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

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suspiria

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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‘The Strangers’ Invaded Coachella in Instagramable PR Stunt

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Renny Harlin’s reboot of The Strangers isn’t coming out until May 17, but those murderous home invaders are making a pit stop at Coachella first.

In the latest Instagramable PR stunt, the studio behind the film decided to have the trio of masked intruders crash Coachella, a music festival that takes place for two weekends in Southern California.

The Strangers

This type of publicity began when Paramount did the same thing with their horror movie Smile in 2022. Their version had seemingly ordinary people in populated places look directly into a camera with an evil grin.

The Strangers

Harlin’s reboot is actually a trilogy with a more expansive world than that of the original.

“When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world,” said producer Courtney Solomon. “Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.”

The Strangers

The movie follows a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who “after their car breaks down in an eerie small town, are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers: Chapter 1 the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.”

The Strangers

The Strangers: Chapter 1 opens in theaters on May 17.

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‘Alien’ Returning to Theaters For a Limited Time

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It’s been 45 years since Ridley Scott’s Alien hit theaters and in celebration of that milestone, it is headed back to the big screen for a limited time. And what better day to do that than Alien Day on April 26?

It also works as a primer for the upcoming Fede Alvarez sequel Alien: Romulus opening on August 16. A special feature in which both Alvarez and Scott discuss the original sci-fi classic will be shown as a part of your theater admission. Take a look at the preview of that conversation below.

Fede Alvarez and Ridley Scott

Back in 1979, the original trailer for Alien was kind of terrifying. Imagine sitting in front of a CRT TV (Cathode Ray Tube) at night and suddenly Jerry Goldsmith’s haunting score begins to play as a giant chicken egg starts to crack with beams of light bursting through the shell and the word “Alien” slowly forms in slanted all caps across the screen. To a twelve-year-old, it was a scary pre-bedtime experience, especially Goldsmith’s screaming electronic musical flourishes playing over scenes of the actual movie. Let the “Is it horror or sci-fi?” debate begin.

Alien became a pop culture phenomenon, complete with kid’s toys, a graphic novel, and an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also inspired dioramas in wax museums and even a frightening setpiece at Walt Disney World in the now-defunct Great Movie Ride attraction.

Great Movie Ride

The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and John Hurt. It tells the tale of a futuristic crew of blue-collar workers suddenly awakened out of stasis to investigate an undecipherable distress signal coming from a nearby moon. They investigate the source of the signal and discover it’s a warning and not a cry for help. Unbeknownst to the crew, they have brought a giant space creature back on board which they find out in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history.

It is said that Alvarez’s sequel will pay homage to the original film’s storytelling and set design.

Alien Romulus
Alien (1979)

The Alien theatrical re-release will take place on April 26. Pre-order your tickets and find out where Alien will screen at a theater near you.

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Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Returns with a New Friend, Plus New Life-Size Prop from Spirit Halloween

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Halloween is the greatest holiday of them all. However, every great holiday needs amazing props to go with it. Luckily for you, there are two new amazing props that have been released, which are sure to impress your neighbors and frighten any neighborhood children who are unfortunate enough to wander past your yard.

The first entry is the return of the Home Depot 12-foot skeleton prop. Home Depot has outdone themselves in the past. But this year the company is bringing bigger and better things to their Halloween prop lineup.

Home Depot Skeleton Prop

This year, the company unveiled its new and improved Skelly. But what is a giant skeleton without a loyal friend? Home Depot has also announced that they will release a five-foot tall skeleton dog prop to eternally keep Skelly company as he haunts your yard this spooky season.

This bony pooch will be five feet tall and seven feet long. The prop will also feature a posable mouth and LCD eyes with eight variable settings. Lance Allen, Home Depot’s merchant of decorative Holliday gear, had the following to say about this year’s lineup.

“This year we increased our realism within the animatronics category, created some impressive, licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites. Overall, we are most proud of the quality and value we are able to bring to our customers with these pieces so they can continue to grow their collections.”

Home Depot Prop

But what if giant skeletons just aren’t your thing? Well, Spirit Halloween has you covered with their giant life size Terror Dog replica. This massive prop has been ripped out of your nightmares to appear frighteningly on your lawn.

This prop weighs in at almost fifty pounds and features glowing red eyes that are sure to keep your yard safe from any toilet paper throwing hooligans. This iconic Ghostbusters nightmare is a must have for any fan of 80s horror. Or, anyone who loves all things spooky.

Terror Dog Prop
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