15 Favorite Horror Films - #12

Suspiria - (1977)

      As I warned, some of the films on this list are also included in my previous list, 30 Films That Made Me Who I Am.  This is the first of those.  Since I already spoke at length about Suspiria just two months ago, I'll try to make this installment a bit shorter.  If you'd like a more in-depth view on the film, go read that one.  It's still on here.

     Dario Argento back in his early days made very interesting crime and horror films utilizing interesting light schemes, camera angles, and of course deaths.  Many critics bemoan his lack of plots that make sense, but in Suspiria's case, the fact that parts of the film are never explained or don't really make much sense (Who makes a room, puts the floor 8 feet deeper than the door, and fills it with barbed wire?) actually add to the film.  I get tired of many of the current crop of horror films springing up recently.  They try to explain every single thing that happens in the film, leaving their endings sub-par.  Making people who have seen the films not have any lingering effects.  You want to let people leave the theater wondering what was going on in the film.  Make things open to theories or not revealing a cause at all.  This is why The Shining, The Birds, Jaws, Hellraiser, Halloween...  Why all of those work so well.  Not everything is handed to you on a plate.  Why did the shark attack so often in Jaws?  What caused the birds to suddenly attack in The Birds?  Why did Michael Myers go after white teenage girls?  The unexplained or inexplicable are the biggest causes of horror, but studios don't really understand that anymore.  And neither do audiences, sadly.  If you don't explain everything, it's considered a plot hole unfortunately.

I think the Bravo special of 100 Scariest Movie Moments have said much of what I want to say. 

And of course I must again mention the genius that is the music of Goblin.  The soundtrack is in your face, filled with primal drumming, John Carpenter-like repeating piano lines, and raspy voices shouting "Witch!" and singing along with the piano melody.   Suspiria is an art horror fantasy film.  It's like watching a Hieronymous Bosch painting come to life.  Each image like a beautifully put together picture.  Those rich primary colors taking you into a dream-like film.  And in fact, the film has a sort of dream logic to it.  The door knobs are at head level to the girls in the film.  The hallways are lit in bright red and blues as it storms outside.  I would say it's like a fever dream come to life.  Only in a nightmare would a bunch of maggots start falling from the ceiling.  It sounds like something that would happen in one of mine.

In case you haven't gotten the hint yet, I heavily suggest you see this film.  And if you have already, see it again.  It's on two of my lists so far, so it definitely has my endorsement.  I mean, look at this clip and tell me it isn't beautiful!