Dario Argento - opening of Suspiria 1977

   For me I find Dario Argento to be one of the most influential Italian Filmmakers of the late 60’s and 70’s. his flair for the macabre borders the psychotic to the absurd, his visual technique for cinematography and over all composition synthesis of music and color give the viewer a sense of unsettling dread.The clip that I will be analyzing for its Aesthetic value is the opening sequence of Dario’s Argentos 1977 Giallo film Suspiria.

        In the sequence, Suzy Bannion, an American ballet student, arrives from her flight in Munich, Germany on a stormy night to enroll in a prominent dance academy in Freiburg.  As she arrives we are immediately thrown into the mysterious airport that seems ominous with its low key lighting and accompanying film score by the rock band Goblin. The sharp cuts between Bannions Point of view and the never-ending exit feels foreboding as if she should not leave the airport.  Argento plays with omitting sound and at given moments manipulating it, such as the swishing sound of the airports electronic door, and Bannions silent scene in a cross cutting editing process that sets the tone for the film. 

    The harsh elements that present Bannion on her way out of the airport escalates as she tries in a frenzy to get a cab at night in the torrential down pour. The depth of field serves to give a sense of immense loneliness and solitude, as no one stops to assist her. You can almost feel  the rain crash on her spirit. The contrast between her white attire and the dark surrounding makes her look as if she is an innocent being caught up in this dark harsh environment. Finally we cut to  the interior of the cab, where Bannion has gotten a break, or so we think. The wonderful use of vibrate color works well in this scene, the blues and reds dominate the mood of madness that will be surrounding Bannion later on in this film. Argento sometimes embellishes subliminal messages in his films. I will not say when but let’s see if you can catch him in this 2 minute clip. He is a very creepy individual, and I love it.