• SUSPIRIA: 4K RESTORATION (1977)
• Director: Dario Argento
• Cast: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci
• English language version / 101 mins

Queer Horror Nights and Phantasmag invite you to ‘bring your freak’ for the midnight launch of a new queer horror magazine, hosted by Loose Willis and Token Homo with live performance by Co Kendrah. This is a costume, kink and fetish-friendly event. Strictly adults 18+ only!

“DARIO ARGENTO’S HORROR MASTERPIECE!”

An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy discovers that the school is merely a front for a sinister coven of witches.

SUSPIRIA (1977) marries the rhythms of ballet and prog-rock with operatic ultra-violence to create an unrelenting concerto of supernatural excess. The story is about young women fighting an oppressive matriarchy, with Jessica Harper’s Suzy Bannion stepping into her own power to expose an ancient coven operating beyond the facade of everyday existence. It has all the features of a psychedelic fairytale with a lost girl, witches, woods, and a wolf, but without romantic relationships or defined sexualities, and very few men.

SUSPIRIA’s queer attraction manifests through its radically obsessive layers of ambiguity and the vibrant, private universe it creates for its characters. The witches remain hidden until the very end. Instead, horror is conjured through magical incantations that violently disrupt reality. To achieve this, film itself is weaponised, every dimension of the filmmaker’s craft — cinematography, sound, art design, editing, Goblin’s score, the hyper-unreal performances — harnessed to unsettle you.

SUSPIRIA now looks imperious in a recent 4K restoration that fully reinstates every lurid frame of the uncut/English language version. There is nothing like it in the history of horror cinema.

“Our newly-launched third issue features interviews with Oscar-winning special makeup effects designer Pierre Olivier-Persin (THE SUBSTANCE), literary legend Jewelle Gomez (THE GILDA STORIES), and drag artist Co Kendrah. It also centres one horror archetype: the witch. As long-time fans of their interactive screenings and Co Kendrah’s fearless performances, we’re delighted to partner with Token Homo’s Queer Horror Nights for a special showing of our favourite witch film, Dario Argento’s SUSPIRIA.”

Phantasmag

BRING YOUR FREAK!

This is a ‘costume, kink and fetish-friendly’ event, so grab your witchiest horror costume, or gear-up to enjoy the film in your kink and fetish attire (just cover your ‘bits’ so we don’t stain the seats…). Prizes for best looks! Changing facilities from 10.30pm. Regular clothes are fine too.

• 10.30PM: Pre-drinks in the Rio bar / Buy copies of Phantasmag
• 11.30PM: Costume competition with Loose Willis & Co Kendrah
• 11:50PM: Introduction to the film by Loose Willis & Token Homo
• SUSPIRIA (1977) screens at midnight with an interval performance by Co Kendrah
• 2AM: Event/bar closes

Phantasmag is an indie queer feminist horror magazine. Reanimating the corpses of 70s and 80s horror zines, the London-based biannual print publication explores horror in its many forms: film, TV, fashion, history, art, music, and more. Follow @phantasmagpress.

Queer Horror Nights is an ongoing series of irregular film events for LGBTQIA+ audiences at venues across London. Follow @tokenhomo #queerhorrornights for all the gory details.