15 Great Italian Horror Films You Must See Before You Die

3. Suspiria (Dario Argento, 1977)

“Susie, do you know anything about…witches?”

To most fans of the genre, Suspiria is considered to be the definitive Italian horror film. I would certainly struggle to argue with that consensus (although I’ll give it a damn good shot defending my number one pick). Suspiria is famously one of, if not the most beautiful of the Italian horror classics, perhaps rivaled only by Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace and Kill, Baby… Kill. Although the great man seems to have unfortunately lost his way in recent years, he has given us some of the most memorable and beautifully orchestrated murders ever put to screen. Look no further than the opening 15 minutes of Suspiria for the most visually gorgeous death scene you will ever see. And just when you think the film has peaked, it throws even more insanity your way, keeps you captivated, open-mouthed and on the edge of your seat until the grand finale. This is a film that you simply must see on the big screen at least once in your lifetime.

In its early conception, Suspiria was intended to feature very young children as its protagonists, rather than grown women. The childlike dialogue wasn’t changed along with the characters’ ages, however, which really works in the film’s favour and contributes to its overall dreamlike quality.

Argento’s dark fairy tale is absolutely compulsory viewing for anyone who calls themselves a horror fan. Surprisingly, the 2018 Luca Guadagnino remake starring Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton is also well worth your time, but don’t trust anyone who tells you it’s every bit as incredible as the original! Nothing has come close to recreating the magic of Suspiria, and I highly doubt that anything ever will.