Captivating, bizarre, yet disturbing, the movie Suspiria takes you into the realm of evil. Although it’s a good film for horror fans, the movie doesn’t deliver fast enough to excite and frighten lovers of the genre. Instead, the witchcraft that’s implied gets lost in the beauty and rigor of the dance. That said, when you do finally get to the terror, for the target fans it’s a good presentation of typical gore and extreme evil violence.
Dancer Patricia (Chloe Grace Moretz) has been lead performer for Markos Dance Academy in 1977 West Berlin under the tutelage of Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton) for some time. However, she has become unhinged from being completely engrossed in her dance character and a fear that the school is involved in witchcraft. To her troupe of dancers, Blanc tells them Patricia has gone missing and possibly joined the revolution taking place in the city. Patricia no longer with the dance troupe, Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) from Ohio, USA gets noticed by Blanc for her ferocious dance style. She envisions her as a possible lead role in her new dance recital “Volk”. She offers her a chance to join the troupe and Susie gives a convincing performance.
The film goes on from there adding a side story involving Psychotherapist Jozef Klemperer and his involvement with the Academy through both Patricia and then a Russian dance student named Olga (Elena Fokina). Director Luca Guadagnino utilizes Tilda Swinton’s abilities beyond Madame Blanc to perform the roles of Klemperer, and later the witch conveyer Mother Helena Markos a disgusting aged woman covered in awful skin growths and evil cankers.
Using a lot of dance to introduce the subjects and setup the future finale, Guadagnino introduces his characters in rehearsals and recitals. The beauty of the dance should attract upcoming ballerinas, but only if they think modern and combative. The music will wears on the average viewer and combined with the repetitious movements of the dancers turn into a metronome for monotony. However, unless you are a die hard modern dancer or someone looking for another Black Swan, it should deliver a somewhat adventurous spirit.
Swinton actually caries the film on her back with a “trio” of performances that are terrific. She’s Madame Blanc, the “mother” of the troupe, and with that comes a stern face that rarely cracks a smile (unless it’s an evil one). Her demeanor embodies her character with a malevolent streak, especially showing when the girls are working the routine of “Volk” being played out on the rehearsal floor.
As the elderly German psychotherapist Klemperer who escaped the holocaust, Swinton shows his sadness in his eyes while he interviews subjects from Madame Blanc’s dance group. Later it turns to happiness when his mysterious wife comes into play. But, there’s more to that character I’d like to know, but even with a two and a half hour film, Klemperer is just a sidebar in the script.
Dressing in a ghastly rubber suit as the primordial Mother Helena Markos, there’s not much for Swinton to do except flay her arms around letting the fake skin do all the work. I will say, however, it would have made a super Halloween costume for sure. And congrats to the costume/make-up crew as it actually looks as professional as Jabba the Hutt.
BONUS FEATURES:
“The Making of Suspiria” director Luca Guadagnino explains the movie and why he wanted to make the film. Actors Mia Goth, Renee Southendijk, Dakota Johnson,
“The Secret Language of the Dance” choreographer Damien Jalet, Dakota Johnson, Mia Goth talk about the main dances that are shown in the film.
“The Transformations of Suspiria” prosthetics artist Mark Coulier, talk about the prosthetics special effects and make-up of the broken arms, pulling opening a chest, blood squirting out of a neck, and much more.
Suspiria has been rated R by the MPAA for disturbing content involving ritualistic violence, bloody images and graphic nudity, and for some language including sexual references. Not for the squeamish or fearful the film does achieve points of cruel depravity, pernicious nudity and bone snapping body parts. The film has just been released on Blu-ray.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Horror fans should stick with it for an ending surprise. (3 out of 5 Stars)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Lutz Ebersdorf, Angela Winkler, Ingrid Caven, Elena Fokina, Sylvie Testud, Renée Soutendijk, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jessica Harper.
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
MPAA Rating: R for disturbing content involving ritualistic violence, bloody images and graphic nudity, and for some language including sexual references
Running Time: 2 hrs. 32 min.
Video Release Date: January 29, 2019
Original Theatrical Release Date: November 2, 2018
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Audio: Dolby Atmos
Video: 1080p HD 16×9 Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 disc Plus Digital Code
Distributed by: Lionsgate Films
Released in: Blu-ray, Digital HD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
