This is part 1 of a double feature in which Jay and Josh discuss the two Suspirias! In this part, they focus on the original Dario Argento classic from 1977. Look out! Witches!
It should be pointed out that Suspiria was written with the intention to have children play the students, but the producers knew the movie would never pass the censors (or, probably, wouldn't even be distributed) if it had full on butchery of kids in it. But Argento kept the child-like dialogue, and even had the sets architected to make the characters look smaller and child like. The door knobs are raised so Susie has to reach up to open them. The story also came from Dario Nicoladi's grandmother who said she went to a private school with an urban myth of it being run by witches.
You know what, that factoid about the movie makes the scene about the people whose names start with "S" being snakes far more believable, it's a very childish thing to say ... seeing adults (or late teens) saying very childish stuff like that was a little out of place.
I always figured that the blue lights in the film are showing the audience things that are actually in the dark for the characters. The barbed wire scene is scarier if you realize that it's all in the pitch black for the character. We can see it, she can't. Also, not talking about the scene with the blind man and his dog is criminal!
The dumbest thing is it's not even barbed, it's just wires and the movie is choke-full with moments like that. Shoud've been called Suspiria of Disbelief
@@schweppes1313 1) It doesnt matter if there are barbs or not because they never clarify it's barbed wire. She's trapped, simple as that. If you're letting that ruin the movie for you, it's a you thing and has nothing to do with the quality of the film. 2) I'm gonna be real with you dude, it's not set in reality. The film opens with this hint that the world outside the doors is Argento's, and he's going to take us on a fantastical adventure that evolves into a nightmare. It's a genius film and an incredible experience.
@@colevacheron7312 Sure. Sarah just has an extreme case of hematidrosis, that's also why we don't see her dance. It all makes sense now. I'm all for surreal and dreamlike imagery, but it still has to translate character's experience to the audience to make them invested in whatever's happening on screen. This movie has amazing camera work, gorgeous set design, cool soundtrack and the opening scene works extremely well, especially for 1977. But it's far from perfect and moments like that wire trap or killer's bone-chilling struggle against The Latch don't really enchance the viewing experience.
@@User-xw6kd Yeah a lot of Italian movies were made like that for a while. They were shot without audio, all sounds were added back in later, and the actors would speak their own native languages and then be re-dubbed in whatever language they needed.
"It's a nightmare" is the best description I've ever heard for Suspiria. Nightmares are almost always rective, not proactive. You only realize things are happening once they've happened. It's the best explanation for the barbed wire scene I've come across. Not in the sense that it's a plot hole that needs filling, but because the characters can't know anything the viewer doesn't know. She didn't know the barbed wire was there because we didn't. Honestly, that's kind of a stroke of genius in helping me explain why other people should watch it.
Honestly this is the perfect platform for Josh. On BOTW he wants to recap those terrible movies beat by beat by beat, while the other three panelists generally don't care and will make jokes over the top of him, sometimes to his frustration. Here at least his attention to detail is worth the effort.
The funniest bit in all of BOTW is when Josh yells at Mike and Rich talking amongst themselves while he’s explaining a film and he says “Im trying to talk about Dr Butcher” and Rich plainly says “No one cares.”
Josh and Rich are my favorite re:view hosts. I always see comments complaining that they want more of Rich and Mike cracking jokes but I actually like the commentary these guys bring. Josh shines when he's in a focused, mostly-serious discussion, as seen with the episodes on Erasherhead, Fire Walk With Me, Martin, and Pink Flamingos. He always brings lots of good insights to the table even when everyone is ragging on him for not being hammy like Rich and Mike. I like crude jokes at the expense of elderly people and AIDs, but I also like articulate and impassioned film discussion.
Additionally, I think Josh has some underrated lines that are funny not by virtue of him deliberately trying to be jokey, but just how he passionately he phrases stuff. I still think of the time they discussed "Wired to Kill" and Josh has this genuine exasperation his voice when he says "Becky _just_ wanted a place to fucking sleep." There's also the last episode of BotW where Mike is about to pull another "Vampire Assassin" and Josh immediately guesses what he's about to do, which I got a good chuckle from.
The good thing about the ending is that the house itself concedes defeat to the victorious Susie and allows her to leave, opening an escape path for her amidst the chaos of its self-destruction. That's why the ending has never seemed too abrupt or unsatisfying to me. And I love that a smiling Susie is allowed her victory without some crummy last-second twist that robs her (and us) of it.
I first saw Suspiria in cinemas a few years ago, and it was simply one of the great experiences of my life. Everyone reacted appropriately, everyone there was a fan of cinema, everyone loved it. The soundtrack was so loud, it felt like a rock concert.
I'll throw my hat into this ring and wish for a 'Lost Highway' re:View. I've got a feeling, though, that the next piece of Lynch's work they'd cover in an episode would be 'Blue Velvet'.
3:57 It's funny because I'm italian and I growed up with dubbed films, so when I first started watching english movies in their original language I basically had your same reaction! XD
Lol it did cross my mind that there was a reason that jay and josh did this episode. Actually it crossed my mind watching the review of the remake. They did that one too.
fun fact the film phenomena actually served as the main inspiration for the survival horror game "Clock Tower" to the point where the lead actresses likeness was used.
Part of what i love about the original is that there are moments in the film that you get the feeling the characters are being watched, but it's never confirmed if they are. Like when they're swimming in the pool and then it's an Arial shot with intense music while they're talking.
As I was watching this film something donned on me; I think I've seen this plot before. Then I remembered, I saw a parody of this on The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy when I was a kid. The episode in question was "Billy Idiot" where Billy enrolls in a ballet school only to discover it's run by this witch who steals the souls of the students.
22:57 I’d love a Re:View for Twin Peaks The Return. I know it’s technically a full season of television but it felt more like Lynch’s 18-hour magnum opus to me.
Can't believe you overlooked the horrific scene where that blind guy's seeing-eye dog gets demon possessed and attacks him. The tragedy of that scene and the way the tension built as the dog was barking ferociously at an invisible entity in that dark courtyard at night, while the blind guy just stood there freaking out, until his dog turned on him. That scene still bothers me.
What's funny is that the first time I watched Suspiria I didn't even know it had been dubbed into English, so I watched the Italian version with English subtitles. I still really loved it though because holy crap those visuals are really wonderful. Besides Mandy, I can't think of another movie that was so bold with color.
@@allgonoemo4217 It isn't "being pretentious". It is refreshing to see a director who does seem to perfectly understand what makes of another movie a classic and then using this understanding to tell his own story. If anything I found the remake of Suspiria "pretentious". It tried to put complexity in what is actually a very simple dark fairy tale - thus totally missing the point.
@@vincenzoberetta1085 what is u talking about baby Neon Demon isnt even in the same neighborhood as Suspiria Colours go brrrr but so what Dont be so pretentious
I love the original Suspiria so much! I'm dying to see the new Luca Guadagnino version too. Always good to see Jay and Josh covering the weirder films on Re:view!
Pat Hingle's been in his fair share of pulpy westerns, too. I recognized him from Hang 'Em High, which was probably the most lynching-focused western of the 20th Century.
My first encounter with "Suspiria" was back sometime in the mid 80's. I happened upon it at one or two in the morning one weekend over summer vacation - back when a handful of broadcast channels would run movies instead of signing off. One local affiliate in particular would routinely air Italian schlock cinema. I was genuinely creeped-out by it but was so mesmerized that I could not stop watching. The barbed wire scene has always stuck with me - the whole thing captured the tone and logic of a nightmare, not unlike Don Coscarelli's "Phantasm" (1979).
I watched this movie with a buddy of mine a year back. It was my first time watching it. He was really insistent that I would love it. Kind of what Jay says at the end hits home for me. Suspiria is one of the most visually entertaining things I have ever seen. I doubt Ill ever see a movie shot this well and be utterly captivating.
The crashing through the stained class ceiling window, the little bowl cut boy, and even some musical stings were brought back in the Super Famicom and PS1 Clock Tower games. :)
as a kid here in italy we didn't have halloween but i remember one 31st oct. when a friend's dad, to mark the spookiness of the date, made us watch Deep Red - we were 10 or 11.
just watching this for the first time, thank you for reviewing this one!! I love the original Suspiria so I was so excited to see this!! One of the most gorgeous horror movies ever.
The Dougy Jones reference is proof positive that Jay and Josh have seen Twin Peaks: The Return and have consciously decided not to do a re:view on it yet.
Dario Argento sounds like a frozen dinner brand that I'd get at the supermarket. "I don't feel like cooking tonight, I'm gonna go get a frozen lasagna." "Make sure you get Dario Argento. They're the best."
How did they handle the balancing of the live band sound against the soundtrack? When Goblin was playing did they turn down the soundtrack audio or what did they do?
@@montag4516they muted the film (apart from dialogue) and played the entirety of the music/instrumentals for the film live. I say them do the same with Deamons last week. It was amazing.
Very cool, and somewhat akin to the old days of silent films where they had someone playing a piano or organ during the film. They did the Suspiria show not too far from me but I wasn't able to make it there that night. Sorry that I missed it. If they happen to tour it again I will try to see it.
I've read that it was supposed to be teens... not adults... also many scenes are direct recreation of Argento's nightmares (like the killing the witch scene)... This explains a lot!
Yay, I just recently borrowed the limited Anchor Bay DVD from my brother and will watch it for the first time today. Right after I´ll watch this. Perfect!
Update: The region free DVD Player, that I also borrowed for this purpose, seems not be working. No Signal ... Although I tested it last weekend and everything worked fine! Screw you technology! Fuckin depressing.
Great Review! You should watch Berberian Sound Studio, great homage to giallo films and the sound/foley department in particular! Greetings from Argentina.
Oh, wow! I'm going to see this at my local independent theater tonight! I can't wait to see it on the big screen and then watch this re:view. 🤩 Props to the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge for consistently screening awesome movies. 💖 And props to RLM for being inexplicably in tune with my movie watching habits all the time. 🤓 Keep this stuff coming, I love all of your perspectives!
Noun edgelord (plural edgelords) (informal, derogatory, Internet slang) Someone who attempts to seem edgy by doing or saying risque or offensive things. He's trying to imply that you only like those movies (or pretend to like them) because it makes you seem more cool or interesting and that you should like brainless CGI movies and play with toy lightsabers like him.
@@Hatingmeisconforming Well i'm guessing he was addressing you as he replied directly to your comment and not in the main thread. Don't worry about it hes just a troll, and not a very good one at that.
My first experience of Suspiria was at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival where Goblin performed a LIVE SOUNDTRACK to the film!!! It was absolutely AMAZING.
It was clearly done to better complement their review of this particular movie. Doing the red and blue lighting every episode would be like having Christmas lights on all year round
contrapoints has great lighting for each episode. some of it is very dargento-esque. if you dont like left leaning politics, you can just watch it on mute.
same here, I only really starting getting into Argento about ten years ago. He's now one of my favourite directors. Sleepless which he made in 2001 is a good one for his later work.
Agatha Christie's are considered giallo novels in Italy, if this can help you understand what "giallo" means: they usually include such things as murder and mystery.
Did anyone else get the chance to see GOBLIN tour theatres with Suspiria last year? The theatres showed the film Suspiria while GOBLIN played the soundtrack live. After the film they played their classics over a montage. It was great!
