8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy gradually realizes that something very sinister is going on at the school.
Starring: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Barbara MagnolfiHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 48% |
Mystery | 24% |
Supernatural | 17% |
Thriller | 4% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0 (96kHz, 24-bit)
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
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" 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.
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" 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.
1977
Black Label Exclusive #3 / Dark Inker
1977
Black Label Exclusive #3 / Quiltface
1977
Black Label Exclusive #3 / Matt Ryan Tobin
1977
Remastered
1977
Remastered | Limited Edition to 6,000
1977
1980
Profondo rosso
1975
Standard Edition
1982
Standard Edition
1985
Reazione a catena
1971
Sei donne per l'assassino
1964
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo
1970
La bestia uccide a sangue freddo / Asylum Erotica
1971
1987
Cosa avete fatto a Solange?
1972
I corpi presentano tracce di violenza carnale / Carnal Violence
1973
2018
1982
Quella villa accanto al cimitero
1981
4K Restoration | La chiesa | Cathedral of Demons
1989
La Residencia / The Boarding School
1969
Import
2018
Il gatto a nove code | Special Edition
1971
Special Edition | La morte accarezza a mezzanotte
1972
Nude per l'assassino
1975