Suspiria (1977)

This film was my first introduction to the world of euro-horror, and I can think of no better introductory film than this to show to the uninitiated. The first time I saw this one was back when I was just thirteen, and I remember coming downstairs for a glass of ice water in the middle of the night. My body was badly sunburned from a day at the beach, and as a result I was pretty dehydrated and just a wee bit feverish as well. Hoping to see if any soft-core porn was on the good old Cinemax station, I instead came across a flick called "Suspiria" as it just started, and I remember sitting completely transfixed through the whole thing, all the while thinking this is one weird movie. You see, up until watching this one I was used to the same tired, old stateside slasher crap, so when I saw a movie like this I was pretty damn impressed.

The plot as it is concerns Suzy Banyon, a young ballet dancer who travels to Germany to study at a famous dance academy there in Freiburg. Unbeknownst to young Suzy, the school also happens to be ran by a coven of some rather nasty witches who don't take kindly to young American girls meddling in their business. The film deals with all sorts of odd happenings that Suzy encounters as she slowly keys in on the dance school's evil secret. Gorgeous photography and camerawork abound as Argento puts the old Mario Bava "Christmas tree" lighting effect to great use. The characters in the film are bathed in reds, greens, blues, etc. to show different emotions and it is all used with great effect and not to just "look pretty" as some have said. The camera pans all around the cursed academy giving off the feeling that even the building itself is alive and thinking evil things. In terms of evil deeds being performed we get a simply stunning double-murder sequence to open the film, maggots, dogs ripping out their owners throats, girls in barb wire, a throat slashing, heart stabbings, and some really ugly Romanian woman. Ugh. Kick ass score by your favorite and mine, "The Goblins" and might I add that it is very, very, loud to boot. I could go on and on but I'll spare you my horrible writing. Let's just say it is a must see, and is needed to be watched in the dark, turned up to max volume, for full effect. A classic, pure and simple.