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Rating: 3.5 stars

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31 days of halloween

All movies seen on 10/07/2010

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Suspiria (1977)

Directed by Dario Argento

Horror

Most recently watched by sensoria, sleestakk, ashe5k, danielt, eduardovictory, SIxBORG, Angjonesy, zombiefreak, Javitron, scottfinn

Overview

An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.

Rated R | Length 99 minutes

Actors

Jessica Harper | Stefania Casini | Flavio Bucci | Miguel Bosé | Barbara Magnolfi | Susanna Javicoli | Eva Axén | Rudolf Schündler | Udo Kier | Alida Valli | Joan Bennett | Margherita Horowitz | Jacopo Mariani | Fulvio Mingozzi | Franca Scagnetti | Renato Scarpa | Serafina Scorceletti | Giuseppe Transocchi | Renata Zamengo | Alessandra Capozzi | Salvatore Capozzi | Diana Ferrara | Cristina Latini | Alfredo Raino | Claudia Zaccari | Dario Argento | Giovanni di Bernardo | Daria Nicolodi | Marina Pierro | Lela Svasta

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

“One of the scariest movies of all time!” – Entertainment Weekly

I don’t think the critics at Entertainment Weekly watch too many Horror films.  On Blue Underground’s fantastically put together DVD release of Dario Argento’sSuspiria, the above quote is in all caps right at the top of the cover art.  Genius marketing if you’re selling this DVD to a budding Horror aficionado.  But, if you’re like me and are a seasoned Horror fan just trying to cross off their “Horror List of Shame” then you’re be sorely disappointed with Suspiria.

My main gripe? There’s really no plot or even characters I care about.  We’re introduced to Suzy Banyon (Jessica Harper) an Americal Ballet dancer who finally gets a chance to study at the Ballet Academy of Freiburg.  Unfortunately for her, strange things happen leading to murders and other unsettling occurences. The problem is, we’re never given a chance to get to know this girl, much less give two shits about her.  She’s just a character we follow through these series of weird events.  Suspiria‘s only saving grace is an amazing score by Goblin and some creative and beautifully haunting visuals.

Suspiria is one of those movies that is held in an extreme high regard among the Horror elite.  Dario Argento is a darling among the hardcore fan base of Horror, but I haven’t seen too many of his movies.  In fact, I think The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is a superior film.  Argento has his place as an inspiration to many Horror Directors and writers, and for that I’m grateful.  However, I think Suspiria is a tad over-hyped.

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