For the next 30 days, I will be giving my fingers short bursts of exercise by completing the 30 Day Horror Challenge, found here. Hopefully it will give you a bit of insight into what horror is for me. Don't forget to check back every day for a new instalment.
Day 11: Wonderful use of lighting
Could the answer ever be anything but Suspiria? Dario Argento's 1977 masterpiece is not only arguably his best film, but also arguably one of the most visually interesting films ever. The story is based around the strange going ons in a boarding dancing academy in Germany, which the students think might be the doings of a witch, and you can guess the film lends itself to nightmare imagery. I could go on for days about the stunning set pieces and design and general content of the film, but since this is to primarily loo at lighting, let's leave it at that. The lighting is not what you would call traditional. The entire film is played through a child's eyes, and the lighting is used to add to this. Heavy contrast is seen throughout, with stark, well lit passages of light showing us just how close to the safety of the outside world we are, and in consequence forcing us to be more aware of the darker and more hidden places in the school that we head. There is also the films use of colour in scenes that is completely contradictory to what the lighting situation should be. Case in point; when the girls are forced to sleep in the hall after a maggot infestation, the room turns a deep red, instead of black (or the more familiar cinematic blue that Hollywood uses so we can see what happens at night), or the sickly blue that tinges the frame heavily as a girl tries to outrun a nightmare killer. This heavy colour coding is abstract and very symbolic (google and you will find plenty of interpretations of the colours), going hand in hand with the lush cinematography of the film making Suspiria one heck of a beautiful film, even after 35 years.
You may know that I am a massive fan of audio commentaries, and I am a bit specific about what I like. Typically, unless it is one of the major filmmakers with honest insight, you can write a commentary off as little more than a waste of time. And God forbid you listen to a fan made commentary. That would be just ridiculous.
Well, now, let me recommend what is probably the first bearable (and downright interesting) fan made commentary I have ever heard. Michael MacKenzie of landofwhimsey.com provides an in depth and trivia-filled vocal walk-through of, for my money, Dario Argento's greatest film; Suspiria.
'But wait, there is already a commentary for Suspiria, on the region 2 UK release, nonetheless' you may say, once again butting in on my typing. But I bought Susipiria before this version became available, and though I do it often, I hate double dipping if I can avoid it. I'm sure the commentary on that release is great (I believe Alan Jones is involved, and he is always a hoot), but if it's not someone fully involved with production, I am a lot less interested. In fact, this commentary linked below is extremely well researched and, though you can tell he has scripted everything he is going to say, it doesn't peak or slag. He isn't spouting off fanboy gestures of 'OH ARGENTO IS GREAT LA LA'. He has obviously done his homework and provides a great insight into one of the greatest visual films ever made, providing interesting trivia and intellectual insight into all aspects.
If you were a fan of Suspiria and want to get a crash course on everything about it, this is the way to go.
You can download the commentary in 2 parts here: http://www.landofwhimsy.com/writings/commentaries.html
