Good gosh, how I really wanted to love the new British Blu-ray of Dario Argento’s Suspiria, and watch it over and over and over again all the live-long day. But I can’t, I can’t, I can’t. Today’s Foreign Region Report, over at The Auteurs’, will tell you why. It is terribly sad.
Sorry to hear that Glenn, never a fun thing to have your blu-ray dreams shattered, especially for a film like Suspiria. I fondly remember seeing it around 11 or 12 and thinking, “Well that made no sense” I saw it again recently on plain ol’ DVD and enjoyed it even more, all the while thinking “Yup, still makes no sense but ye gods the colors!” The planned and I think currently in production remake by David Gordon Green brings up an interesting idea: do remakes by artists, as opposed to remakes by for-hire guys, constitute a new genre? Would it be an extension of film criticism? Criticism by interpretation? Or is the snake just eating itself?…will the blu-ray look good?
That’s a bummer. I really like that film. I, actually, have never seen a film on BluRay and am holding off for the “perfect” one to be blown away by on a first viewing. I guess SUSPIRIA won’t be a contender. Does anyone have any recommendations for me?
Also, I did no know that David Gordon Green was doing a remake. Thanks for the information, John.
Thomas, I popped my blu-berry with 2001: A Space Odyssey. I’d say go with that one, or Playtime.
I agree this sucks, though I’m curious about the Alan Jones / Kim Newman commentary track. I believe the documentary features Xavier Mendik, not really one of my favorite Eurocult critics.
The latest American Cinematographer features a big article and interview with Luciano Tovoli, discussing the photography of SUSPIRIA in revelatory detail. Happily, you can read it in its entirety online at the following link:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210/?ap=1#/72
The screenshots in the interview don’t seem to have the same problems as the UK (and Italian) Blu-Ray transfers. Take note, the article also states without elaboration that SUSPIRIA is coming to US Blu-Ray “in the Spring”. Fingers all crossed that it’ll be a new transfer.
This is, in a nutshell, my issue with the Blu-ray revolution: some movies aren’t meant to be seen in the richest, highest definition possible. Part of what makes SUSPIRIA so creepy is that old skool, washed out 70’s look. You simply cannot improve upon that and why would you want to? I love me some Blu-ray but it’s like putting bacon on everything. Yeah, it probably would work and still be kind of awesome, but sometimes bacon just doesn’t belong on stuff.
While I’d agree that there are some movies that don’t necessarily gain from a rich high definition transfer, and while I’d also agree that the ‘old skool, washed out 70’s look’ can be compelling, not sure I would ever think of Suspiria as a good example of either of these. It was a full-on 3‑strip Technicolor dye-printed film, which made for a super-rich image; the color on that thing was cranked up to 11.
Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but I have never gotten Argento generally and this film specifically. And lord knows, I’ve tried.
I used to, back in the day, not be very receptive to such glories– gorgeous colours held no rapture for me. I went into every film looking for the characters and ideas and themes and what-have-you, and would get annoyed when films strayed from “the point”. At a certain juncture, thankfully, my eyes were opened– by SUSPIRIA.
Because of SUSPIRIA, I learned to love musicals. I learned to love animated films. I learned to feast on visuals and become absorbed by, and respond to, the experience itself instead of always trying to snatch out What It Means. Argento is the one who opened the door. I’ll always be thankful for that, no matter how many icky and unrewarding STENDHAL SYNDROMEs he has up his sleeve.
Too bad this Blu-Ray edition seemed to have dropped the ball. It is, indeed, terribly sad.
Thanks, Jovani. I actually have thought of 2001 being my blu-breaker…that’s got to be a helluva experience. I’ve never seen PLAYTIME but have been meaning to for a long time. It’s in the stars! Thanks again for the suggestions.
What Steve said – what I’ve seen of Argento’s work is lovely to look at, plus disturbingly batshit insane, which should seal the deal for me. And yet…I always read the look on Jessica’s Harper’s face at the end as she (spoiler alert) finally escapes the academy as sincere relief that she was at long last done shooting this farkatke, throat-chewing, razor-wire-flensing, over-art-directed camp atrocity. Projection, I know.
There’s another, funny school of thought, backed up by some clever, detailed analysis, that reads Harper’s final expression as being (possible SPOILER of interpretation) indicative that Suzy Banyon was a witch herself all along, and now fully realises it at the end. I won’t say that’s the ultimate rationale behind the story, but if you go that route and watch the film carefully there are a number of clues, bold and subtle, that make the suggestion.
If folks haven’t seen the semi-sequel to SUSPIRIA, INFERNO, I think they should.