Alright, now; enough of the annual SUSPIRIA bashing from certain camps (and you do know who you are....ahem.) Here's what I know:
1. I wasn't at the 1st Night of the Living Drexel, where SUSPIRIA made its Marathon bow, so I have no first hand knowledge of how it went over. However, the limited number of friends and acquaintances I have who
were there mostly confirm what Scott stated: that there was a vocal minority who hated it, but that it didn't necessarily bomb. Although part of that may have had to do with the sleepers. More on that in a sec.
2. I sat wide awake through the screening at the 1st Nightmare at Studio 35...in the theater, I may add, Tim. None of this snack bar hangin' for me. (And who was this mysterious gent who cried foul while you were there? Are you sure you weren't just talking to yourself in the large mirror behind the Studio bar? Hmmmm....the plot thickens.) Anyway, the general feedback I received was fairly positive. The in-theater reaction was pretty quiet. Although part of that may have had to do with the sleepers. Because...
3. Yes, SUSPIRIA played in the wee hours of the morning at both Marathons. Now, take a film that is, admittedly, not for everyone, and plug it into that slot and you're bound to get some naysayers...or sleepers. And that's fine. Hell, one of the reasons I programmed it was because it's not a film for anyone (same with DON'T LOOK NOW, THE HUNGER, etc.) But that doesn't mean it's not a worthy addition to a Marathon lineup.
4. Yes, the U.S. cut is missing some key footage. But only the most extreme moments of gore are missing, and quite frankly, the two times I've seen this cut in a theater the edits haven't fully affected by enjoyment of the film. In any form, SUSPIRIA isn't about the gore; it's a about the mood, the atmosphere, the nightmare logic (logic that, admittedly, is pushed further by the excision of most of the blind pianist subplot in the domestic version.) In any decent shape, it's a primal experience by a master in element.
Now, the above defense should not be construed as ANY indication that SUSPIRIA will be playing at the Marathon...or any indication that it will NOT be playing at the Marathon. But anytime I can get on the soapbox and defend one of my favorites, I'll take the chance.