“A coven deprived of its leader is like a headless cobra”
What constitutes a coven of witches and what must one do to become its queen? Since the earliest examples of narrative fiction, humans have created stories about these occult practitioners, musing on the various rules that govern their powers. Despite generations of wisdom, there is no official description of a witch and no universal summation of her powers, just a collection of folklore and shadowy rumors. Over the years, horror creatives have put their own stamp on this legendary figure with witches that range from benevolent and charming to outright malefic and murderous. But none are so striking or unusual as the witches seen in Dario Argento’s 1977 film. Suspiria follows the discovery of a dangerous coven hiding in the guise of a prestigious ballet school.
American dancer Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) has just arrived at the world-renowned Freiburg Dance Academy when Pat Hingle (Eva Axén) flees into the night. News of her brutal murder shocks the other dancers as Suzy is plagued by strange sensations. She and a fellow dancer named Sara (Stefania Casini) begin tracking the school’s mysterious faculty who seem to disappear each night into the depths of the building. But each step towards this treacherous group leads them closer to the academy’s mysterious Directress Helena Markos (Lela Svasta), rumored to be a powerful witch.
In the latest episode of Bloody FM’s The Lady Killers podcast, co-hosts Jenn Adams and Rachel Reeves lace up their ballet slippers and search for the hidden doors in Dario Argento’s stunning film. Who’s that monster lurking on the roof? How does Goblin’s transfixing score aid in telling this frightening story? Was Helena Markos always evil and are the maggots an intentional curse? They’ll answer these questions and more as Witch Month continues with this iconic film.
Stream below and subscribe now via Apple Podcasts and Spotify for future episodes that drop every Thursday.
