TMR 030 – Suspiria (1977)

Total Movie Recall

Suspiria (1977) d. Dario Argento written by: Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi Starring: Jessica Harper Stefania Casini Flavio Bucci Udo Kier Joan Bennett

This week on Total Movie Recall, we test our feminist bona fides and flex our rigorous academic muscles dissecting the precise and not-at-all haphazard imagery of Dario Argento's giallo horror film, Suspiria. Ryan fantasizes about disappearing into a Black Forest fairytale world where there are no problems and noted ballerina enthusiast Steve remains unimpressed with the technical rigors of this film. Cool colors, though.

Suzy (Jessica Harper) travels to Germany to attend ballet school. When she arrives, late on a stormy night, no one lets her in, and she sees Pat (Eva Axén), another student, fleeing from the school. When Pat reaches her apartment, she is murdered. The next day, Suzy is admitted to her new school, but has a difficult time settling in. She hears noises, and often feels ill. As more people die, Suzy uncovers the terrifying secret history of the place.

Things discussed in the show: The Three Mothers Red Dead Redemption 2 Suspiria (2018, Luca Guadagnino, Chloë Grace Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Doris Hick) Anthony Bourdain and Asia Argento The Crow (1994, Alex Proyas, Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, Rochelle Davis) '80s & '90s sitcoms: Wings, Frasier, Step by Step, Family Matters, Dinosaurs and Cheers South Park The Simpsons Community (Dan Harmon, Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash, Chevy Chase) The Russo Brothers Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015, Joss Whedon, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo) Igmar Bergman Chopping Mall (1986, Killbots, Jim Wynorski, Kelli Maroney, Tony O'Dell, Russell Todd) Dr. Killbot Always Sunny in Philadelphia / Pepe Silvia Zack Snyder: Sucker Punch, Dawn of the Dead, 300, Justice League, The Snyder Cut, Snow Steam Iron George Romero Return to Oz (1985, Walter Murch, Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh) John Milius The old snail mail DVD days of Netflix Letterboxd app Alamo Drafthouse DTLA's DVD library Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1935, Disney) The Suspiria soundtrack by Goblin Phantom of the Paradise (1974, Brian De Palma, Paul Williams, William Finley, Jessica Harper) Farrah Fawcett hair Psychedelic horror Mandy (2018, Panos Cosmatos, Casper Kelly, Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache) Color Out of Space (2019, Richard Stanley, Scarlett Amaris, H.P. Lovecraft, Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur) Rosemary's Baby (1968, Roman Polanski, Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon) Giallo films American Movie (1999, Coven, Chris Smith, Mark Borchardt, Mike Schank, Tom Schimmels) The Undershorts Film Festival Chicago The Lost Boys (1987, Joel Schumacher Thomas De Quincy, occult writer: Confessions of an English Opium Eater, Suspiria De Profundis Santa Muerte Inferno (1980, Leigh McCloskey, Irene Miracle, Eleonora Giorgi) Yazidi culture and the icon of the Peacock angel Supernatural - The French Mistake episode

Next week: Naked Gun 33 1/3