Suspiria: Mesmerizing avant-garde film honoring Argento’s original

Carter Lee

Image courtesy of Amazon Studios

One of the best slow-burn horror movies of 2018, Suspiria, is a film best described as a reimagining of the ’77 classic, and not a remake. Let’s review….

One of the most highly anticipated horror movies of 2018 is now in theaters on a limited release, Suspiria. Dario Argento’s 1977 original is largely considered one of the best avant-garde horror movies of all time, and Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 reimagined film is one of the most creative and unique genre flick in years. If you enjoy art house horror movies, then Suspiria is a must-watch.

Directed by Guadagnino and written by David Kajganich, Suspiria stars Dakota Johnson (Susie Bannion), Mia Goth (Sara), Chloe Grace Moretz (Patricia Hingle), and Tilda Swinton, who takes on three different parts. As most fans know by now, the multi-talented Swinton not only portrays Madame Blanc, she also donned age-old makeup to play Dr. Jozef Klemperer. As far as Tilda’s third role, for horror fans that don’t already know, it’s probably best to find that out on your own while watching the Amazon release unfolds.

Image courtesy of Amazon Studios

During production, both Swinton and Guadagnino insisted Suspiria wasn’t a remake of the ’77 giallo classic, but rather, a reimagining. Of course, there are some similarities between the two horror movies; both center on the main character of Susie (spelled Suzie in the original), a young woman from the States who is accepted into a world-renowned dance academy in Germany; the dance school is controlled by a coven of witches; the “Three Mothers” theme is present in both films; and a bunch of people get murdered and confusing, scary happenings ensue.

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But as far as the direction and reveal of the story, the 2018 Suspiria takes a very different path, finding a voice of its own. I was a bit nervous going into this horror movie, as I can’t stand a shot-for-shot remake, like 1998’s Psycho. Much to my delight, this is most definitely a reimagined film that tells a different story.

The film takes place in 1977 and opens with Patricia, a dance student, frantically entering Dr. Klemperer’s office. Though she is talking incoherently, Patricia makes one thing clear—the Markos Dance Academy is controlled by witches. The psychotherapist assumes she is delusional, and the young dance student leaves as frantically as she arrived, and we’re off to the races. Well, the slow-burn races.

With a runtime of 152 minutes, Suspiria is longer than most horror movies. You’ll feel every minute of slow-burn city, but it’s well worth the watch. The director took his time in building the story and giving the characters depth, and that makes the finale all the more powerful.

As expected, Patricia mysteriously vanishes. Though Chloe Grace Moretz isn’t in this horror flick for long, the talented actor certainly does a great job in portraying the hysterical Patricia. I would love to see a prequel made one day revealing the events that sent Miss Hingle into a world of madness. Since the dance school is down a dancer, Susie gets her chance.

Image courtesy of Amazon Studios

Bannion is from a small town in Ohio, and through a series of flashbacks, we learn that she grew up in a very conservative home. Johnson portrays her character with poise and gives her an essence of innocence, an innocence that she looks somewhat anxious to shed. Susie is shy at first, but underneath her timidness is a curious young woman who enjoys pushing the envelope. Her development throughout the film is remarkable storytelling.

It takes about 30-40 minutes before the real horror kicks in, but the first terrifying scene makes up for lost time. Bannion is taking the lead in a routine, and for the sake of largely keeping this review spoiler free, let’s just say the dance involves a magic spell. The violence that’s revealed during this shot was so graphic that the woman next to me in the theater was literally in the fetal position in her chair, with her head tucked in her knees to shield her eyes. This is one of the most imaginative kills in horror history, and the fact that it is centered on a dance makes it even creepier — the mysterious hook does not disappoint.

Image courtesy of Amazon Studios

The essence of the film is exactly that of the title’s meaning, as suspiria is Latin for sighs. We seemingly hear every breath, creek, noise made by the characters and these tools are most powerful when Susie is dancing or sleeping. Johnson is absolutely mesmerizing while performing her routines. Even those who aren’t fans of dance will likely be swept away. Sound is as much of a component in this horror movie as the visuals, if not more, so watching Suspiria with a solid sound system is key.

The story unfolds masterfully as Jozef is convinced by Patricia’s diary to investigate the academy and her disappearance, and we witness the witches plot their unknown plan. For those that don’t know, Argento created the Three Mothers, a trio of witches who control the fate of the world: Mother Tenebrarum (Mother of Darkness); Mother Lachrymarum (Mother of Tears); and Mother Suspiriorum (Mother of Sighs). To the delight of many horror fans, Guadagnino kept that theme.

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Suspiria features plenty of symbolism and, at times, is Lynchian in its delivery. The most obvious symbolism, perhaps, is that of the Cold War that was happening in 1977. In addition, just a few decades removed from World War II, the Markos Dance Academy could be an allegory for Nazi concentration camps. This is one of those horror movies that can be watched many times over, and fans would still have to watch it several more times to connect all the dots.

Suspiria builds brilliantly to the blood-soaked climax, one that will likely stick to your skin long after the credits roll. The finale refreshingly provides a couple of twists that most viewers won’t see coming. The ending is so good that it begs for a sequel and, perhaps, a full Three Mothers trilogy.

The storytelling is done so well, and the drama is just as captivating as the horror, that it’s hard to imagine anyone becoming bored during Suspiria. However, it’s understandable that it may simply be too slow-paced for some viewers. If you primarily watch horror movies that feature jump-scare after jump-scare, then this may not be for you. However, genre fans that enjoy slow-burn horror films will surely be pleased.

Because of brilliant performances and directing, a solid story that’s truly unique, and a couple of surprise twists, Suspiria is one of the best horror movies of 2018.

Fan of Dario Argento’s Suspiria? See Luca Guadagnino’s remake yet? Let the other demented dancers know what you think in the comment section below.

Carter Lee

I am a former professional wrestler turned author, speaker, film critic, and freelance journalist. I have worked as a freelancer and film critic for over eight years, and though I love film in general, my favorite genre is horror. I love talking horror movies or shows, and would love to hear from you on Twitter.