Tag: Dario argento

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage is a 1970 movie directed by Dario Argento.

WHAT HAPPENS?

An American witnesses a murder in Rome before becoming a target of the killer.

ONE LINE REVIEW

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage is a stylish Giallo thriller that features fun acting and quirky characters.

THE ACTORS

Tony Musante plays Sam, an American novelist who performs an amateur investigation into a series of murders. Despite threats on his life – along with his girlfriend – Musante’s character remains affable and obsessed with solving the mystery, exhibiting an odd calm throughout.

Suzy Kendall’s Julia is excellent as Sam’s girlfriend – who is pulled deeper into danger as the mystery evolves. In many respects, we view terror through Kendall’s expressive eyes – as Musante’s character leads the killer to Suzy. Perhaps the movie’s best – and most tense – scene occurs as Kendall’s Suzy is trapped in her apartment as the killer tries to enter.

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Suspiria

Suspiria is a 1977 movie directed by Dario Argento.

Suspiria tells the story of Suzy Bannion, an American who travels to Germany to attend a famous dance academy. An odd series of occult events leads her to discover that the academy is actually a witches’ coven.

Here’s my one-line review of Suspiria: Dario Argento is a master of style and mood…and everything else is secondary.

In other words, there’s a lot about Suspiria that doesn’t make sense. But that’s also not the point.

From its opening seconds, Suspiria is enveloped in a haunting, pulsing – sometimes howling swirl of electronic sounds. The Italian band Goblin create an extraordinary soundtrack that instantly creates tension. The sinister tone carries into the Tanz Academy, which is a brilliant visual creation.

Argento’s vision is a symmetry of terror featuring direct homages to the occult. The patterns create an uneasy feeling – a sort of epileptic response. It’s a direct assault on our senses and a stunning visceral achievement.

The opening scenes involving departed student Pat Hingle are exceptional. There is gore, carefully paced suspense and brilliant imagery couched in an ample supply of campiness.

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