The Visual Aesthetic of Dario Argento’s Suspiria

Legendary Italian horror director Dario Argento’s most famous film is 1977’s Suspiria, an iconic piece of semi-surreal art starring Jessica Harper as a ballet student investigating a mysterious German dance academy. From the score by Goblin to the unforgettable cinematography, it’s one of the most influential and beloved thrillers of all time. Perhaps the standout element is the use of bold and starkly contrasting color, which seems to ooze through the screen. In this video essay, we break down the color schemes in some of the film’s best scenes. Supsiria turns 40 this year, and the film was recently restored in 4K for anniversary screenings around the world. (There’s also a remake in production starring Dakota Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Tilda Swinton.) Take a look and celebrate one of the most beautiful and haunting horror films in cinema history.