[usr 4.5]
A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.
I had the distinct pleasure of watching the original “Suspiria” (for the first time ever) the night before I went and witnessed this new one. Let me tell you: neither disappointed. It’s not entirely fair to compare the two considering they have distinctly separate aesthetics and emotions, but they do share a story. Where the original offered color and flamboyance, the new one returns in texture and ominous tones. We all acknowledge the legacy of “Suspiria” is its wild color palette, completely unmotivated light, and searing score. This new “Suspiria” can’t copy that style, but it can deliver new feelings. The new “Suspiria” takes what the original started (the bare bones) and fills out those bones to create something truly terrifying.
Set in 1977 in Western Berlin (at the height of the Baader-Meinhoff period), newcomer Susie Bannion joins an illustrious dance company just as girls start to disappear. Intrigue follows as Susie slowly grows her role in the company. Tilda Swinton stars as Madame Blanc, the dance company’s infamous instructor, and one of the matrons of this company. Slowly, a conspiracy unravels of the matrons’ exploitation of the girls in arcane and occult ways. Murder follows Susie’s footsteps.
Lots of us remember the vague story from the original movie. This new one takes all those key elements and uses them as a skeleton. Where the film focused only on Susie Bannion, this movie dives right into the plot. Witches, we learn, run this dance company. But what do they want? We have the entire movie to find out. The addition of a psychiatrist (a character used only for plot exposition in the original) rounds out the story told. This movie doubles down on the original mythos but structures everything so we’re granted a much more in-depth view of the original story. Witches, terrorists, dancers, murder, Berlin. Luca Guadagnino blends all of these to powerful effect.
Lavishly decorated to the time period, this “Suspiria” really delivers on the overarching fear pervading German culture at the time. The winter weather dulls even the brightest colors and lingers over every image: ominous grey clouds looming overhead. Still, what it lacks in color it makes up for in texture: rich woods, layered marble, cracked concrete all make up this hard surface world the girls live in. But enough about the artistry. Let’s get to what you all want to know: Is it scary?
In a word? Yes. Absolutely yes. It’s terrifying. Fans of slow developing horror will be rewarded. Fans of gore and violence will get more than their fill. The first murder of the movie sets the tone as one dancer’s body contorts limbs into a literal human pretzel (in a horribly torturous sequence.) Expect all kinds of body shock and grotesquerie all tied to the high art of dance (and not ballet or jazz but that weird modern kind.) While the dance is confusing, the murder is shocking.
As the star of this movie, Dakota Johnson shines above all. I slept on her talent as an actress, dismissing her as the “Fifty Shades of Grey” chick. This and “Bad Times At The El Royale” prove to me that she’s much more than an actress in a sexy book. Her quiet intensity carries the film. She matches Tilda Swinton’s ominous energy, making the duo the most watchable female duo I’ve seen in a while. As far as a pairing goes: I didn’t know I needed it. I should add the remaining Matrons (played by Doris Hick, Malgorzata Bela, Angela Winkler, and company) contribute significant elements to the overall story being both background ominous and incredibly powerful.
Thom Yorke’s scoring ratchets up the tension in key moments. Whether it’s his Thom Yorke brand rotating-rhythms or soft vocals backed by sparse pianos, his music deftly fills the spot of ‘infamous score’ that really defined the original. Minute by minute, second by second, the entire movie keeps tightening the knot around its protagonists, dealing out unnerving deaths before finally exploding in violence. This movie has no stopping point and even when you think it’s done it still has to drive one last knife home. If you’re a “Suspiria” fan, go see this movie. If you’re a horror fan, go see this movie. If you like disturbing violent practical effects: go see this movie. If you’re curious… maybe wait for it to come to Amazon so you can stop it when it gets to be too much. I loved this movie. You should definitely try it.
In theaters November 2nd
Came wait to see it. Way to go Dako?