with your mind more than any person can.
That being said, although nobody will ever truly capture fear, and make you feel the same fear; Dario Argento has found a way for us to explore the beauty and ugliness of fear. Thus far, he has been the only director in film history to scratch the surface in capturing the essence of true fear.
Suspiria is the film that displays it better than any other film. If you like Suspiria check out all of Argento's work. Argento is thus far, the only director to have never disappointed me. Hopefully anyone new to Argento will feel the same. Warning however, cynics need to stay away from this film. While there are many spots in this film that can come off to non-abstract thinkers, (You know who you are, people who like the box office hits, and Academy award winners), poking fun at this film will only make you seem more ignorant than you probably are. If you don't get it don't poke at it, just go watch Jaws, Psycho, or Scream and everything will be ok. You will have return to the land of Hubba Bubba dreams!Suspiria: 10 crows of 10, slaughtered and beautifully arranged.

A mind-numbing experience!

This is the horror movie to see!I watched it for the first time and I was glued to my seat!An incredibly eerie movie with THE best soundtrack I've ever heard!BUY IT!!!

Dario Argento's finest film

Confession time: this is one of the most frightening movies ever made. At least for yours truly. Without a doubt this is Argento' s finest, even better than PROFONDO ROSSO. Everything here in the film, from the actors to the direction, the colours, the music, everything has only one task: Scare you to death. And this is accomplished quite easily! SUSPIRIA contains some of the most frightening and violent death scenes ever. I remember watching the movie for the first time in the '80s when I was a wee lad thinking THEY CAN'T DO THAT while, actually,well,they just did.. Quite a few sleepless nights over this. In short, if you're a horror movie buff, you have to watch this movie. Then you'll be hooked forever.. Truly, really, they don't make'em like this anymore. Rating:8

Hell of a movie

Argento was once dubbed "the Verdi of Violence", and with good reason. SUSPIRIA is perhaps the most operatic horror film ever made (that is, if one doesn't consider Visconti's THE DAMNED a horror film), with great, garish colors, baroque settings, high-pitched music, and incredibly bloody death scenes.

Argento dispenses with logic early on, and if you're looking for linear plot, go elsewhere. This is a nightmare vision captured on celluoid, worthy of Bosch and Dante, and not for the faint-hearted. But if you've got a stomach for it, it's a hell of a movie and an unforgettable experience.

Argento is a master

Ever since I bought it for $2 on VHS, this has been one of my favourite horror movies. It was the first Italian horror I've seen, and unfortunately is still the only Argento film I've had the pleasure of viewing. If the rest of his film are as brilliant as this however, I'm really missing out! A little tidbit that I've always found interesting about this film is that it was originally written to star children. The producers wouldn't allow this, so Argento cast adults, but did not re-write the script. This really enhances the surreal feel of the film, as many of the lines seemed very out of place coming from women in their 20's.The real strength of the film lies in other ares however. First, the lighting and use of colour. As mentioned, Argento gives the whole film an eerie, dreamlike quality through various devices, but the most obvious and effective is the lighting. Always unnatural and unsettling, it creates a wonderful atmosphere.Add to this the amazing Goblin score and the wonderfully orchestrated deaths, and you have a movie sure to creep out most anyone. Highly recommended.9/10

If Luis Bunuel had directed a horror film . . .

. . . oh, but then, he did (*The Exterminating Angel*, *Los Olvidados*. Et cetera). Okay, if he had directed a GORY horror film, *Suspiria* would probably have been the one. Surreal in the extreme, director Dario Argento's movie eschews coherent plotting for sensorial assault. The result is a mixture of mind-blowing mastery and almost-laughable incompetence. The mind-blowing mastery part would include the entire opening sequence, with Jessica Harper's arrival in a Berlin airport radiating hallucinatory lighting and existential menace, followed by the baroquely photographed murder of a young woman who attends the ballet academy. The fate of the blind piano player at the academy, and the red-lit scene where the girls fearfully whisper to each other while a silhouetted figure behind a sheet makes beastly-sounding snoring noises, would also fall under this category. The almost-laughable incompetence parts would include stuff like the really lame episode involving a toy bat attached to a string. Generally, the bigger the scare that Argento goes for, the harder the movie falls on its face. The genius of *Suspiria* is in its dreamlike mood, largely aided and abetted by the architecture of the ballet academy itself -- surely one of the most triumphantly spooky sets in the history of horror films. And underneath it all is the classic score, enjoyable all by itself even without the film, by the Italian group Goblin. Therefore, considering the movie's overall strength while forgiving its moments of weakness, I recommend *Suspiria* without reservations, especially for the ladies out there: the movie was based, apparently, on a DREAM of Argento's then-wife, Daria Nicolodi. (This may explain why the film repeatedly comes up short in the plotting department: there's just no basis in reality, here.) It's a movie about women co-written by a woman on whose dream it's all based. Have fun, girls. [The limited-edition 3-disc set is very affordable, as far as limited-edition 3-disc sets go, so I guess I recommend that version. The 2nd disc is unnecessary -- the material on it is short enough to have fit quite comfortably onto Disc 1, especially when you consider that *Suspiria* is only a 90-minute film. The 3rd disc is a nice touch, however: the complete Goblin score. Also includes a dozen or so "lobby-card reproductions" that all non-collectors will probably put in the circular file.]