Skip to main content

Suspiria (2018), R, ★


I was quite excited for this movie for two primary reasons: 1) it is a remake of Dario Argento's real solid film from the 1970s so I was excited to see another version of this film and 2) I believe in momentum as director Luca Guadagnino made Call Me By Your Name last year which was one of the bright highlights of 2017. Also, supernatural horror is one of the more interesting sub-genres as it connects both the mysterious tones and the skeptical characters that would get you hooked into the story and be frightened by the revelations that are either told or moments that startle you. But, honestly, I have seen something more frightening than the great Hereditary this year: a slow, self-indulgent, exhausting contemporary horror music video that felt more punishing than invigorating.

Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson), an American, has been accepted into the Markos Dance Academy in West Berlin. There is a looming presence of guilt and suspicion in the academy when dancing student, Patricia Hingle (Chloë Grace Moretz), has gone missing, because psychotherapist Josef Klemperer did not believe her that the academy is controlled by a coven of witches.  Because of her missing and her past warnings, Klemperer is wary of suspicion and investigates the academy.

Olga (Elena Fokina), a student, becomes resentful towards their lead choreographer, Madame Blanc (Tilda Swilton) during rehearsal. While Olga is attempting to leave, Susie performs an aggressive dance, which her "voodoo" movements begin physically inflicting Olga and mangling her body, damaging her organs. Later, the matrons attempt to decide who will be the coven's new leader between Madame Blanc and an aged, disfigured witch named Mother Markos (also played by Tilda Swinton). Markos wins the popular vote.


I will acknowledge two strong elements of the film: the first scene in which the editing is done well between Susie's choreography and Olga's body getting mangled while being trapped in mirrors and Tilda Swinton's performance which is very solid but not in the category of magnificent performances. Everything else felt like gross artistry that served no purpose with not much story behind it. It is more contemporary supernatural showcases than a story of what is going on and why it is going on. If Guadagnino and the writer, David Kagjanich, had took their time to reduce the running time and tighten up to contextualize and explain the story with normal recitations of dialogue, then this movie would have been one of the more special remakes. Most of the movie is just lingering long takes or scenes that drag and dialogue that takes forever for the characters to comment or reply in exchange another statement.

Dakota Johnson seems to be lost for most of the movie knowing when to commit during the choreography scenes but not in the acting moments. She is miscast in the titular role and after a fun performance from her in Bad Times at the El Royale, she downgrades herself to aloofness throughout the film. Even though I say this was not of Swinton's first-class performances, but it is still a seething, restrained performance that barely notches the film up a bit. It is an quietly intense role. I wished that Mia Goth actually had the titular role because I thought she was a bit engaging at times.

This movie was not for me whatsoever even though I praise the production behind the first mangling scene and choreography scenes, taking me aback to old times where the movie parallels the events of the Holocaust. Also, the movie tries to tackle the themes of motherhood but I never got the sense of the remake, more in the Dario Argento film. The Dario Argento version worked for me because it combines the eery atmosphere with the synthesized score, supporting the color and elaborate set pieces whereas this version seemed more cold. The 1977 cult horror film is not a masterpiece but it definitely compares to this one. People will get engaged with the choreography and production, but it will leave you with a gory, boring mess that will take to wash out of your mind. A very disappointing follow-up after his masterful 2017 film from Guadagnino.

*


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2015 Documentaries

I have only seen 6 documentaries this year which also includes Amy and I Am Chris Farley . But, I have to be honest, this has not been a particularly strong year for documentaries except for onethat got me emotionally and mentally as what I examine for when they uncover the truth or some facts from the people involved in these documentaries. But, here are the four I have seen this year: Listen To Me Marlon, Unrated, 4 stars This is the most insightful documentary of the year as we only hear Marlon Brando narrating his life and experiences what he has gone through regarding his family, his private life and his film experiences regarding The Godfather , Apocalypse Now , Last Tango in Paris , etc. It is like Marlon Brando came out of his grave to give us another profoundly moving movie only we hear his voice and scenery and nothing else. The Look of Silence, R, 3.5 stars Joshua Oppenheimer's follow-up documentary is a light-hearted but still-disturbing film regarding a ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Daddy's Home 2 (2017), PG-13, ★1/2

The first Daddy's Home was surprisingly a financial success as I thought it was not as bad as many people thought. I thought it was a solid cable watch because it had enough laughs for that sort of mixed recommendation. I was not craving for a sequel for this movie because again, comedy sequels have a very bad record, however, the only difference is that it is not too late since the first movie came out a few years ago. But, this sequel is a reminder as to why we do not need a sequel to a hit comedy because this is a pretty much forgettable comedy, especially a holiday comedy...which I hade a guilty pleasure for. This did not work for me. Brad and Dusty (Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg) have become friends after the events of the first film and they set up a co-dad system where their two children, Megan and Dylan, spending time at each father's home. Dusty has re-married to writer Karen (Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio) and he is step-dad to Adrianna, Karen...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), R, 4 stars

The stockbrokers worshipping Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) like a god. Wall Street. The clients, the adrenaline, the stocks, the money, the power, and the decadence. The former three pertains to the man's job, but the latter three pertains what any stockbroker wants in order to have the freedom to do whatever they want with the client's money. As Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey) would say, "The name of the game is: move the money from your client's pocket into your pocket." We basically spend three hours seeing all of these Wall-Street scumbags steal the clients' money into their own pockets and spend it on booze, drugs, women, and other insane things in more insane activities. I have witnessed here is a great movie that I would not watch repetitively. The movie starts with Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) blowing cocaine onto a hooker's butt and he and his brokers throwing a little person onto a board with a dollar sign in the center. It'...
Post a Comment
Read more