Director: Luca Guadagnino
By Alex Watson
While Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria remake attempts to do something bolder, the end result borders on frustrating. Smartly, he doesn't attempt to remake Dario Argento's cult classic shot for shot. Instead, he decides to focus on the political climate of 1970's divided Berlin. However, despite some fine trickery and some fine set designs, his story feels weak and unpolished. Also, although his style is flashy, his techniques often get in the way of the film and frustrate rather than amaze.
Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) is an American dancer who has traveled to Berlin to enroll at the Tanz Dance Academy. Despite no formal training, her natural talent dazzles Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton). The studio is still reeling from the mysterious disappearance of star performer Patricia Hingle (Chloe Grace Moretz). As Susie begins to make her mark and make friends with fellow performer Sara (Mia Goth). It becomes clear this academy has some sinister activity lurking.
Argento's original was notable because of his use of vibrant colors, his mastery of suspense and the screeching and blasting soundtrack by prog-rock band Goblin. Guadagnino to his credit attempts things a little differently. His use of more muted colors fit in well with the grey skies and the continuous rain of a divided Berlin. This version of Suspiria is lacking the needed tension and we are aware of the illicit activities of the academy almost from the get-go. Refusing to conform to horror film standards, Guadagnino emerges the wrong director to helm a slasher remake. His over-focus on the more artistic side prevents the film from making progress. The editing, in particular, is at fault and frequently we see gruesome murder scenes set against any number of flashy dance sequences. Guadagnino's use of voiceover to convey the potentially sinister intentions of the academy leaders often falls flat because the audience is not quite sure what it is supposed to be seeing?
Part of the issue comes from the setting and there appears to be a big focus on the guilt of a nation's past. Setting this movie in the same year of release as the original feels like a clever idea- but this movie doesn't need a political commentary. The character Dr. Josef Klemperer (credited as Lutz Ebersdorf but actually Tilda Swinton in prosthetics) receives particular heavy focus as he reflects on the disappearance of his wife Anke (original Susperia actress Jessica Harper) during WWII. However, this character just feels like an excuse to draw a thin plot out even further and although he adds an element of mystery, you feel this picture could succeed without him. Part of the issue with this remake is the characters themselves are almost like a blank slate. We get glimpses of Susie's Amish upbringing and her fractured relationship with her dying other. Here there are some hints of some supernatural elements. Sadly the plot is sacrificed in favor of design and this gives the movie a rather bland feel. The ending does possess an extremely clever twist, but its executed in such a baffling style that anyone will need multiple viewings to really understand it.
One saving grace from Suspiria is the excellent and often enticing dance sequences. As mentioned before, these frequently tie into some of the pictures most disturbing moments. Particularly when student Olga (Elena Forkina) has her body twisted more ways than a pretzel during one of Susie's dances. While slightly overused, these sequences offer up a bewitching montage which gives a boost to the dark horror surrounding the company. You can almost feel the evil forces lurking and being summoned with each breathless move executed. Guadagnino has some clever ideas for this remake, it's just a shame they are all tied to these moments.
While Dakota Johnson initially impresses as the sheltered Susie, she is unable to completely convince throughout. This role requires an actress with the ability to transform and Johnson is unable to make the character to the extent needed. Previously working with Guadagnino in 'A Bigger Splash' she has shown she is able to manipulate the viewer. In this effort, her character is nowhere near interesting enough for us to care. Tilda Swinton, as usual, is in fine form as the icy Madame Blanc. Interestingly, Swinton gives her enough intrigue that she doesn't serve as the main villain of the piece. Playing instead a woman bound to ancient traditions and forced to resort to underhanded means to make her leaders happy. Chloe Grace Moretz is literally a blink and you'll it miss figure in this remake. Mia Goth, however, is fast becoming a dependable and scene-stealing actress.
Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria is a horror movie with a surprising lack of horror. His aims are admirable but they are also what becomes this remakes undoing.
