SUSPIRIA (1977)

Dario Argento's reputation is lofty in Italy and Suspiria gives Americans a good glimpse as to why.  The dialogue is occasionally laughable but the rest of the horror elements are excellent and result in that rarity: a genuinely scary movie.

Suzy, a young dancer, goes to a ballet school in Germany to complete her training.  Upon her arrival, she sees a young girl leaving the premises in an apparent panic. The next day, the girl is gruesomely murdered.  This triggers a chain reaction of terrible occurrences in the school.  The storyline isn't particularly unique - it has in fact been told many times in various forms - but what it lacks in originality, it compensates for with style and fluid direction by Argento.

Because Argento realizes the importance of atmosphere, the visuals in Suspiria are flawless.  The color schemes are vibrant but never appear artificial; they contrast with shadows to create a powerful aura of fear.  Argento takes his time with the camera, often slowly tracking the character on screen to evoke a sense of dread.  Among the many memorable shots are an extreme high-angle shot that looks down upon the campus and a hypnotic look at Suzy creeping down a dark corridor, rain reflected on the shadowy walls.  The score (by the band Goblin) is eerie and nicely accompanies the direction.  Wisely, Argento doesn't overuse it; he's clearly aware that silence is often the scariest sound of all.

Suspiria has several gory deaths but heightens its suspense primarily via the unknown.  The previously mentioned camerawork and pacing are so good throughout its 98 minutes that we rarely feel safe.  The final revelations aren't especially difficult to discern and ultimately are a tad unrewarding but Argento never takes his foot off the atmospheric pedal, and the anxiety in the viewer lingers until the credits begin to roll.

Review by Gabe Leibowitz: 3/1/03

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