Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 11, 2017

Dario Argento's "Suspiria" (1977) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include original promotional materials for the film; brand new interview with Dario Argento; various archival documentaries that examine the film's production history and groundbreaking style; and more. In English or Italian, with optional English and Italian subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

This film has the reputation of a great cult classic for a good reason. It is so over-the -top, at times so unhinged that it is virtually impossible to brush aside. It is true. Even if you end up disliking the type of entertainment that it delivers, you are unlikely to forget it.

The main character is the young and beautiful American ballerina Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper), who is on her way to a notorious ballet school somewhere in rural Germany. She arrives there on a terrible night -- a heavy rainstorm is pummeling the area and visibility is awful. She is soaking wet when the taxi drops her off in front of the school’s main entrance and, before she is allowed to enter, she has a short and very odd encounter with another girl that screams something at her and then disappears into the night.

Later on, a few words, which are part of a sentence that is broken by the strong winds, keep reappearing in Suzy’s mind, but she struggles to understand their meaning.

On the following morning, after Suzy is introduced to the aging lady running the school, it is revealed that the screaming girl has vanished. Everyone in the school seems genuinely surprised because apparently she was not the type that would abruptly decide to leave without a notice. Suzy then quickly settles down and begins learning the various rules and regulations of the ballet instructors. She also befriends another ballerina, Sara (Stefania Casini), who soon after reveals to her that she is suspicious of the official statement about the missing girl.

As time passes by, Suzy learns of other very bizarre disappearings and odd accidents, and eventually after Sara also vanishes without a trace, she decides that it is time to find out the truth about the prestigious ballet school. She has a pretty good idea where to start, but not where she might end up while playing a detective.

The story of Suspiria is hardly original and anyone with a healthy interest in classic horror cinema would easily discover in it bits and pieces from all sorts of different older horror films. Even its structural construction is conventional. What makes Suspria unique is the type of ambience that Dario Argento and cinematographer Luciano Tovoli create while playing with a variety of different colors and nuanced shadows and wrapping them up with the experimental music and spooky noises of Goblin. So instead of evolving into a whodunit horror thriller Suspiria rapidly dissolves into a very vivid and violent psychedelic nightmare that ends up discarding numerous genre clichés. It really does. Frankly, the entire experience is so intense that attaching the horror label to it actually seems like an undeserved demotion that basically describes only a small part of its identity.

The cast is full of international starts -- the great Alida Valli, Joan Bennett, Udo Kier, and Renato Scarpa contributed to the film -- but in all fairness some of the acting is a bit stiff. However, in an odd sort of way it actually makes the various happenings inside the school even spookier.

*This new release of Suspiria from Australian label Umbrella Entertainment is sourced from a recent 4K restoration that was created for the film’s 40th anniversary. The restoration was completed by TLEFilms FRPS in Germany, and it is the same restoration that is being promoted by local distributors in Italy and the United Kingdom. (See here and here). For reference, in the United States local label Synapse Films is promoting a different 4K restoration of the film.

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Dario Argento's Suspiria arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from the new 4K restoration of the film that was completed by TLEFilms FRPS in Germany. For the record, this isn't the same 4K restoration that U.S. label Synapse Films is promoting.

At the moment I have only one other Blu-ray release of Suspiria in my library which was produced by Nouveaux Pictures/Cine-Excess (now Cult Films) in the United Kingdom in 2010, and I can confirm that the difference in quality between the two is truly beyond dramatic. Indeed, the new 4K master boasts exceptional depth and the type of consistent fluidity that basically ensure the attractive organic appearance that any film should have after it transitions to Blu-ray. Also, I tend to project a lot of my releases and I would like to specifically mention that this master has some of the best shadow definition that I have seen on recent restorations. Obviously, it does help that Suspiria was shot with a very specific stylistic awareness in mind, but I thought that the overall delineation and various shades and nuances were simply exceptional. This brings me to the grading and the type of primary colors and nuances that have been retained on the master, and the end result here is again outstanding. Saturation and balance are excellent, giving the film very convincing period qualities. In fact, I like the overall balance so much that I would go on record here and say that it is one of the best that I have seen done in recent years for a restoration of a genre Italian film. There are no traces of problematic degraining or sharpening adjustments. Image stability is outstanding. Finally, there are no traces of any age-related imperfections to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and another English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Optional English and Italian tracks are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame. (You will have to use your remote control to access them).

The release does not have an audio set up menu and the default track is the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This is the one that I used to view the film, and from what I can tell it is the new 2017 mix. In fact, I realized much later on that there are two extra tracks, and I believe that the second English track is the older mix that was prepared a couple of years ago. Either way, I thought that the newly remixed 5.1 track was superb and made the parts of the film where Goblin's music becomes prominent incredibly effective. Folks that might have had any concerns about age-related anomalies would be pleased to know that the new track is very healthy as well.

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Suspiria Told by Dario Argento (2017) - director Dario Argento is interviewed by journalist Nick Vivarelli from Variety for the 40th anniversary and 4K restoration of Suspiria. The bulk of the information in the interview addresses to the original concept for the film, its production history and cult status. In English and Italian, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (28 min).

• Dario Argento's World of Horror - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the creative world of director Dario Argento and the production history and visual style of arguably his most admired project, Suspiria. Included in the documentary are lengthy technical descriptions by cinematographer Luciano Tovoli who reveals exactly how the film's rich look was created and how various sequences were framed, as well as different clips from archival interviews with Dario Argento. In English and Italian, with printed English subtitles where necessary. (71 min).

• An Eye for Horror - this archival documentary examines the evolution of Dario Argento's cinematic style as well as the tremendous impact his films have had on different filmmakers and the international image of Italian cinema. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with Bill Lustig (Blue Underground), John Carpenter (Escape from New York), actress Daria Nicolodi (Deep Red), critic Alan Jones, rocker Alice Cooper, and actress Jessica Harper (Suspiria), amongst others. In English and Italian, with printed English subtitles where necessary. (57 min).

• Fear at 400 Degrees: The Cine-Excess of Suspiria - this archival documentary examines the groundbreaking visual style of Suspiria. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with Xavier Mendik from Cine-Excess, critic Kim Newman, theorist and academic Dr. Patricia MacCormack, director Norman, J. Warren (Terror), composer Claudio Simoneti, and Dario Argento, amongst others. The documentary was produced by Cine-Excess and Purple Media, and initially appeared on Nouveaux Pictures/Cine-Excess' first release of Suspiria. In English and Italian, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (35 min).

• Exclusive Interview with Dario Argento (2004) - in this archival interview, director Dario Argento explains how Suspiria was conceived and discusses in great detail its unique visual style. There are also interesting observations about the film's critical reception. In Italian, with printed English subtitles. (22 min).

• 25th Anniversary Suspiria Documentary - this archival documentary also appeared on Blue Underground's two-disc DVD release of Suspiria that was produced in 2007. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with Dario Argento, cowriter Daria Nicolodi, cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, the members of Goblin, Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, and Udo Keir. In English and Italian, with imposed English subtitles. (52 min).

• U.S. Trailer - vintage U.S. trailer for Suspiria. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• International Trailer - vintage international trailer for Suspiria. Music only. (2 min).

• U.S. TV spot - vintage U.S. TV spot for Suspiria. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• U.S. Image Gallery - a large collection of original promotional materials for Suspiria.

• Dario Argento Trailer Reel (1970-2009) - a large collection of trailers for other Dario Argento films. (42 min).

• Sleeve - reversible cover.

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This new Blu-ray release of Dario Argento's cult film Suspiria is sourced from one of the two recent 4K restorations of the film. I am yet to see the restoration that was completed by Synapse Films in the United States, but I have nothing but great things to say about TLEFilms FRPS' work. The film has a very solid organic appearance that makes revisiting it on Blu-ray a truly special treat. Umbrella Entertainment's release also has virtually all of the important special features that have appeared on past DVD and Blu-ray releases of Suspiria. Very well done, indeed. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.