Suspiria: A masterpiece set to divide and unsettle audiences

Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria is nothing short of magnificent. A remake of the 1977 classic by cult horror director Dario Argento, it’s set to divide and unsettle audiences with its goriness and lurking psychological tension.

A world-renowned German dance company takes on board Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson), a young and ambitious American performer. Chief choreographer Madam Blanc (Tilda Swinton) immediately notices her talent and takes an interest in her. It’s soon revealed that Susie’s space within the company became available because of the mysterious disappearance of another dancer (Chloë Grace Moretz), whose psychoanalyst (Lutz Ebersdorf, Swinton in disguise) is investigating.

The film is an aesthetical masterpiece; Guadagnino’s insane attention to detail is displayed in all its glory in the opening scene with a fast-paced, surgically precise sequence of shots of the objects populating the doctor’s room. This editing style is utilised throughout the feature, at times to connect supernatural events happening in separate places. The cinematic techniques are never, though, gratuitous; the Italian director doesn’t show off his capacity to deliver beautiful images, through beauty he lures the viewers, dragging them to Berlin 1977, in the midst of political protests and left-wing terrorism.

Save for Ebersdorf, Suspiria is an all-women story where the most horrific side of femininity blooms. The soundtrack – composed by Thom Yorke – heightens the devilish and suffocating vibe of the film. The combination between visuals and music reaches a climax during the goriest of the scenes, which will be remembered in the history of horror and cinema. Guadagnino is becoming the ultimate auteur of our generation, resembling the vision and elegance of Kubrick, Antonioni and Fellini. Disturbing and artful, Suspiria is the must-see film of the upcoming season.

Filippo L’Astorina

Suspiria is released nationwide on 16^th November 2018.

Read more reviews from our Venice Film Festival 2018 coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the Venice Film Festival website here.

Watch a clip from Suspiria here: