Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jessica Harper | ... | Suzy Bannion | |
Stefania Casini | ... | Sara | |
Flavio Bucci | ... | Daniel | |
Miguel Bosé | ... | Mark (as Miguel Bosè) | |
Barbara Magnolfi | ... | Olga | |
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Susanna Javicoli | ... | Sonia |
Eva Axén | ... | Pat Hingle | |
Rudolf Schündler | ... | Prof. Milius | |
Udo Kier | ... | Dr. Frank Mandel | |
Alida Valli | ... | Miss Tanner | |
Joan Bennett | ... | Madame Blanc | |
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Margherita Horowitz | ... | Teacher |
Jacopo Mariani | ... | Albert | |
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Fulvio Mingozzi | ... | Taxi Driver |
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Franca Scagnetti | ... | Cook |
Suzy Bannion travels to Germany to perfect her ballet skills. She arrives at the Tanz dance academy in the pouring rain and is refused admission after another woman is seen fleeing the school. She returns the next morning and this time is let in. She learns that the young woman she saw fleeing the previous evening, Pat Hingle, has been found dead. Strange things soon begin to occur. Suzy becomes ill and is put on a special diet; the school becomes infested with maggots; odd sounds abound; and Daniel, the pianist, is killed by his own dog. A bit of research indicates that the ballet school was once a witches' coven - and as Suzy learns, still is. Written by garykmcd
SUSPIRIA is Director Dario Argento's hyper-colorful, dream-like horror tale of witchery and murder. Upon first viewing this film, one can be overwhelmed by the beautiful sets, hypnotic music, and vicious assault sequences.
Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) arrives at a prestigious German ballet school, just in time to see a former student fleeing from the place. Suzy hears a few of the girl's parting words before she disappears into the stormy night. These words just might have great significance. Of course, this is Argento, so, violent, bloody deaths soon begin.
This time, the Giallo master mixes overt supernatural goings-on with his unknown stalker. The victims in this movie are all those who have seen or heard too much, and are a threat to the secret within the academy. Argento goes out of his way to make this as bizarre and engrossing as possible. The set pieces are unforgettable, including the "open heart / skylight", "maggot", and "room of coiled wire" scenes. Joan Bennett is cold and enigmatic as Madame Blanc, and Alida Valli is supremely menacing as Miss Tanner. SUSPIRIA is a film that can be watched many times. One of the greatest horror films ever made...