SUSPIRIA SEDA SPETTACOLI ; ITALY dvd specification original year of release: 1976 approximate running time: 97 minutes aspect ratio: widescreen anamorphic 2.35:1 system: PAL (colour) rating: UK 18 sound: english DTS ES 6.1, english dolby digital EX surround, english dolby digital 2.0 surround, french dolby digital 2.0 surround and italian dolby digital 2.0 surround dvd release: anchor bay entertainment uk region: 2 region coding: none dvd extras theatrical trailers TV spot radio spots daemonia music video poster and still gallery talent bios 32 page booklet with photos and interview with Jessica Harper 5 lobby card reproductions (5x7) world of horror: 76 minute documentary (disc 2)

[video][sound][extras][conclusion]

If you want a review of the actual film, click here.

This release from Anchor Bay's UK division was always going to be compared to it's US counterpart if only for the fact that it should be at least as good. Well it's a mixed bag. The enclosed 32 page booklet is exactly the same as the US version and so are the lobby cards although why there are only 5 instead of 9 here I don't know. However, the fact of having the booklet and lobby cards in a 2 disc case make it very awkward to close properly. The cover is different and depicts one of the original posters rather than the specially designed artwork of the other release. This is a good move in my opinion.

video

I have taken it for granted that this is the same tranfer as the US release. When you know that this disc contains a THX certified transfer of a new low contrast print which came from the original camera negative which has been re-graded under the supervision of the film's cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, you would tend to expect the best possible picture quality possible. Well, you won't be disappointed! With the added clarity of PAL, this is the best picture released on dvd so far in my opinion. This is how Argento wanted it to look; the time and effort he and Luciano Tovoli put into the outmoded Technicolor three strip system really paying dividends with stunningly beautiful colours everywhere.

It is crystal clear with no print damage anywhere to be seen and no white spotting. It may be a shade darker but the colours which pay such an important part to the feel of the film are rock solid, vibrant and do not suffer from any bleeding. Even the tightly patterned floral wallpaper in Olga's apartment does not cause a problem as it does on every other dvd version I have seen. I thought this was a trait of PAL but evidently not. It is pointless talking about flesh tones in the colour filled nightmare that is SUSPIRIA so I won't! There is some grain present though especially visible against light backgrounds. This shows up particularly during the scene between Jessica and Udo Kier. However, it is less evident here than on the US release. Overall though, a great picture.

sound

Mmmm. This is where this release falls down. There was an error at some point during manufacture that meant the DTS track is way out of synch. Anchor Bay state that this is not on all discs and that they will exchange any faulty discs free of charge. I would hope so! However, no-one apart from me seems to have noticed that the Dolby EX track is out of synch as well. It drifts out at about 54 minutes and then again at 107 minutes until the end of the film. I don't believe this is my player as the other 2.0 Surround tracks are OK. Also, this is the same track as used on the US version and that is OK. This may be an isolated case but I can only review what I have been given. That aside, this is a major addition to the atmosphere and power of the film as a whole. The Goblin score comes across better than ever with deep bass and a much more detailed soundscape. The surround channels are used very effectively for both music and effects blending into the soundtrack that I am sure Dario would have wanted when he made the film originally if the technology had existed. There has been much talk amongst Argentophiles about these new sound mixes and how they seem to leave clearly audible sounds out completely when compared to older versions of the film. I agree with some of these points but all I can say is that it did not unduly detract from my enjoyment of the film. I cannot currently listen to DTS so I cannot comment on how better or worse it may be but that also means I could not confrm the synch problem either. however, the French, Italian and English surround tracks are all pretty much the same and pale significantly when compared to the EX track as you might expect. However, they are still pretty good; they just lack that extra power that the EX track has.

extras

Included on the disc with the film are talent bio's for Argento, Daria Nicolodi and Jessica Harper, the International and US theatrical trailers, a US TV spot and radio spots.There is also an extensive stills gallery which includes just about every original SUSPIRIA poster, lobby card, fotobusta and album sleeve going! The interactive menus are colourful and have a rather nice 'flowing blood' transition with extracts from the soundtrack playing in the background. There is also a music video of Claudio Simonetti's band Daemonia playing their remix of the main theme; nice remix but cheesy video! Surprisingly, they have left the Easter Egg on the first disc. I say that because it is an out-take from the special documentary that appeared on the US release but is NOT included here! Go to the 'extras' menu and then press 'right' to select one of the birds feathers. Press 'select' and there is a brief out take of Udo Kier from the documentary having trouble with his microphone and a polystyrene cup! Amusing as this is, it makes no sense on this UK disc and strikes me as being rather shoddy. Why not put something else there instead? Not only that but it suffers from being 'jerky' which I am sure has something to do with the NTSC/PAL conversion. The main extra with this UK release is the WORLD OF HORROR documentary. A workmanlike, though eminently watchable, at times innovative 1985 documentary look at gialli magician Dario Argento; his films, techniques and equipment, giving an insider's view as seen by Argento protégé Michele Soavi. It comprises of a series of behind the scenes glimpses of such films as Suspiria, Phenomena/Creepers, Tenebre and Inferno, an extended interview with Dario himself in which he muses on himself and his work and of-course clips from his oeuvre including his masterpiece Profondo Rosso. It may be dated now, by dint of a lack of later clips (Opera, Trauma, La Syndrome di Stendhal, Nonhosonno), but the behind the scenes sequences are superb; Argento at work, the making of Phenomena and Suspiria and Keith Emerson's scoring sessions for Inferno, whilst the running interview with Argento gives some perceptive glimpses into the man's wonderfully unbalanced psyche and the finished clips are terrific.

conclusion

Basically this SHOULD have been the must have dvd for any self respecting UK horror fan. However, the sound issues put a dent in that. If these are cleared up then it is possibly the equal of it's US sister release. However, Anchor Bay UK are to be applauded for even releasing this dvd in the first place. The addition of the WORLD OF HORROR documentary alone almost makes it worth buying.

Special thanks to Marc Morris and anchor bay entertainment uk

reviewed by NJD

cover artwork

inside cover

main menu

disc 2 menu

buy the suspiria dvd from www.sendit.com

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