Homework Movie - Suspiria

I think the legend of Suspiria is much larger than the movie itself as a horror film. Looking at it today with more advanced FX technology and a wider perspective of the horror genre, there really isn't much to be terrified about in this movie. Directed by Dario Argento, it's rather campy nature makes it all the more entertaining and fun, more so than scary. A new student getting adjusted to dance school life and then the stories she's told perpetuate the myth of the school's infamy. As the story unfolds, Suzy Banyon, played by Jessica Harper finds out there's much more to her school than was in the brochure. Cat fights and gossip about other students is a pre-requisite and a tough head instructor a given. Creepy staff and the weird nephew are a different touch but don't hold much weight in scaring.

The atmospheric music by Goblin makes the movie suspenseful and moody, but the weird dubbing of the dialogue makes it a little choppy most of the time. Telling most of the story in exposition seems to be the norm from this generation of movie making, so this movie isn't alone in doing this. The staff and doctors outside of the school tell most of what is going to happen rather than showing the audience in a different cut that would have to be longer of this film.

Much to my dismay, this film doesn't live up to the reports of friends that have seen it before. I've given it more than one viewing before making this review. It has elements that would work in another film and it has things that I have seen in other movies, such as the students having something that ruins their rooms and then having to put up a makeshift living quarters in the Dance studio (Much like in Revenge of the Nerds) where all the girls are tossing and turning overnight and our subject/victim notices a strange visitor that plays a part later on in the story.

We watched several movies that had similar efforts for the time period they were filmed in. Cheesy dialogue, blood that was obvious it wasn't blood, and somewhat interesting soundtrack design. The stand out film from class was Dawn of the Dead, the sequel to Night of the Living Dead by horror master craftsman George A. Romero. He was given a place to stay with Suspiria's Argento to write the script for DoD, which he did in three weeks. Although not a masterpiece worthy of AFI top praises for best films ever, DoD does exemplify the genre and with it's comic book feel, doesn't diminish like Suspiria does, taking its story too seriously.