20 Scariest Horror Movies Of All Time

11. Suspiria (1977)

Those who admire Dario Argento don€™t like his films for their colourful characters and intricate plots, but for his mastery of cinematic technique, which is vividly displayed here. In a bravura opening sequence, a woman is butchered by an unseen assailant while Goblin€™s score thunders on the soundtrack, which might not sound like much on the page, but a late-night screening with an appreciative crowd will prove otherwise. Suspiria is defiantly anti-Hollywood: the characters aren€™t particularly likeable, it€™s not shot like a music video and doesn€™t lend itself to a franchise. Also, the kills are genuinely nasty, particularly the sequence where one victim exsanguinates while trapped in barbed wire. Needless to say, a remake is in the works, to which the only response can be an amused shrug. Whatever its intentions, it can€™t possibly match the artistry on display here.
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Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'