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by Jon Chaftiez Staff Writer
If you did not know the story line to Suspiria, you most likely wouldn't be reading this review in the first place, so I'll I'll keep it short and oh so sweet.
American girl arrives at European ballet school. As it turns out, the school is run by witches. So simple and brilliant. Plus it has one of the greatest film scores ever. EVER! Aahhhhh, Goblin, can you do no wrong?
The new Suspiria Limited Edition two-dvd set, released by Anchor Bay- looks great, sounds great, and has some pretty cool extras, including a new documentary, and cheesy but watchable Daemonia (former member Claudio Simonetti's new band) Main Theme Music Video, that I believe was shot with a circa-1989 Goldstar video camera. Plus, if you don't already have it, the original soundtrack is included.
Now I've never owned or seen the laser disc version of this, so I'm going on what Monsters At Play founder, FloJo, tells me. The DVD is presented with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, as well as DTS, which sounds great to me, but I am told that many fans prefer the 4.0 version, hearing differences in the sound.
For instance, while sound levels are changed, some new sounds that were barely present on previous releases, are fully represented, while other sounds have completely disappeared. This is the one complaint that I've heard over and over about the set, but for me, it's unnoticeable. But, who the hell am I?
Disc One contains the THX Mastered widescreen version of the film in a 2:35:1 aspect ratio, trailers, TV spots, radio spots, that blasted Daemonia video, a still gallery, and bios. Pretty much all the usual stuff you'd find, but it's Suspiria dammit! So, its better.
Dario Argento's Suspiria looks incredible. Argento, who says he modeled the color scheme of the film after Walt Disney's version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, has created one of the most original looking films of the last thirty years. Some scenes are so full of color, and so creepy at the same time, the film looks like no other film out there.
The second disc includes the documentary, with tons of interviews including Dario Argento, co-writer Daria Nicolodi, members of Goblin and the cinematographer. Plus, we get to see star, Jessica Harper. She be old! Running 52 minutes, it's a pretty informative piece. Funny how Argento and Nicolodi, seem to have different versions of how the story came about, each taking more credit than the other gives to them.
The set, being limited edition, is numbered out of 60,000 copies, and includes miniature copies of lobby cards. My cards seem to have been cut by someone without a ruler, but they're still a nice little addition to the set. A thirty page booklet is also included, that has some great stills, and a short interview with Jessica Harper.
I'm looking forward to writing my first bad review, but this is not gonna be it, suckas! Go out and buy this set. Suspiria is needed for any true horror fan's collection. Witches. Goblin. Dario Argento. Grand death scenes. What else do you need in a horror flick?

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