Forgotten Frights is back! To celebrate the second anniversary of our annual horror movie roundup, every weekday for the next month we're going to sound off on a scary good sequel (or, if we want some cheese with our corn syrup, a schlocky second), ruminating on the returns of our favorite monsters, murderers, heroes (or heroines), creepies, crawlies, chills and thrills.
What came before it: Then a hit, now a cult favourite, 1977's Suspiria, from famed Italian horror director Dario Argento. Vivid, thrilling and sometimes revolting, the story follow the new girl at a prestigious dance school in Germany who slowly discovers that there's something dark lurking behind closed doors.
What remains: Not much at all. You might not even consider this a sequel if it weren't the second film in Argento's "Three Mothers" trilogy. This time, the story follows a young man in New York who again encounters a similar dark secret while investigating the disappearance of his sister. Although not as story-driven as the first, it's still got a lot going for it (if you enjoy Argento's brash style).
Why you should give it a second (or third, or fourth) chance:
- Like the first, suspense is done perfectly. Even when aren't really sure what's going on (which happens more than once), you're nervously on edge in anticipation for what's about to happen next.
- This one's got a strangely interesting score too. While it's not Italian rock band Goblin, like the first film, this one's got a mix of synthier-sounding effects and discordant piano, plus classical and opera bits.
- It's a lot grosser than the first, not in terms of gore itself (though there is more of that too), but more in the "get this rotting corpse off me" sense.
- Pop art style film. Bright colours, nonsensical visuals and the unexpected. You will either love it or hate it.
- Trivia: The creepy, withered hands with the long nails were Argento's.
- With Argento's signature touch, there's not much else like it. If nothing else, it's really refreshing.