Suspiria

The colors of a masterpiece.

Suspiria (1977) is perhaps the tour du jour movie in Dario Argento's filmography. a simple story and the unique usage of colors, gives it an artful flavor that makes the movie beautiful to watch. Argento uses the colors of blue, green, red, and yellow in an unique manner. The director uses the old technicolor technique that was in use during the 1950s. This aspect gives the movie a fairy tale appearance.

In the first 20 minutes, Dario Argento wanted to build up suspense and tension that was normally reserved for the climax of a film. The main character and story are built up in good fashion. The shoots of Suzy Bannion (played by Jessica Harper) inside the taxi cab gives the viewer a feeling of claustrophobia and dread. The image and music in the opening moments add high voltage suspense to the film's pounding intensity level. The shots through the woods are fabulously done.

So...

Welcome to your nightmare.

The double murder sequence is one of the most bloody scenes in modern horror films. It still retains its shock value after twenty four years. This one sequence makes any murder scene in a teen horror film today look both tame and lame. The only murder sequence from an Argento film to match this in its brutality is the arm removal scene in Tenebre (1982). The murder of the first victim is extremely violent and yet stylishly filmed, and no CGI was needed.

Dario Argento owes his debt in making Suspiria to the early animations of Walt Disney and the art of Jean Cocteau. The main source of influence is the Disney film of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (hard to believe isn't it?) The Snow White film would influence many Italian horror movie makers because of the impression it made on them as a child. The story of Suspiria was to originally take place in a children's school. This was changed because of the possible controversies this would cause in the film community of Italy.

Watch it on Blu Ray, it looks simply perfect.

Holy shit!

In filming the murder scenes, the director wanted to pump them with intense horror that wouldn't let up. He wanted to create scenes of fear that would be carried by its gory visuals and ear pounding music. The murder scenes in the motion picture are given their own personal style. On doing this film and these murder scenes, Argento has said "Fear is a 370 degree centigrade body temperature. With Suspiria I wanted 400 degrees". The murder sequences are one of the main things that make the film a gem of a horror movie.

Suspiria adds some movie lore to witchcraft mythology. The movie looks at the mythology of witches and witchcraft with keen interest. Its one of the best films on the subject of witches. Argento was fascinated by the subject of witches and used that fascination to film his own take on the subject. Another source of influence is a section from the Thomas De Quincey's drug induced fantasy essay, Confessions of an Opium Eater called Suspiria De Profundis which translates as "Deep Sigh".

I'm only a ballet dancer, what is this shit?

Some headache.

Daria Nicolodi gives an important contribution in co writing the screenplay. Suspiria is the only film where Daria Nicolodi had creative imput on an Argento flick. Part of the film was inspired by Nicolodi telling Argento about her Grandmother's experiences at a finishing school where black magic was practiced during the late hours of the night. Daria Nicolodi was to play Sara, Suzy's friend but got injured during shooting. The story is there to give structure to the visuals & music.

The death of Daniel, the blind piano player is set up with suspense. The scene takes an unexpected turn when he is attacked by his own dog. This is because the scene at its opening points to him being killed by a witch. Dario Argento along with cameraman Luciano Tovoli uses complex camera movement to make this scene work. This scene must have impressed Lucio Fulci when he saw the film that he would play homage to it in The Beyond(1981).

How's it hangin'?

All this blood has gotten me horny y'know.

There has been a great debate among Argento fans on whether Deep Red(1975) or Suspiria is the director's masterpiece. Some see Suspiria as the masterpiece in the film cannon of Dario Argento. Others regard Deep Red as his true masterpiece. In my opinion, Tenebre (1982) is the masterpiece of Dario Argento because it's complete in motifs that were seen in his films up to that point. Nevertheless, Deep Red and Suspiria are Argento's top horror films of the 1970s.

I find it intriging that Suzy and Sara resemble sisters and have names that begin with the letter S. Suspiria was influenced by an obscure horror pic called La Residencia/The Finishing School(1968). Supiria contains a tinge of the giallo genre with a scene in the opening moments. The Goblin gives out another amazing soundtrack following their excellent score for Profondo Rosso. Luciano Tovoli does a fantastic job as the cinematographer in showcasing the nightmarish world of today's film in review. 

Overall, go watch it now!

Here's the movie trailer:

 

The Devils

This movie has serious balls.

The great Ken Russell, who just passed away at age 84, was doubtlessly one of the most uncompromising filmmakers, who enriched cinema with a variety of often controversial and bizarre cult films including Savage Messiah and Altered States. Even though I am not (yet) an expert on the man's filmography (having seen only three of his films), I think it is save to say that The Devils of 1971 is one of his most unique, imposing and unforgettable works. An atmospherically overwhelming cinematic experience, The Devils is Russel's brutal and brilliantly bizarre biographical story of the real-life unorthodox 17th century French priest Urbain Grandier. Due to its criticism of the Catholic church, bizarre sequences of religion paired with violent excess and orgiastic sexuality, the film was heavily censored and only available in mutilated versions after religious moralists had stirred controversy. As always, the controversy stirred by reactionary institutions had opposite effects: The Devils is maybe the most important film for the the rise of Nunsploitation, a sub-genre of mostly European and generally sleazy films about naughty and possessed nuns that engage in all sorts of sexual, violent and blasphemous behavior. In fact, the genre could never surpass the graphic brutal nature of which The Devils is made of. If there was a nunsploitation film I'd recommend it would most certainly be this Ken Russell's flick. However, that could be misleading, since the nunsploitation is rather boring and less shocking than expected.

You die in Jesus name.

Sinful sisters.

Based upon a real story which happened in the 1630s France, the infamous French Cardinal Richilieu orders the destruction of French towns in order to prevent a rise of the Hugenots (French Protestants). The charismatic Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed) is the priest of the French town Loudoun, and a womanizer whom women generally can't resist. Grandier sleeps with nuns and noblewomen alike, and manages to temporarily prevent the destruction of his town. The crippled, deformed and mad mother superior of the Loundon convent, sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) has fallen in love with the priest, and when he secretly marries another, hell hath no fury like this nun scorned. The nun's accusations against Grandier are welcomed by his powerful political opponents who send an obsessed Exorcist (Michael Gothard) who is to prove Grandier's association with the devil...

The Devils is a remarkable film in many aspects. It arguably marks Ken Russell's, Oliver Reed's and Vanessa Redgrave's finest hour. Oliver Reed was doubtlessly one of the greatest British actors in the history of the country's cinema, who is far too often remembered for his (cool and highly original) drunken antics instead of his brilliant performances. His charismatic performance as Urbain Grandier here is one of the finest ever given. Vanessa Redgrave is fantastic in her display of a disturbed woman who dabbles between devilishly vengeful intrigue, pure evil and pathetic desperation and insanity. Equally great is Michael Gothard in the his role of the obsessed religious fanatic Father Barre. The film is visually overwhelming, often beautifully disturbing and bizarre. Some sequences, such as the 'Christ' dream sequence are highly surreal to a unique point, comparable maybe only to Alejandro Jodorowsky's films.

Holy Schlock!

Don't worry, its OK doing it in front of the cross.

In The Devils we get: nuns ripping their clothes off and running around naked (pretending to be possessed), people burned at the stake, forced vomiting, nuns copulating with Jesus (just a hallucination though), physical torture of many different varieties. It's very in your face. However, the subject is topical (obviously) and it really deserves to be seen by more people.

Another great reason to see this movie is Vanessa Redgrave, who plays a hunchbacked mother superior. A very conflicted character attracted to Oliver Reed. I've never liked Vanessa Redgrave much, but she is magnificent in this movie. And her performance is one of the creepiest I have ever seen, rivalling Paul Smith's sweating smiling sinister jail-guard in "Midnight Express".

Even after forty three years this film stays in one's memory. The performance by Oliver Reed is so good that I keep hoping to see him doing something besides B-horror movies. He isn't to be found apparently. Based on the book by Aldous Huxley this is a MUST for anyone who enjoys the movies. 

I'm your savior.

Cum hungry nuns.

While it has some lengthier parts, The Devils is generally a film that overwhelms in all regards. It is a bizarre, often brutal and always uncompromising masterpiece that is visually stunning and magnificently acted. Along with Michael Reeves' equally uncompromising Witchfinder General (1968, starring the great Vincent Price) and Michael Armstrong's ultra-gruesome HEXEN BIS AUFS BLUT GEQUÄLT (Mark Of The Devil, 1970), The Devils was one of the films that spawned a trend of (especially European) Exploitation films about Inquisition and (mass-)murder in the name of religion. It is beyond me why decent DVD-copies of this great film are still difficult to purchase as it was mostly released in mutilated versions. A true must-see for every lover of uncompromising cinema, one of the great British films of the 70s.

Here's the movie trailer:

Le monache di Sant'Arcangelo: The Nun & The Devil

Nuns of Sin.

The Nun and the Devil, or Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo in the original Italian, is an erotic 1973 French/Italian nunsploitation film directed by Domenico Paolella. It is also known as: Sisters of Satan (UK) and The Nuns of Saint Archangel (US). The action is set in the 16th century at the convent of Sant Arcangelo, near Naples, then under Spanish rule. The success of the film resulted in another period drama/nunsploitation film by Paolella released the same year, Story of a Cloistered Nun, an Italian/French/West German co-production starring Eleonora Giorgi which will not be reviewed today LOL

 

The coveted spot as Mother Superior is of great importance to three candidates who all yearn for such a position. Twenty minutes in Mother Julia (Played by Anne Heywood) must check between her niece's legs to see if she is a virgin. Sister Chiara (Martine Brochard), Mother Julia's secret lover, longs to have her vows revoked so she can leave the convent and not suffer emotional torment she currently endures.We see the cruelty of Catholic parents who force their daughters into the convent so that they will not run off with a boy they dislike. Mother Lavinia(Maria Cumani Cuasimodo), who many believes is first in line to the Mother Superior position has been gravely ill. Recently inducted into the convent against her will, Isabella(Ornella Muti) and the young man she loves, Fernando(Gianluigi Chirizzi), secretly court when time permits. There's a syrupy Romeo and Juliet romance between Isabella and Fernando. This is the time of arranged marriages and dowries so Isabella and Fernando's love is separated because of this.

Check that virgin twat!

Is your beaver wet enough?

In the NUNS OF SAINT ARCHANGEL, the theme very present is forbidden love. Trapped in the convent, it's not surprising that desire would arise and remain. Anyway, Julia so craves the Mother Superior position she'll poison bedridden Lavinia and send young virginal Isabella to a sleazy scoundrel named Don Carlos who arranged a passage through his connections to give her access to the top. Julia is such a deplorable creature she almost breaks out in glee as she informs Lavinia she plans to have her placed in an isolation cell(while informing her entourage where she plans to place her family's coat of arms on the wall of Lavinia's room!). And, to send your own niece to town, into Carlos' lair to be sodomized, shows the depths of her deprivation. When the Arch Bishop allows Carafo to visit the convent of Saint Archangel, Julia's whole world comes crashing down.

As nunsploitation goes, THE NUNS OF SAINT ARCHANGEL isn't as titillating as you might expect. It's more a serious look at immoral pursuits to secure the hierarchy of a church position. Carlos is a real creep who, we can imagine, is used to getting what he wants, considering his rank. Incorrigible, hypocritical activity by those who are supposed to be serving God is often exposed in the nunsploitation genre which is why it maintains such a cult following. Anne Heywood becomes so incredibly cold-blooded while obtaining her position, I reckon many will root for her downfall and as it comes, will cheer for her eventual disgracing. Though, to the director's and Heywood's credit, her fate actually somehow garners sympathy once she is given a platform to address those in charge, whose power can lend to cruel and unusual punishment to get the desired information to instill their brand of justice. I imagine some would be appalled with certain torturous methods in order to achieve confessions. 

Let's pray.

I'll rape this body in God's name.

It is almost a shame to call this one "nunsploitation", because that term may imply that it is not a film of high standard. Yes, there are some nunsploitation elements here; the seemingly evil Mother Julia, with her lesbian tendencies and her hunger for power within the confines of the nunnery, for example. However at the end of the film, when Mother Julia, played beautifully by veteran actress, Anne Heywood, is condemned to death, her human side comes out. She explains, very eloquently, her reasons for her actions. The rigid rules of convent existence in the 17th century must have been unbearable for these women. At least for the girls who were there against their will. And many of these girls were placed there by domineering families, to keep them away from lovers and other such "temptation", as in the case of young Isabella, played by Ornella Muti. Her character was neither in love with god, or with the idea of giving up her freedom to live under such constraints. 

Who needs dicks anyways.

This film deals with the subject beautifully. And although there is some nudity in the film, it is never gratuitous; There are no scenes where a nun removes her clothes unless it is absolutely relevant to the storyline. So one should be aware before watching such a film, that if they are looking for endless scenes of fetishistic "nun-sex", than this is probably the wrong film for them. The sets/cinematography are gorgeous, the nuns dress is totally authentic looking, and there is much attention given to these details. Certain scenes in particular stand out; for instance, the scenes in the flower garden, with the nuns in white walking with the blood colored roses, and the scene in the chapel, where the white sheet is lifted to reveal the new "brides of Christ", in all their "majestic virginity". That is real eroticism! And all this, accompanied by lush music and stylish film technique. It is obvious here, that the director, cared a great deal about his creation. It shows in this beautiful film. It bothers me somewhat to hear these films referred to as trash, and exploitation. In this film fans humble opinion, it is the Hollywood productions, the movies with the over paid stars, and the obscenely inflated budgets, that are the real "trash", and usually age very badly. 'Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo' however, remains a gorgeous and timeless piece of film-making. Surprisingly, i did not really like Dominici's other nun film, "Diary of A Cloistered Nun." But I recommend this one. 

Here's the entire film (it is public domain now, so it's legal to share it) courtesy of a youtuber:

I Nuovi Mostri: Viva Italia!

Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece now!

Viva Italia!  is a 1977 commedia all'italiana film, directed by Dino Risi, Ettore Scola and Mario Monicelli. Unlike a usual film with a single plot and the same characters revolving around a common main idea, this film is actually a compilation of 14 very different short stories, each with unique characters and plots. It is a sequel of the lesser known I mostri, made in 1963. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 51st Academy Awards and nope, it didn't win. The original title of the film is I Nuovi Mostri (The New Monsters) but since producers wanted to distribute it internationally, they felt the title Viva Italia! would sum up the idea behind the 14 short stories.

The film is made of 14 short stories, here's the complete list with titles:

1"L'uccellino della Val Padana" (The Bird of the Po Valley)

2 "Con i saluti degli amici" (With the greetings of friends)           

3 "Tantum ergo" (Only Then)

4 "Autostop" (Hitch-Hiking)

5 "Il sospetto"(The Suspect)

6 "Pronto soccorso"(First Aid)

7 "Mammina e mammone"(Mammina and Mommone)*

8 "Cittadino esemplare"(Role Model Citizen)*

9 "Pornodiva"(Porn Diva)*           

10 "Sequestro di persona cara" (Kidnapping, Dear)*

11 "Come una regina" (Like a Queen)

12 "Hostaria!" (The Restaurant)

13 "Senza parole" (Speechless)

14 "Elogio funebre" (Eulogy)

*The stories in red are the ones starred by Ornella Muti.

* These four stories are not a part of the international release known as "Viva Italia" which is the version being reviewed here today.

The structure of the film, although similar to the 1963 prequel, replaces the original social satire of the 60s for an updated criticism of the current state of things in the Italy of the 70's. Nevertheless, we don't need to know about Italian history or world cultures to enjoy this master piece.

This is how you fix a car you moron.

Italy's number 1 beauty export.

Viva Italia! (yes, I like this title) was released in three different editions: the integral edition, which comprises the 14 episodes above mentioned and it runs for a total of 125 minutes. the Intenational Family rated edition, and probably  the best known comes with 9 episodes in 90 minutes and the third edition is another version cut which consists of 12 episodes and lasts 104 minutes. 

Now, let's take a look at a short by short review:

1. The bird of the Po Valley by Ettore Scola
 
Ugo Tognazzi plays the husband and manager of famous singer Orietta Berti. Since he keeps on exploiting her talent to the limits, her vocal chords eventually fall short. After a failed and forced surgery, she loses her magnificent voice, but Tognazzi is one step above so, he stages an accident where she'd be crippled and forced to sing on a wheelchair. Perhaps the weakest story in the pack. Nevertheless a strong critic to the music industry that doesn't grow old.

2. With The Greetings Of My Friends.

This is perhaps the shortest short out of the 14 in the movie. Essentially, a well known mobster who happens to be walking by in a small town is surprised by a car packed with machine guns that killed him instantly. What's funny here is that every witness, denies having seen anything related to the murder, hence the name. Clearly, this story was made to demonstrate Italians know how to have a good laugh about their own cliches.
 
3. Only Then.

Italy, a country with deep Catholic roots. The "Tantun Ergo" story, named in convenient Latin (a religious language to some) essentially explains the frustration a small town has against unfinished businesses and promises made by politicians. The priest, has offered his church to help them and a mediator find a way to settle their differences but, since the crowd is so angry and dissapointed he has no way of having them convinced things can get better. Things change all of a sudden when a higher level priest accidentally comes into town and lends a hand to the situation. What's funny here is that through reading passages from the Bible and religious chants he convinces the wild crowd things will get better through God's grace.

"Mom, I gotta get rid of you ASAP or else my wife's gonna kill me"

For God's sake, get me some help to get out of this hell hole.

4.Hitch-Hiking.

Ornella Muti (in her prime I might add) plays a young hitchhiker who crosses her way with a salesman. Since, she's young and attractive,  the driver has no hesitation on hitting on her, something she dislikes with a passion. In order to get rid of the man she reads from a newspapers that a group of women have escaped recently from a prison nearby. Unfortunately, things turn out deadly wrong. 

The Restaurant.

This is perhaps the best short in terms of laughs. A frenetic style comedy set in the kitchen of a restaurant in which the two waiters Gassman and Tognazzi exchange insults and a hilarious food fight while the cook is getting their customers their meals ready.

First Aid.

This is another brilliant short that criticizes through laughter the Italian health system. When a rich man going to an important meeting finds a hurt man in Mussolini Square, he decides to take the poor man to the nearest hospital. The problem is, every hospital is either at full capacity or requires the patient to comply with certain aspects in order to be assisted. 

Like a queen of Ettore Scola

Alberto Sordi plays Franchino, a husband and son that due to intense pressure from his wife, is forced to take his elderly mother to a nursing home. Tinged with effective melancholy and often hilarious lines in some passages, the short moves quickly to dig deep into a strong criticism against the new fast-paced lifestyles of the period where the elderly seem to be nothing but a burden.

Listen to our songs while you're away.

This is a happy eulogy!

Speechless.

This segment presents Ornella Muti with all her stunning beauty as a stewardess taking a break. During that break she meets a silent man, and they both begin hitting on themselves until they sort of develop a quick love relationship. The problem is this guy doesn't speka any of the languages Muti speaks (Italian, French & English) so the relationship is build upon symbols, specially music. The short features a couple of well known songs from 1977: All By Myself by Eric Carmen & Ti Amo by Umberto Tozzi. When the lovely stewardess has to return to her duties, this silent lover brings her a radio with the songs they used to listen while together. The grand finale, will leave you speechless, believe you me.

The eulogy.

The funeral of a comedian turns into a big happiness carousel through which a histrionic Alberto Sordi pays tribute to deceased colleague. This magnificent brief episode serves as the closing of the movie, including extremely Italian customs.

Now, let's enjoy a few gems from this masterpiece EVERY connoisseur should watch at least once in their lives, because Italy is such an magnificent and influential country, everyone should fall in love with it.

Here's world famous ballad "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen:

Here's the Italian classic Ballad "Ti Amo" by Umberto Tozzi as shown in the original short Sensa Parole (Speechless) Spanish subs only:

Here's Pronto Socorsso (First Aid) Spanish audio only: