Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54336 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-10-28
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, German, Italian, Latin, Russian
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Outside of devoted cult audiences, many Americans have yet to discover the extremely stylish, relentlessly terrifying Italian horror genre, or the films of its talented virtuoso, Dario Argento. Suspiria, part one of a still-uncompleted trilogy (the luminously empty Inferno was the second), is considered his masterpiece by Argento devotees but also doubles as a perfect starting point for those unfamiliar with the director or his genre. The convoluted plot follows an American dancer (Jessica Harper) from her arrival at a European ballet school to her discovery that it's actually a witches coven; but, really, don't worry about that too much. Argento makes narrative subservient to technique, preferring instead to assault the senses and nervous system with mood, atmosphere, illusory gore, garish set production, a menacing camera, and perhaps the creepiest score ever created for a movie. It's essentially a series of effectively unsettling set pieces--a raging storm that Harper should have taken for an omen, and a blind man attacked by his own dog are just two examples--strung together on a skeleton structure. But once you've seen it, you'll never forget it. --Dave McCoy

Video Description
DVD Special Features

Language: English
Running Time:95 mins approx

Synopsis
Argento's masterpiece of horror, with its assault of garish colors, booming soundtrack and horrifically dreamlike set pieces, is the cinematic equivalent of an exceptionally scary fun house. It tells the story of Susan (Harper) a young, impressionable American who travels abroad in order to study at a prestigious European ballet academy. From the first day, however, she begins to realize that frightening things are afoot at the hallowed institution. Enduring a rain of maggots, poisoned food and other unpleasant occurrences, she discovers that the school is a secret convening place for an ages-old witches' coven. Cut to various lengths due to violent content, the film's original full running time is 100 minutes.

Customer Reviews

A Proper Horror Film
It's easy to find fault with a film that is poorly dubbed and comes in a slightly grainy and blurred print. However, put that to one side and the sheer quality of the filmmaking comes through. The otherworldy and surreal atmosphere is brilliantly created. Even though you know something nasty is about to happen, you can't help but jump. Much of this is due to an astonishing soundtrack that truly makes the film stand out. After you've seen this film you'll appreciate just how crude and amateurish are the typical Hollywood slasher films.

Emperor's New Clothes?
I can't believe the pretentiousness of most of the reviews here. 'The Emperor's New Clothes' inevitably springs to mind.
'Suspiria' is a vacuous film, badly acted, risible dialogue, garish colours and no plot to speak of, but a series of disjointed scenes with no explanation for any of it.
Complete drivel.
I watched some of it years ago, but reading these ecstatic reviews thought I'd give it another chance.Mistake.
A complete waste of time.
Viv Rendall.

Are you reviewers blind???
To be honest, anyone who classes this as an absolute horror classic, or one of the scariest horror films ever is either delusional or just plain dumb. Maybe many people find it "cool" to jump on the band wagon by supporting a cult-hit director, but trust me if you are a experienced movie/horror fan like me, you'll avoid this all together and not waste your money. A lot of green/red lighting and some strange music do not save this film, it's dreadful.