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Get out your red and blue gels, because we’re heading back to Italy! This week we’re taking dance lessons at the most devilish dance academy in the world, the home of Helena Markos, in the twisted nightmare world of Dario Argento’s art house/splatter classic, Suspiria!
From Wikipedia:
Suspiria (Latin: [sʊsˈpiːri.a]) is a 1977 Italian supernatural horror film directed by Dario Argento, who co-wrote the screenplay with Daria Nicolodi, partially based on Thomas De Quincey’s 1845 essay Suspiria de Profundis. The film stars Jessica Harper as an American ballet student who transfers to a prestigious dance academy but realizes, after a series of brutal murders, that the academy is a front for a supernatural conspiracy. It also features Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Alida Valli, Udo Kier, and Joan Bennett, in her final film role.
The film is the first of the trilogy Argento refers to as The Three Mothers, which also comprises Inferno (1980) and The Mother of Tears (2007). Suspiria has received a positive response from critics for its visual and stylistic flair, use of vibrant colors and its score by Argento and the progressive rock band Goblin.
Suspiria was nominated for two Saturn Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Bennett in 1978, and Best DVD Classic Film Release, in 2002. It is recognised as one of the most influential films in the horror genre. It served as the inspiration for a 2018 film of the same title, directed by Luca Guadagnino.
Join Clay and Amanda as they stab the exposed, fleshy heart of a light drizzle of maggots, a “school of dance and the occult sciences,” the great Udo Kier in appearance if not in voice, surprise Oktoberfest, puke crystals, casual room full of razor wire, and an actual bird with crystal plumage!
So borrow some dance shoes, run through the Black Forrest in the pouring rain, discover the dark secrets hidden behind the walls of your school, and kill some ancient witches with us…if you dare!