Suspiria is a 1977 Italian supernatural horror film directed by Dario Argento, who co-wrote the screenplay with Daria Nicolodi, partially based on Thomas De Quincey’s 1845 essay Suspiria de Profundis. The film stars Jessica Harper as an American ballet student who transfers to a prestigious European dance academy but realizes, after a series of murders, that the academy is a front for a coven of witches. It also features Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Alida Valli, Udo Kier, and Joan Bennett, in her final film role.
The majority of Suspiria was shot at De Paoli studios in Rome, where key exterior sets (including the façade of the academy) were constructed. Actress Harper described the film shoot as “very, very focused,” as Argento “knew exactly what he was looking for.” The façade of the academy was replicated on a soundstage from the real-life Whale House in Freiburg. Additional photography took place in Munich, including Daniel’s death scene in the Königsplatz square, as well as the opening scene of the film, which was shot on location at the Munich-Riem Airport (closed in 1992). The scene in which Suzy meets with Dr. Mandel was filmed outside the BMW Headquarters building in Munich.
The film is renowned for its hyper-saturated colors, particularly reds and greens, and its use of bold lighting, giving it a dreamlike, almost nightmarish quality. Argento drew inspiration from fairy tales, which is reflected in the film’s surreal aesthetics. Commenting on the film’s lush colors, Argento said: “We were trying to reproduce the color of Walt Disney’s Snow White; it has been said from the beginning that Technicolor lacked subdued shades, [and] was without nuances—like cut-out cartoons.”
The film’s soundtrack, composed by the progressive rock band Goblin, is jarring, loud, and eerie. It’s an integral part of the film, amplifying its sense of chaos and dread.
Suspiria features some of the most elaborately staged and brutal deaths in horror cinema. The intensity of the violence is heightened by its operatic presentation. The film operates on “dream logic,” where events and characters often feel disconnected from reality, heightening the unsettling atmosphere.
Suspiria was nominated for two Saturn Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Bennett in 1978, and Best DVD Classic Film Release in 2002. It is recognized as one of the most influential films in the horror genre and has received acclaim from critics in retrospective reviews. It served as the inspiration for a 2018 film of the same title, directed by Luca Guadagnino.
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