“Suspiria” is cult-classic supernatural horror film of the 1970s by Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. It was part of a horror sub-genre of Italian cinema known as giallo. A remake of the film was released in 2018 based on Argento’s movie.
It was a nice surprise to see a friend of ours wearing a sweatshirt with a “Suspiria” graphic print on it a few weeks ago. The director Argento’s name was on it, too. We were at a kid’s birthday party along with a dozen or so parents in a suburban Los Angeles location of the generally awful Chuck E. Cheese pizza restaurant when we saw him.
The juxtaposition of the occasion and the “Suspiria” image felt like a micro moment of cognitive dissonance. But we shouldn’t have been surprised. He’s a film buff who works in television production these days.
The original “Suspiria” got mixed reviews upon its 1977 release and was not taken as seriously as it is today. In retrospect, the movie has become a cult film popular with horror fans and well-regarded among cineastes. It is now considered one of the great films of the 20th Century.
If you watch “Suspiria” you’ll quickly notice its distinctive style. The film feels very much a product of the era in which it was made, late 1970s Europe. Its sensibilities are unlike any contemporary American horror films of the same period. Check it out and let us know what you think.
GLOBAL GRAPHICA 