Suspiria (1977)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  Classic italian horror and the score is great.

• El Hombre I

  
  In response to learning of a remake set to be released in 2012, I thought I'd share my opinion of this unique 1977 film. Very few directors have the visual style of Dario Argento, making him very unique as far as directors go. At times it seems as if the plot is in the… More
  In response to learning of a remake set to be released in 2012, I thought I'd share my opinion of this unique 1977 film. Very few directors have the visual style of Dario Argento, making him very unique as far as directors go. At times it seems as if the plot is in the background while style and shock are at the forefront. The horror genre has painted itself into a corner by sticking to the same formulas, in some cases outright copying. The genre is uninspired and has lost its' magic. Many filmmakers are taking it upon themselves to remake old horror classics (Halloween, Friday the 13th), while the others who venture out are generally stuck making something reminiscent of Saw or The Ring. Let's take a nostalgic trip back to 1977's Suspiria. It's beautiful, spooky and above all, unpredictable. Sure, it may seem timid when held against the shock values of todays films, but those films lack charm. Here, you feel as if you're being told a horrific story by a director who really enjoys scaring you instead of director-for-hire remaking a film about a babysitter tormented by a repeat caller. Suspiria has a Gothic feel laced with a small dose of LSD, appearing hallucinogenic with dramatic lighting effects and unusual camera angles. A classic for sure. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&amp;current=SUSPIRIA13.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/SUSPIRIA13.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Jan Marc M

  
  A haunted ballet school splashed with a bloody barrage of colors and sound, Suspiria is undoubtedly extravagant and bizarre.

• Tim S

  
  Easily Argento's finest work. Absolutely beautiful art direction, color palette and magnificent score... possibly the best score for a horror film ever. It also has the very lovely Jessica Harper in it, which is always a plus. I have to be honest here and say that I saw this when… More
  Easily Argento's finest work. Absolutely beautiful art direction, color palette and magnificent score... possibly the best score for a horror film ever. It also has the very lovely Jessica Harper in it, which is always a plus. I have to be honest here and say that I saw this when I was about 16, I think, and it scared the shit of me. Thing is, I keep coming back for more. I'm just addicted to it, and Argento's work in general. Positively gorgeous film.

• Coxxie M

  
  pretty dancers stabbed by big sharp knife yea Argento is a master of the expressive uh.. intellectual intricacies of.. film and he uses bright flashful colors to juxtapose the transition of his lush story from point A (girl senses horror abound in the spooky mansion. something… More
  pretty dancers stabbed by big sharp knife yea Argento is a master of the expressive uh.. intellectual intricacies of.. film and he uses bright flashful colors to juxtapose the transition of his lush story from point A (girl senses horror abound in the spooky mansion. something definitely not right.) to the marvelous point B (girls killed off one by one in many bizzare, intellectually violent, big meat cleaver through the face kinda ways) he is an auteur of the pioneers of the masters at the top of the horror directors of 1976-1978 totem poll and his masterfullness shows through the brilliantosity shown by his... work.

• Cassandra M

  
  Argento's best known film is probably his most expressive. This is a gem to look at with all it's lush Italian colors seeping out like a blood covered canvas. If you are looking for a horror film for intellectuals, this isn't it, but if you want something that will… More
  Argento's best known film is probably his most expressive. This is a gem to look at with all it's lush Italian colors seeping out like a blood covered canvas. If you are looking for a horror film for intellectuals, this isn't it, but if you want something that will definitely impress you, you've found it. It concerns an old dance company in Freiburg Germany that is headed up by an old witch matriarch who leads the coven in diabolical methods. An unsuspecting student, played wonderfully by Jessica Harper, finds herself piecing together a mystery when she arrives at the school in one of the most enigmatic and beautiful commencements of a film to date. Argento has music, colors, and sounds reverberate like an opera for our eyes to dazzle. He scares us with the rain, the closing of an automatic airport door, and loose tree branches that resemble evil lurking beings. This is one powerful moment. From then on, subtle hints are explored, the supernatural, science, one's faith. Never can we guess what is truly hiding at the academy. One scene of the dance students in the hall is superbly done with loud music, hideous heckling demonic shrieks and strange appearances, this is fantastic eye candy!

• First L

  
  Dario Argento's "Suspiria" is a weird movie. While that's not necessarily a bad thing (and often times, is a good thing), it's not doing anything to help out this film. I'm not going to lie: the visuals, from the sets to the lighting, are excellent at… More
  Dario Argento's "Suspiria" is a weird movie. While that's not necessarily a bad thing (and often times, is a good thing), it's not doing anything to help out this film. I'm not going to lie: the visuals, from the sets to the lighting, are excellent at capturing a certain dream-like atmosphere, and the music (by the band, "Goblin") is repeatedly driven into your skull like chinese water torture; it's enough to drive you crazy. As incredible as the audio/video stimulation is, it's a poor lack of pacing that slows down the plot. If the effect desired is to create a nitemare trip, then some of the less important scenes should've found their way onto the cutting room floor. Also, I have a particular aversion to highly stylized, seventies slasher gore, I find it to be both cheap, phony and boring. Maybe I'm crazy, but watching someone get stabbed to death and thrown out a window just isn't intrinsically scary to me; maybe the whole "mystery killer" thing is the problem. It's not the act so much as who's committing it that's scary. The film takes place in some strange european castle that also serves as an exclusive ballet school. The new girl, an american, is made acutely aware of the strange goings-on at the castle, as two people are murdered her very first night there. From then on, she's put under some sort of spell and people begin dying at random and, then she discovers something and that's it. The end. If you prefer atmosphere to ideas, then this may be your cup of tea. I can't say it was mine.

• Cindy I

  
  Creepy, atmospheric, and kinda sick in places (it IS Dario Argento after all), but also confusing and not particularly scary. The dubbing is odd and distracting -- Udo Keir with an American accent just doesn't sit right with me. The soundtrack gets some credit for being eerie and… More
  Creepy, atmospheric, and kinda sick in places (it IS Dario Argento after all), but also confusing and not particularly scary. The dubbing is odd and distracting -- Udo Keir with an American accent just doesn't sit right with me. The soundtrack gets some credit for being eerie and unnerving, but it's too loud and intrusive. I think the film would have fared better with a more subtle score.

• AJ V

  
  Argento's best movie from what I've seen of his work. The story is creepy and the movie has a great haunting style. I love this movie.

• danny d

  
  although i see the quirkiness in this film that endears it to many, i dont see enough here to justify the reputation that this film has as one of the better horror films of all time. the film is all too simple, and while mostly entertaining it doesnt capitalize on its premise like it… More
  although i see the quirkiness in this film that endears it to many, i dont see enough here to justify the reputation that this film has as one of the better horror films of all time. the film is all too simple, and while mostly entertaining it doesnt capitalize on its premise like it should. at moments the film tries to be charmingly bizarre, but it seems mostly just bizarre.

• Greg S

  
  An American girl goes to a ballet school in Germany and discovers it's run by a coven of witches. Though this is indeed spooky, it's far more notable for its sensory assault---the pounding Goblin soundtrack and Dario Argento's bizarre, baroque color schemes---than it… More
  An American girl goes to a ballet school in Germany and discovers it's run by a coven of witches. Though this is indeed spooky, it's far more notable for its sensory assault---the pounding Goblin soundtrack and Dario Argento's bizarre, baroque color schemes---than it is for the story.

• Jason S

  
  I am pretty amazed that this movie gets such high acclaim. Not only is it a very boring movie with some really terrible acting but the story doesn't really have a direction either. It trips it's way into murder scenes with not much rhyme or reason and the pacing is… More
  I am pretty amazed that this movie gets such high acclaim. Not only is it a very boring movie with some really terrible acting but the story doesn't really have a direction either. It trips it's way into murder scenes with not much rhyme or reason and the pacing is unbearably slow in every scene. While most people praise the use of color in this movie I just thought it made it cartoony and took me out of the film. It's a mess of a film.

• Spencer S

  
  Suspiria was one of the last films shot in Technicolor, and it really does bring out the amazing detailing. It's supposed to signify Snow White, which I suppose I didn't grasp, but I was way more interested in that creepy music. SO creepy, with that male voice singing along.… More
  Suspiria was one of the last films shot in Technicolor, and it really does bring out the amazing detailing. It's supposed to signify Snow White, which I suppose I didn't grasp, but I was way more interested in that creepy music. SO creepy, with that male voice singing along. Still scary, still weird, still Suspiria.

• Randy T

  
  If it is true that Hitchcock's <i>Psycho</i> would have been less effective if it had been filmed in color then the opposite could be said for Dario Argento's <i>Suspiria</i>. It is the abnormally bright hues, especially the reds, that help give the… More
  If it is true that Hitchcock's <i>Psycho</i> would have been less effective if it had been filmed in color then the opposite could be said for Dario Argento's <i>Suspiria</i>. It is the abnormally bright hues, especially the reds, that help give the entire picture a surreal sort of feel and atmosphere. Released in 1977, it has lost some of its initial shock value. In fact, modern "gore-mongers" who enjoy graphic offerings like <i>Saw</i> and <i>Hostel</i> will no doubt find the violence soft-core and perhaps even a little comical. Still, <i>Suspiria</i> is an important, if not timeless, genre classic.

• Jeff "

  
  In Italian cinema, no director has such a chilling vision as Dario Argento. His 1977 Suspiria is the first of his three mother trilogy, and is ultimately the best of the trilogy. The film is haunting, eerie, chilling. No words can truly describe how terrifying this film really is.… More
  In Italian cinema, no director has such a chilling vision as Dario Argento. His 1977 Suspiria is the first of his three mother trilogy, and is ultimately the best of the trilogy. The film is haunting, eerie, chilling. No words can truly describe how terrifying this film really is. Argento has always had a nack for creating something horrifyingly spectacular on film, Suspiria is one of his greatest accomplishments as a director. Suspiria is a light departure from his Giallo horror films, for example this is a supernatural horror film, and his previous works dealt with murderers (Deep Red) another masterpiece. Dario Argento delivers awesome scares that are not easily forgotten once you've seen Suspiria. A fine film from start to finish, Suspiria is one scary ride, and a well written film. Also worth mentioning is an awesome soundtrack by Goblin.

• Nicki M

  
  Great 70's horror. Slow moving, but really scary, and looks great - love the wallpaper in that old school!

• Conner R

  
  Sometimes movies are perfect and this is definitely one of those cases. Argento's directing is flawless and he knows all the necessary factors to instill fear. The lighting is bizarre and matches the offbeat nature of the soundtrack. While I'm not a huge fan of dubbing, this… More
  Sometimes movies are perfect and this is definitely one of those cases. Argento's directing is flawless and he knows all the necessary factors to instill fear. The lighting is bizarre and matches the offbeat nature of the soundtrack. While I'm not a huge fan of dubbing, this is probably the best job of it that i've seen. Jessica Harper did a great job and had me rooting for her the entire time, her closing shot is amazing. The story is so suspenseful and well orchestrated, witches have never been dealt with this good of taste.

• Stella D

  
  atmospheric art/horror gorgeously shot in vivid colors with a fantastic score that makes it twice as creepy. possibly the best horror soundtrack ever. a bit dated with some uneven acting but well deserving of it's fame

• Chris W

  
  Surreal and trippy as all hell. Slightly unwatchable at times (too much plotlessness and meandering and bright garish colors), but if one is in the right mood this can be an unmatched experience. The music is perfect and the violence is fairly brutal. Highly influential, even though… More
  Surreal and trippy as all hell. Slightly unwatchable at times (too much plotlessness and meandering and bright garish colors), but if one is in the right mood this can be an unmatched experience. The music is perfect and the violence is fairly brutal. Highly influential, even though it has its flaws.

• _kelly .

  
  I expected more from Argento; the only bits of this movie I remember are the ones that were highlighted in a documentary on horror films. - I need to give this one another chance after reading what other respected horror fans have written about it. - Revised Viewing Feb 26, 2009: 3 to… More
  I expected more from Argento; the only bits of this movie I remember are the ones that were highlighted in a documentary on horror films. - I need to give this one another chance after reading what other respected horror fans have written about it. - Revised Viewing Feb 26, 2009: 3 to 4.5 Can't believe I was underwhelmed with this before and I think that's because it is very minimalistic on story. Minimalism in story is frustrating for me and makes it tough for me to sit through a first view. Next time around, once I already know the story and have my thirst for details quenched, I can better absorb the image and see its affect on the story and how that creates the film. In case of Suspiria, the image creates incredible tension and SUSPENSE. Argento really knows how to use his camera in this flick. I take back all the negative things I said about in in my Mother of Tears review (but am leaving those complaints up to frame my opinion on MoT). He uses his lighting incredibly well and every shot is framed so nicely. The colors are dazzling, powerful and can be, as a result, overwhelming. The other key killer here is the score. I have not been so creeped out by a score in such a long time, and this is also a shining moment for infamous Goblin. Pretty minimal on gore for an Argento, but the "creature/ghoul" pulled out at the end totally creeped me. The feeling of being within the witches' den is so perfectly captured here that countless films since have aimed for this very high goal. Cannot recommend this enough, though I do caution that if you are not floored the first time around, let it sit a few months and return to it.

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