Sweet Disposition

Movie Review: SUSPIRIA by Dario Argento

“Suspiria”, has been acclaimed as director Dario Argento’s masterpiece. Known as “the most surreally terrifying screen experiencing of the 1970s”, Suspiria is one of the most beautiful, dream-like horror films ever conceived that reached the crowning achievement of director Dario Argento.

American ballet student Susy Banyon (Jessica Harper) travels to Germany to attend an exclusive ballet school. Once there, she discovers that there is more going on within than just dance instruction. 

Dario Argent  is probobly the most influential contemporary European horror film director. Nearly all of his movies are considered cult films by genre fans. He is also considered known to be an “Italian Hitchcock” based on all of his film masterpieces. His films almost always have fantastic, explosive endings which finishes off with a bang. He is one of the few directors who can create genuine fear in his viewers with his mixture of filming techniques which help to build up the tension until it is absolutely unbearable.

Dario Argentos’s Suspiria starts of with  Susy Banyon arriving to Germany with th hope of pursuing a professional education for ballet, not knowing that fate awaiting her in that school is full of mysterious deaths and dissappearance. The first 20 minutes, Dario Argento already built up suspense and tension that was normally reserved for the climax of a film. The bizarre and upheaving introducion of Susperia was just the beginning of the gore, terror, and intensity of what the film is yet to come.  

Susperia captured the films most horrifying use of color to date. What sets Dario Argento apart from many of his contemporaries is his success with visual imagery. In a style where sudden visual shocks are used to thrill the audience,  Argento’s direction adds a lot of atmosphere to the movie, particularly in the way he uses lights and color. There’s a genuinely creepy mood through the whole film that doesn’t let up.The settings is truly bizarre and done in eye-popping color. They’re complimented by the excellent use of color and lighting. Also the group Goblin contributes to it a downright terrifying and loud and eerie score which really starts to work on the audience. Thunder and lightning, flamboyant colors, an awesome set-design plus the strong and pounding score make this one of the finest works of Dario Argento. An overall psychedelic experience that will stay with you for the rest of your movie-life. 

Not much of a story here, but that’s really not the main thing. Style and atmosphere is the main course here, and it’s execution is completely flawless. The surreal and sometimes day-dreamy quality of the film seems like you are watching someone’s nightmare on your television. The murder scenes are very graphic  aswell. Argento creates elaborate deaths which cannot be quickly forgotten

Besides the stunning cinematography and outstanding art direction, the cast was also suberb. Jessica Harper (Suzy) was brilliant as the lead displaying strengh and vulnerability that made her outstanding, Stephani Casini (Sara) did fine as the lovable “friend”. Joan Bennet’s (Madame Blanc) classy and somewhat cold presence gave the part the right type of feel. A young Udo Kier (Dr. Mandel) did OK with his small role. Alida Valli (Miss Tanner) gave a chilling performance.

Susperia by Dario Alberto is one horror classic that one shouldn’t dare miss!