Suspiria – 1977 – Dario Argento

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Suspiria is an Italian horror movie based on an American ballet student who transfers to a dance academy in Germany. The first thing noticeable about this film is the peculiar set design. Despite the film being based on witches and the supernatural Argento went for a very bright and eccentric approach which is interesting and depicts this creepy and sinister space in a more sophisticated way opposed to just making it look dark and shabby. There are a lot of bright primary colours used in an almost infantile nature especially visible in the infamous cathedral type windows which in many scenes beam bright colours on to the floors. “Argento's visuals actively evoke a fairy-tale fantastique, engaging and toying with the Technicolor glory of Disney's cartoon version of Snow White, a film the director had been obsessed with since youth.”(Gonzalez 2001)

The colour red is an ongoing theme throughout the film, conveyed through the lighting, the colour of most of the buildings wallpaper and the bright blood which in most scenes is contrasted against a white background to draw emphasis. The effect of this is probably symbolic or done to make up for the child-like appearance of the set by foreshadowing the danger that is to come when

the witches are revealed to us. “And then there's Argento's masterful use of deep primary colours — the sets are bathed in garish red and green light (he acquired 1950s Technicolor stock to get the effect) giving the whole film a hallucinatory intensity.”(Smith 2010) The use of these colours acts as a visual treat to the audience and separates this film from normal horror making it a creative depiction of art rather than an accustomed slasher.

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Right at the beginning of the film Argento throws the audience straight into two violent murders which the audience are left wondering who was responsible. This is a great method of engaging the audience as they are fixed on unravelling who was the mystery murderer. “The violence that Dario had subjected his audience to in his earlier films, would be brought to a feverish pitch as the masses lay witness to barbed wire tearing flesh, a savage hanging, and a stained glass laceration covered in candy coated colors that could warp the mind. His visual potency was as venomous as his content and none showcased this fact as expertly as Suspiria.” (Shatzer 2011) The violent scenes in this movie have influenced films such as Black Swan and are used to disturb through concept but at the same time please the audience visually.

Bibliography

Ed Gonzalez 2001– Available at: http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/suspiria

Adam Smith 2010 – Available at: http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132659

Jay Shatzer 2011 – Available at: http://thelucidnightmare.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/review-suspiria.html

Fig 1 – Available at: http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3260142/exclusive-weve-got-the-first-look-at-five-amazing-limited-edition-goblin-posters/#jp-carousel-3260147

Fig 2 – Available at: http://whiggles.landofwhimsy.com/archives/2009/03/suspiria_bd_initial_impression.html

Fig 3 – Available at: http://acidemic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/suspiria-for-men-only-god-forgives-2013.html

Fig 4 – Available at: http://thefilmemporium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/results-of-recent-poll-dario-argento.html