Suspiria

Luke says:

I’m excited to revisit this old favorite. I saw this the first time at the Art Theatre in Champaign sometime in like 2004. Anyhow, The owner of Lix, a former horror/goth boutique shop in champaign, was hosting a series of horror movies. I ended up going to the by myself. I remember that detail because the host Jill sat next to me when she saw that I was by myself. It may have been a pity sit or she was into me, who knows. I am embarrassed to report that I was a little drunk and I fell asleep so I pretty much blew it. Whatever “It” may have been, which is the story of my early adult life. Anywaaaay, I later rented the movie and fell in love.

This is director Dario Argento’s most popular movie and probably the most famous Giallo film. Giallo translates to yellow in Italian which is a reference to the pulpy paperbacks sold at that time. The genre is generally described as kinda trashy horror psychological thrillers that usually involve a mysterious slasher killer. I think Suspiria elevates the genre to more of a high art status with its creative use of color and avant garde directing. I love Giallo movies. They counterbalance the typically cold American slasher with a more romantic European flair. They tend to be more erotic versus just like topless coeds being murdered in a lake or something. Don't get me wrong, 80’s American slashers are my favs, but it’s nice to add a little opera, a little melodrama to the genre.