8/13/2019 Suspria (1977)

1/3

Space & Environment: Secret Liars

The Mise-en-Scene Film Review

Suspria (1977)Directed by Dario Argento.

A vivid classic of European horror. (Film4, 2008)Dario Argentoreally makes you wonder whom to

trust in this Horror/Thriller about a woman who

enroles in a posh ballet academy only to realise

that this school isnt just for teaching dance buthides a nasty secret amidst some horrid murders.

The use of colour and lighting throughout this

movie is something that would most certainly be

lost if it was in black and white. The Academys

lobby has this bizarre symmetrical look to it, andhas a bright, in your face pattern smothered across

the walls all in different shades of red. The use of

red as a main colour is frequently used especially

when danger is arising: Dario's use of the old

Technicolor three-strip matrix system, combined

with gels and lighting effects, achieved the

nightmarish hues which distinguish this film.(Haflidason, 2007) You see bright red light bouncing across the rooms, not only

in the lobby but also in the corridors and aspects of different rooms.

Figure 1

Figure 2

8/13/2019 Suspria (1977)

2/3

Hallucinations often occur making you change your mind as to who the villain

could be, Argento's masterful use of deep primary colours the sets are bathed in

garish red and green light (he acquired 1950s Technicolor stock to get the effect)

giving the whole film a hallucinatory intensity. (Smith, 2007)As well this colour

having a specific meaning representing hallucinations, they could also give asense of insecurity and fear.

Figure 3If not for the sounds, making you feel suspense and terror for whats coming next

then this film wouldnt be as good as it is. The tinkling noises suggesting dangertowards one of the characters, gives the film a pantomime feel, making the

audience want to shout out HES BEHIND YOU!

8/13/2019 Suspria (1977)

3/3

Bibliography:Text:

Film4. Available at:http://www.film4.com/reviews/1976/suspiria(Accessed

online on 8th December 2013)

Haflidason, Almar. Available at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/10/28/suspiria_2002_dvd_review.shtml

(Accessed online on 8th December 2013)

Smith, Adam. Available at:

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132659

(Accessed online on 8thDecember 2013)

Images:

Fig 1. Suspria (1977) From:Suspria. Directed by Dario Argento [Film Poster]

Italian. http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1229951744/tt0076786?ref_=tt_ov_i

Fig 2. Suspria (1977) From:Suspria. Directed by Dario Argento [Film Still] Italian.

http://media.screened.com/uploads/1/15986/467859-suspiria04.jpg

Fig 3. Suspria (1977) From:Suspria. Directed by Dario Argento [Film Still] Italian.

http://brattleblog.brattlefilm.org/2013/06/18/suspiria-1484/#.UqS1iqUShQQ

http://www.film4.com/reviews/1976/suspiriahttp://www.film4.com/reviews/1976/suspiriahttp://www.film4.com/reviews/1976/suspiriahttp://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/10/28/suspiria_2002_dvd_review.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/10/28/suspiria_2002_dvd_review.shtmlhttp://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132659http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132659http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1229951744/tt0076786?ref_=tt_ov_ihttp://www.imdb.com/media/rm1229951744/tt0076786?ref_=tt_ov_ihttp://media.screened.com/uploads/1/15986/467859-suspiria04.jpghttp://media.screened.com/uploads/1/15986/467859-suspiria04.jpghttp://brattleblog.brattlefilm.org/2013/06/18/suspiria-1484/#.UqS1iqUShQQhttp://brattleblog.brattlefilm.org/2013/06/18/suspiria-1484/#.UqS1iqUShQQhttp://brattleblog.brattlefilm.org/2013/06/18/suspiria-1484/#.UqS1iqUShQQhttp://media.screened.com/uploads/1/15986/467859-suspiria04.jpghttp://www.imdb.com/media/rm1229951744/tt0076786?ref_=tt_ov_ihttp://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132659http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/10/28/suspiria_2002_dvd_review.shtmlhttp://www.film4.com/reviews/1976/suspiria