In this remake of the 1977 horror classic, young American dancer Susie Bannion arrives in 1970s Berlin to audition for the world-renowned Helena Markos Dance Co. When she vaults to the role of lead dancer, the woman she replaces breaks down and accuses the company's female directors of witchcraft. Meanwhile, an inquisitive psychotherapist and a member of the troupe uncover dark and sinister secrets as they probe the depths of the studio's hidden underground chambers. "Suspiria" stars Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Angela Winkler, Ingrid Caven, Elena Fokina, Sylvie Testud, Renée Soutendijk, Christine LeBoutte, Fabrizia Sacchi, Małgosia Bela, Jessica Harper, and Chloë Grace Moretz, written by David Kajganich, and directed by Luca Guadagnino.
To be honest, it is quite difficult to surpass or at least meet the levels set by the original film. The 1977 horror film is one of those masterpiece that still holds up and can still scare audiences even when viewed today. Somehow, I became a fan of the film. I fell in love with the film's over-the-top campiness, playful and imaginative deaths, the stunning visuals, the colorful characters and yes, the aweful accents. All of these things became the main reason why I adore the original "Suspiria", prompting me to watch the rest of the trilogy (Inferno, Mother of Tears) by Dario Argento.
But after watching this remake, I can say that this update on the Dario Argento classic is undeniably a different kind of animal. Unlike the first one which echoes Italian Giallo and traditional American slashers, this reboot isn't focused on blood or body count. Instead, it's focused on building up it's atmosphere. There are many changes in the story (the setting is moved to 1977 Berlin). Of course, it still follows the same backbone of the original with a new girl entering the dance group and the strange things that happen around her after. But as the story moves along, you will realize that this is not your typical remake as it takes a life of its own and transforms into a different creature. The ending will truly surprise you because it far more twisted than what you're expecting. Then, there's that death scene of a dancer being twisted around a dance studio that is as gorgeous as it is sickening to watch.
Chloe Grace Moretz was amazing as always, even though she wasn't given enough screen time. Mia Goth also did a great job in her role. And kudos to Dakota Johnson for being an effective protagonist. It was such a delight watching her perform around with those weird yet beautiful dances. Tilda Swinton shines as Madame Blanc. Her restrained but eerie portrayal of the character adds a chilling touch to the film. Plus did I already mention that she's playing two other roles here in this movie?
As with the visuals, gone are the colorful palette. Instead, every frame is dark, dull and dreary. Also, a lot may complain about the film's excessively long running time at 2 hours and 32 minutes which may be a bit of a drag for some. Despite that, the story itself was pretty entertaining enough for me to keep me up.
Luca Guadagnino's "Suspiria" remake may have an excessively long running time, but its fresh spin on the 1977 Dario Argento classic will keep you entranced. It's repulsive and gorgeous at the same time.
To quote Sara Simms (Mia Goth): "It's addicting. That's the word for it."
Rating: 9/ 10
"Suspiria" is now showing in Philippine cinemas starting Oct. 31, 2018 from OctoArts Films International.
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