Suspiria

8.7

Less of a narrative and more of a work of art, Dario Argento's cult masterpiece is a thrill from start to finish. Upon the first viewing its hard to comprehend the psychedelic, vivid visuals. It will surely alienate the passive audience, who expect a liner narrative. As a film, it switches from eye-catching to tedious. The performances are very well done but can't stop lulls of soft-spoken dialogue and slower pace. The gorgeous look is art directed within an inch of its life, awash bathed in some of the craziest light ever put on film.

This difficult visual feast ends as suddenly as it starts, making the whole ordeal flow like a visceral dream. Apart from the winning cinematography, the score, performed by horror aficionados Goblin is glorious. It fits the mood perfectly, completing a singular experience of cinema. The same haunting pieces are overused and do get waring after a while, but are effective nonetheless. Puzzling and bizarre more than its scary, Suspiria is on the short list of definitive horror classics.