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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