I think Argento films in general, and this one in particular, intends to put all the effort on the visual aspects as Argento makes a noble effort to make his movie feel like a nightmare. In most cases, nightmares are filled with disturbing elements, while the events not necessarily make too much sense.

I can see why a lot of people dislike "Suspiria" and I don't blame them for that. I can see why some consider this overrated and even plain silly, but I regard this film as a very special one. If you hated it, just let it go, but if you are not 100% about how you feel about this, give it another chance someday.

Consider "Suspiria" like a dark fairy tale that takes place in someone else's nightmare and I can assure you, you'll find yourself appreciating it a lot more.

@Phasmophobia said:

The acting and dubbing are awful, the script is poor (the scene where the two women stick their tongues out at each other is cringeworthy), and the score is loud and grating.

I agree, the movie was awful on so many levels. And the story was just ridiculous and didn't make any sense.

Actually, I loved the sound. It fits the movie, and sticks...

I thought the music helped it to be very scary when otherwise, it wouldn't have been. The special effects were terrible, and some things here and there didn't make sense. The overall plot, though, I thought was obvious and I don't understand why many people seem to say it "has no plot" or doesn't make sense. It wasn't particularly interesting or inventive of a plot, but it definitely had one.

I didn't have a problem with the acting either, and I think you just can't judge the acting in a movie that's dubbed. You aren't seeing the full performance of the actors; you're getting half a performance and another half from the voice actors.

It's one of those 'visual poem' films where the imagery is everything. Those garish colours accompanied by that oppressive jingling music and occasional extreme gore makes for a very peculiar nightmare - a kind of feminine evil (witches) instead of the typical darkness and deep bass that characterises most horror. It's sickly sweet, beautifully putrid.

I can't say I particularly like the film but I do appreciate it, and it haunts well after a viewing which is a sign of good work. It's also hugely helped by Jessica Harper whose beauty and nice central performance hold the whole thing together.

@Drooch said:

It's one of those 'visual poem' films where the imagery is everything. Those garish colours accompanied by that oppressive jingling music and occasional extreme gore makes for a very peculiar nightmare - a kind of feminine evil (witches) instead of the typical darkness and deep bass that characterises most horror. It's sickly sweet, beautifully putrid.

I can't say I particularly like the film but I do appreciate it, and it haunts well after a viewing which is a sign of good work. It's also hugely helped by Jessica Harper whose beauty and nice central performance hold the whole thing together.

I'm in the same boat as you. I don't think I like the film much either. It still deserves a second viewing from me, though.

Oh really? The sounds is one of the strongest things about this amazing movie and its theme is one of the greatest horror movie themes ever. Not to mention brilliant and really creepy death scenes

I actually thought the music was pretty good but stretched too thin. You heard the same stanzas over and over again and I think this is what people mean when they say "grating" . You just get annoyed hearing the same piece over and over again. A shame because the band who created the soundtrack, goblin, is obviously pretty talented. Definitely very creepy music.

Suspiria (1977) - 6 outta 10 stars

@mechajutaro said:

This one didn't have Dakota Johnson going full-frontal, as was the case in the re-make. Otherwise, it's a brilliant film, Argento firing on every last cylinder and then some

I didn't watch the re-make because it's a remake. 9 out of 10 times they are worse than the original. So for a film that I wasn't too crazy with to begin with I would think the remake would probably be abysmal.