“Suspiria” (1977) directed by Dario Argento; starring Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini and Joan Bennett / Z-View

Suspiria (1977)

Director: Dario Argento

Screenplay:  Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi; based on Suspiria de Profundis by Thomas De Quincey

Stars:  Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Barbara Magnolfi, Susanna Javicoli, Eva Axén, Alida Valli and Joan Bennett.

Tagline: The Only Thing More Terrifying Than The Last 12 Minutes Of This Film. Are The First 80.

The Plot…

Suzy Bannion, a talented American dancer is excited.  She was accepted to study at the prestigious Tanz dance school in West Germany.  Just prior to Suzy’s arrival a student at the academy was murdered.  That was just the start.  As more students turn up dead, the truth of the school will be revealed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dario Argento’s (co-writer & director) original idea was the story would take place at a dance school for children.  The producers and studio rejected the idea.  They felt having children experience the violence in the film would result in a banned film.  Argento revised the screenplay to consist of young adults… BUT he didn’t rewrite the dialogue.  This explains why some of the dialogue seems childlike.

Most folks like Suspiria much more than me.  I thought it was slow, predictable and not very scary.  Of course, your mileage may vary.

Suspiria (1977) rates 2 of 5 stars.