Suspiria

Movie Name: Suspiria
Year of Release: 2018

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Stars: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ingrid Caven, Sylvie Testud, Malgorzata Bela, Angela Winkler, Alek Wek, Jessica Batut, Elena Fokina, Renee Soutendijk, Christine Leboute, Olivia Ancona, Majon Van der Schot, Doris Hick, Clementine Houdart, Vanda Capriolo

Genre: Thriller, Horror, Mystery

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
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Synopsis & Review:

Director Luca Guadagnino continues his unique career path, following the astounding (and well deserved) success of "Call Me By Your Name". His new film is a remake, or a re-imagining, of the film by the same name which was directed by Dario Argento in 1977. The film follows the story of Susie Bannion, a young American woman, who comes to Berlin to enroll in a well known dance school. When Susie auditions, she immediately impresses the teaching body of the school with her innate capacity and expressiveness. Madame Blanc in particular, the head teacher and choreographer is captivated by her talents. Susie, with her quiet demeanor, quickly makes friends with Sara, another of the lead dancers. The school is still haunted by the disappearance of Patricia, another dancer/student, who apparently joined the RAF, but who has seemingly vanished, which leads her doctor/therapist to report the case with the police. Patricia mentioned in one of her last sessions that the school was in fact a coven of witches and that they were trying to seize her in some macabre ritual. Susie starts experiencing nightmares and visions, as the strange occurrences start piling up.
"Suspiria" is a film that is definitely going to cause some division among viewers. Much like the director's previous features, it's a film that perfectly/deftly marries his point of view, with a stylistic and aesthetic quality that is both memorable and impressive. In this case, the narrative takes place in Germany in 1977, back when both sides of the wall were still at odds, and when all sorts of political terrorism was still going on (something that the film depicts, by constantly showcasing the coups that are occurring on the news). The film very interestingly, marries the style and cinematography from German films from that timeframe, particularly the ones associated with talented film makers such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder (and his collaboration with the celebrated cinematographer Michael Ballhaus). The director initially builds the environment and the relationships between the characters, until the scheming and agenda behind the school's principals/workers becomes all too apparent. When the film finally comes to its epilogue, it really aims to respect the original, and be almost a bit too gruesome, but it is nevertheless done in tone with what the film has been building up to. It's a film that will leave a lasting impression, and which features two great performances by Tilda Swinton, and a revelatory one from Mia Goth (Dakota Johnson sadly, remains a very passive figure/performer, devoid of charismas). The score from Thom Yorke is effective, as is the beautiful cinematography from Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. A fantastic and inventive film from a truly unique voice in cinema.