Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie Review

The career of Dario Argento has seen its ups and downs, with the helmer recently struggling to maintain his vision while dealing with changing industry attitudes and audience expectations. But there was a time when he could do no wrong, with 1977’s “Suspiria” his crowning achievement, gifted a setting and story where he could go hog wild with directorial interests, including immersion into the strangeness of the occult. Blasted with colors, quaking with sound, and teeming with nightmarish encounters, the production reaches deep into the unknown to locate a special feel for unnerving filmmaking, openly trying to disturb viewers with carefully controlled audio and visual elements, while the unexplained passes for mystery, making Argento one of the few helmers in history to pull off this a high-wire act. “Suspiria” carries such incredible menace and beauty, offering a curious balance of horror and art that tends to smother other offerings, but comes up gold here, guiding in great part by Argento’s cinematic perfectionism and comfort with operatic torment, coming up with a dynamic offering that’s terrifying and unforgettable.

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Suspiria" is one of those prized titles that gets fans all riled up whenever a new home video release occurs. There are many opinions on how the picture is supposed to look, and while perhaps nothing matches elements from the original 1977 release, Synapse's new "4K restoration of the original uncut, uncensored Italian 35mm camera negative" presentation (AVC encoded, 2.38:1 aspect ratio) is likely the best the feature has ever looked in the last 40 years. This is a gorgeous view of unrivaled cinematographic achievements, offering wonderful detail to help survey design glory, finding sets dimensional and decoration open for study. Costuming is fibrous and sheerness is retained. Facial particulars are sharp, isolating youthful allure and aged coarseness, while more extreme monstrous appearances preserve make-up work. Colors are the star of the show, bursting with glorious primaries that sustain the nightmarish descent experienced by the lead character. Reds, blues, greens, and yellows command the frame, while skintones are natural. Clothing adds additional hues, exploring ballet simplicity and gown complexity. Delineation is precise. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in top shape.

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Joining the exquisite visual experience is the 4.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix, which handles the aural aggression of "Suspiria" with ideal volume and precision. Music moods and clatter dominate as expected, with sharp instrumentation and position, adding real shock value to the listening event without a moment of distortion. Dialogue exchanges retain their dubbed artificiality, but intelligibility is preserved throughout, achieving supernatural menace when necessary. Sound effects maintain vigor and sharpness, with breaking glass a particular favorite from the production. Atmospherics are energized, getting a feel for cavernous rooms and harsh weather. Panning effects are subtle and effective, bringing out the spookiness of select scenes, adding a welcome sense of movement.

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features Dario Argento scholar Troy Howarth.

• Commentary #2 features Dario Argento scholar Derek Botelho and film scholar David Del Valle.

• "A Sigh from the Depths" (27:07, HD) brings together a small assortment of genre fans and scholars to discuss the lasting legacy of "Suspiria," which everyone seems to recognize as the pinnacle of Dario Argento's career. The gang discusses story origins and influences (including Walt Disney's "Snow White"), cinematographic achievements (including the precise control of colors and camera movement), the film's thematic reach and dream logic, casting issues, murder sequences, Goblin's scoring accomplishments, the oddball marketing push in America, and the picture's continued hold on viewers 40 years after its release.

• "Do You Know Anything About Witches?" (30:06, HD) is a visual essay created by Michael MacKenzie.

• "Suzy in Nazi Germany" (8:01, HD) takes a tour of Munich, the setting for "Suspiria," with narrator Marcus Stiglegger walking viewers through the difficult history and impressive architecture of special locations. Highlights include visits to Airport Munchen, the Black Forest, the Hofbrauhaus (a restaurant where Hitler gave his first speech), and BMW Headquarters, with a mix of film clips and modern day images from the sites helping to connect the informational dots.

• "Olga's Story" (17:14, HD) is an interview with Barbara Magnolfi, who discusses her entrance into the movie business at a young age, navigating an industry that often cast women as either "victims or vixens." Magnolfi recalls her initial meeting with Argento and his professional commitment, sharing an anecdote about the helmer's interest in the precision of her make-up. There's an overview of co-stars and character composition, and she reveals her intense ballet training for a performance sequence that was never shot. Magnolfi is also quite candid about her agent's failure to capitalize on the success of "Suspiria," hurting her desired transition to a Hollywood career.

• International Classics "Breathing Letters" Original U.S. Release Opening Credits (1:41, HD) offers only a slight variation on the original main titles, with 20th Century Fox adding a little punch of the macabre to define their distribution.

• U.S. TV Spots #1 (:36, HD), #2 (:36, HD), and #3 (:36, HD) are offered.

• U.S. Radio Spots #1 (:29), #2 (:28), #3 (:29), and Double Feature #1 (:31) and #2 (:29) are provided.

• And U.S. Trailer #1 (1:02, HD), U.S. Trailer #2 (1:25, HD), and an International Trailer (2:03, HD) are included.

Suspiria Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Suspiria" is one of the great horror films, securing Argento's reputation as a master of the genre. It's a humdinger of a picture that funnels influence and invention into one giant swirl of terror. There's horrible violence and widescreen majesty, witchcraft and ballet, and, for those who appreciate the perversion of man's best friend, a killer dog. Packaged with a haunting, chant-heavy score from Goblin and Luciano Tovoli's career-best cinematography, and here's an irresistible endeavor that remains as potent now as it was in 1977. Synapse's presentation of the film is exceptional, offering fans a chance to refresh appreciation for the feature's technical achievements, also handing newcomers an ideal introduction to the world of "Suspiria" and Argento's love for the surreal and scary.