Director Dario Argento’s beloved Italian horror film ‘Suspiria’ celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2017, with film restorations giving audiences the best viewing experience.
Brisbane Festival gave film fans an extra special treat with a screening of the film, featuring Claudio Simonetti's Goblin (the film's original composers) performing the film’s score live at The Tivoli Theatre (22 September).
As soon as the film began, the familiar tinkling keys of the score haunted the room, eliciting raptures of applause. Claudio’s keys were joined by percussive thumps, a wall of bouzouki strumming and raspy 'lalalas' changing the mood from haunting to dread.
The group were note-perfect from the start, demonstrating their familiarity with their music during the opening airport-arrival scene stopping and starting without missing a cue.
The score continued to build throughout the opening, generating more tension as its volume grew. After the first brilliantly choreographed murder, the audience erupted in applause; an odd time to applaud in other circumstances, but the electric energy of Goblin’s performance truly earned it.
The film’s tagline is one of the best in film history: 'The only thing more terrifying than the last 12 minutes of this film are the first 92.' While filled with some of the most imaginatively gory violence ever screened, the venue filled with laughter at the poor dialogue, acting and exposition: “I once read that names which begin with the letter ‘S’ are the names of SNAKES! Sssss!”
With absurdities like maggots raining from the ceiling or an overly-long take of a butter knife unlocking a door, the film is difficult to take seriously. But Goblin’s score filled these scenes with tension, turning a scene of girls finding maggots in their hair from darkly amusing to heart-racing thanks to a pulsing electronic piece.
It’s amazing to see the right music completely erasing any elements of camp; surely a testament to Goblin’s ability to manipulate emotions.
Dario Argento’s film was already a brilliant piece of filmmaking, filled with stylish colours that makes the film pop, especially in the new restorations. But no high-definition restoration can compete with the depth and clarity of Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin performing in the room as you watch the film.
Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin’s live score turned the film into an experience as thrilling as ‘Suspiria’ itself.
