News

40 Years Later, ‘Suspiria’ is Still a Horrific and Beautiful Work of Art

Published

7 years ago

August 12, 2017

Today marks the 40th Anniversary of the American release of Dario Argento’s seminal film, Suspiria. While a remake is in the works, many feel that the original is a sacred piece of art that could not be recreated. The saturated colors, cavernous sets, hair-raising score, and off-putting tone of the film make it truly iconic.

So today, let’s take a minute to revisit the immeasurable beauty of Dario Argento’s Suspiria.

via Giphy

First off, the visual tone of the film is incredible. The vibrant hues are a far cry from the usual dark and gritty scenes we’re used to in horror films. Each set is lush and bright, but the colors used are mostly unsettling shades of the primary colors – deep reds, dark yellows and rich blues.

By containing only primary colors, the bold palette overwhelms the senses. The use of secondary colors would create a feeling of balance, so by only providing us with shades of red, blue, yellow, black and white, we feel overpowered. It’s a subtle way to create a reaction from your audience, but it’s effective.

via Tumblr

Scenes shot in this color scheme are usually set in tight hallways or enclosed spaces. As a result, each room, each scene, feels like the walls are closing in on you. When lighter shades are used, the rooms are open, but shot from afar. The subject seems small and insignificant, showing signs of distress in a room that would normally seem bright and calm.

The architecture is stunning and dreamlike. Patterns and accents are used liberally to create a busy scene, even when the camera is stationary.

via Amino

The sets themselves are gorgeous and I really could go on and on about the design, because it’s one of the elements that really sets this film apart. The way the colors and the pressured tone of the film communicate together is beautiful.

Now, let’s add in the music.

Goblin’s persistent score teases us with gravelly, barely audible whispers over top of a repetitive, simple tune. The effect is maddening and creates tension in a way that many modern filmmakers cannot.

As doe-eyed Suzy (in an untouchable performance by Jessica Harper) explores the school through the climax of the film, the music steadily pounds. It’s unrelenting. Sometimes less is more, but in Suspiria, Argento layers more and more on top until you’re stifling under all the pressure.

Speaking of the climax, let there be no mistake – the film is a work of art, but it’s not just a pretty picture. Brutal horror is part of this whole gore-geous package. The blood is vibrant, and the deaths are cruel and creative. Each kill is shocking, but they all fit in with the unnerving yet beautiful aesthetic.

via Giphy

The tone itself is one of dreamy confusion. Because some of the actors were speaking English, others Italian or German, all of the lines were dubbed over in English. When watching the film – if you weren’t aware of the language barrier – you feel like you’re going a bit mad trying to figure out why some of the actresses lips don’t line up with the dialogue.

In Suspiria, young Suzy is trapped in a mystery, traipsing through her memories to try and piece the puzzle together. When she comes to the school, she is thrown into the middle of a strange environment. The audience understands her struggle as we work to comprehend the situation ourselves.

The tension creeps through the film as students are killed in vicious and violent ways. It grows to a climax and explodes – literally – across the screen.

Through the credits, we hear the dying screams of those trapped inside the school. The horror stays with you through to the very end – there is no release until the film is truly over.

via Tumblr

Suspiria proves that horror is not just revving chainsaws, dark spaces, and torture porn. It is a finely crafted work of art. All elements of the film come together to create an incomparable classic that still holds up 40 years later.

Are you dying to know more about Suspiria? Check out this list of 10 Fun Facts about the film!

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

7 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

Published

23 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.