Dario Argento is Dali and Suspiria is The Persistence of Memory
Wow! I just wrapped up Dario Argento’s Suspiria for the second or third time but watched through different eyes this time. I’ve enjoyed blogging about all things I blog about and for one key reason, the perspective I take on the item going in. Mindfulness is a big idea in culture right now and one that has fascinated me for a while. I’ve heard it said that life is made up of a bunch of moments, some we remember vividly but most we forget. Blogging makes me pay attention differently to the subject and be more immersed in it, I think. Mindfulness is generated in this perspective-based approach. Suspiria viewed through the spectacles of a blog took it to another place.
My writing here is in reference to the 1977 film by director Dario Argento. Art is such a funny thing. It takes so many forms and seems to be ever-developing. Typically, when I think of art, I think of painters, but I am not ignorant. Artists can be found using a drum machine, a pen, a paintbrush, flowers, horns, guitars, or even sitting in a chair with the word “director” penned across the back of it. I’m being stereotypical here because I’ve never seen a movie set. My point is that directors are artists and can put their artistic mark on a film they direct. Perhaps they all do this but, some have styles that stand out. Quentin Tarantino, Alfred Hitchcock, and Tim Burton are three that immediately come to mind for me. Dario Argento is no less an artist than Salvador Dali, Dr. Dre, or Emily Dickinson.
Plot Summed Up Quickly But Gripping Throughout
The story of Suspiria can be summed up quickly. A young ballet dancer goes to a prestigious academy and while there learns, after a series of murders, that an ancient witch and her coven control the school. She discovers this and defeats the witch thus dispersing the evil and seeing the school set ablaze. This short plot takes an hour and a half and is an hour and a half of art and gripping suspense. This “gripping suspense” for me was created through color and music more so than the story. Further, it is this same color and music that grabbed me from an artistic perspective. I intend to direct films one day but currently, I paint. Thus, color and the way it is used is something I pay a lot of attention to. I had no idea this could work so well in an Italian horror movie.
Art within Art, MC Escher and Suspiria
Any student of art has heard of MC Escher. Ironically, such an artistic film has such clear use of another type of artist’s work included. From the very beginning, the patterns and lines on buildings tend to create the illusions that Escher is so well known for. Inside the building, the repeating bird pattern he created decorates the walls. In one of the rooms seen frequently, there is a mural that is reminiscent of his famous staircase drawing. You can read an article by Antbit here that talks more about Escher’s work in this movie and another by John Coulthart here. Clearly, I was not the only person that noticed these things in Suspiria.
Color & Music Create Mood in Italian Horror Cult Classic
Personally, and as I mentioned both earlier in this blog and as its title suggests, color and music use were the keys for me. Again, from the beginning of Suspiria, I was attracted to color use. There is a ton of neon lighting in the opening scenes of Suspiria. Neon contrasts well against the rainstorm and gloominess that we automatically subconsciously create, I think, around rainstorms. Consistency in color use is persistent throughout Suspiria. One scene has a heavy blue light across the shot and one window in the top right corner that is backlight yellow. This creates an analogues color scheme which creates a calming effect. This “calm” then contrasted with the terror of the young lady trying to escape the room. At one point, the room is lit red. The angle changes and the room is lit green. Now, we have a color contrast effect.
Thinking back over this movie, there is very little dialog in it too. Much of the dialog is spoken in a creepy frightened whisper. It’s as if the characters know something or someone might be able to hear what they are saying. Pair this with an almost constant score and you can imagine the effect on the movie. If you’ve ever seen Phantasm (or heard “Pass Me Da’ Green” from Master P’s album Ghetto D), then you know what I mean. Suspiria’s music reminded me of this haunting and alluring melody. Once you hear it, it is hard to forget it. The seemingly constant creepy tunes, snakish whispered dialog, and heavy color overtones take Suspiria to a place of masterpiece in the horror genre. Honestly, the story without these things, is not that chilling. Add them in though, and the chill sets in. This is Argento’s art and genius.
Wow! What A Great Movie
I look forward to my next long walk in the woods with my Rottweiler and to the next time I’m sucked into a painting while 3 hours of my life fly by without notice. These things bring me joy in life. As does finding a great film that I know I can revisit when I need some still, quiet downtime. Suspiria has made its mark on me and its way onto my list of films to watch again and again. I completely understand why this is a cult classic and when you watch, you too may join the cult as I have.
IMDB is a great resource for all things movie related and you can read their reviews of Suspiria here. I’d love for you to link up with me on all social media platforms, read more of my blogs, check out my art, my photography, and more. You can do all of this here. You can also do this from my website here. If you like music, horror movies, pop culture, antiques, and odd stuff, you’ll love my blogs and art.
Got a movie you want to recommend for a blog? Leave your thoughts or suggestions in the comments. What are your thoughts on Suspiria? I know there are many more fans of this great movie out there. Did anyone see this originally? I’d love to talk with you.
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