Suspiria (Dario Argento, 1977)

[MarcMorris]

For me, Suspiria rates a ten, Inferno an eight and Mot a one.

[Mannfan]

Mother of Tears, on the other hand, just gets better and better on repeat viewing. The first hour moves along at a delightful place and has [b]several tense and exciting set pieces showing Argento back to true form, including the scene in the museum where Asia Argento is first chased, and the dynamic chase sequence on the train station which equals anything Argento has ever committed to screen.[b]Characters are well-developed, there are echoes of his giallo work here and there, hints at Asia's latent powers, but ultimately she destroys the third Mother using her wits and ingenuity in the closing act. The music is heavily scored to accentuate the pace of the film, and its pleasing to see that after a number of initial poor reviews and disappointed fans, Mother of Tears is now starting to receive a bit of the recognition it now deserves.

Agreed,and my favorite setpiece is probably this beautiful and long steadycam shot.

INFERNO is probably the most fascinating film of the trilogy,but overall i prefer when Argento is making gialli rather than supernatural tales (even if the horror fairy tale PHENOMENA is probably still my fav Argento film..)

[bigandya]

Agreed,and my favorite setpiece is probably this beautiful and long steadycam shot.

INFERNO is probably the most fascinating film of the trilogy,but overall i prefer when Argento is making gialli rather than supernatural tales (even if the horror fairy tale PHENOMENA is probably still my fav Argento film..)

Phenomena has always been my favourite Argento film too.

[jacksmith1983]

Phenomena is pretty much the only pre-90's Argento film I don't like. It has it's moment but for me its a bit of a mess and the premise of a precocious teenage girl arriving at a boarding school in mainland Europe only to be sucked into a spate of brutal murders is essentially a retread of Suspiria.

I'm not a fan.

[SicCoyote]

I liked Phenomena, thought Suspiria wasn't that great, aside from some nice visuals and the end.

[bigandya]

Its really quite amazing how people are so divided on Argento's films.

Surely there's no one who rates Four Flies on Grey Velvet as his best film?

[jacksmith1983]

Generally perhaps not. However, if Four Flies On Grey Velvet had enjoyed the same wide distribution and availability as Argento's other films things might be different.

[Someone Weird]

...if Four Flies On Grey Velvet had enjoyed the same wide distribution and availability as Argento's other films things might be different.

I disagree. But it would definitely become more of a contender for Argento's most boring movie....and that's up against some pretty strong competition (i.e. Cat O'Nine Tails).

[DarkMother]

It seems that no one seems to like Four Flies.... but it's one of his best.
Mother of Tears was bad (especially the Obi Wan return of a meaningless character), but Phantom of the Opera was (and still is) laughable and almost impossible to watch.
Suspiria though is in my top 3 anyways. Phenomena is good but tries my patience every now and then.

[bigandya]

It seems that no one seems to like Four Flies.... but it's one of his best.
.

I thought there might be one

[Pinback]

On a side note it appears that the film has now gone OOP in the UK. However, you can still pick up the Stateside release from Blue Underground fairly inexpensively. However, I should imagine everyone already owns Suspiria anyway, right?

I don't have Suspiria in my collection, but this thread has re-awakened my interest, so thanks. it's been a few years since I last saw it. I'm thinking of buying the Japanese version of Suspiria from ebay, which is transferred from the Anchor Bay region 1 release from a few years back. According to the reviews I've read the disc is supplemented with the 25th Anniversary documentary, but hampered by the fact that not all the interviews are in English and the only subtitles available are Japanese. But then, at the moment it's not attracting many bids, and I like the look of the cover.

[MarcMorris]

The Blue Underground re-release can be had quite cheaply and comes highly recommended.

Suspiria (2 disc SE): amazon.co.uk

[D'Amato lives!]

I liked Phenomena, thought Suspiria wasn't that great, aside from some nice visuals and the end.

I've had the Anchor Bay UK 2-discer on my shelves since 2005 and watched it (and indeed Suspiria) for the very first time last night.....

Not that fussed to be honest. Might be one that repeated viewing help you to appreciate maybe.

[viva la gore]

Watched it twice now. Enjoyed it alot more than Inferno

[Pricey]

Have the Italian language DVD of FIVE DAYS OF MILAN, but haven't sat through it because it has no subs

Five Days In Milan is actually not a bad watch without subs. The film was made just before Deep Red, so it's very skillfullt shot, and has some surprisingly intense and violent set pieces. Give it a try.

[fredzilla]

Four Flies is way better than the overrated Bird. The editing and acting is flawless, a smart and surprising script and overall one of the best stuff Argento made in the seventies.

[Companero]

Five Days In Milan is actually not a bad watch without subs. The film was made just before Deep Red, so it's very skillfullt shot, and has some surprisingly intense and violent set pieces. Give it a try.

Cheers for that, mate - will have to dig it out and give it a go.

Four Flies is way better than the overrated Bird. The editing and acting is flawless, a smart and surprising script and overall one of the best stuff Argento made in the seventies.

I disagree. I like FOUR FLIES and will say that it's definitely a "grower". I've probably seen the film five or six times since seeing it for the first time 15 or so years ago. There are elements that are great: photography and Morricone's score especially, but to me BIRD is definitely Argento's greatest "straight" giallo, better than even TENEBRE and DEEP RED (though only just), in my opinion. There's something very simplistic about the narrative that bests that of FLIES which is really rather silly.

[Pricey]

I haven't been able to get through Four Flies on Grey Velvet in one sitting. It makes me drop off to sleep for some reason. I love all the trick shots, and the ending was pretty cool (Although quite obvious), but it lacks the energy of the other stuff Argento was doing at that point in his career IMO (Compared to his recent output, it's bloody Citizen Kane).

[christats]

Is the Suspiria remake still happening,with Natalie Portman.?

Or is it speculative bullcrap I just happened upon,on Wikipedia last night.?

(I just watched Inferno last night again for the first time in ages.I still find it sparse but very stylish.)

[thehamish]

haha didnt that just win an oscar? seriously though, a remake will only be poor, theyl fuck up the music for a start, and mother(fucker) of tears?? please. can i just say that my mates who always laughed at the pacing of italian shockers (nae just argento) proclaimed it to be their FAVOURITE argento film. suffice to say i DONT agree.