Suspiria (2018) Review

The idea of a Suspiria remake initially didn't appeal to me at all. Dario Argento's original 1977 film is such a unique piece of horror cinema, with its vibrant colours, pounding score, and psychedelic atmosphere. It's the type of film that, in theory, could never be re-told again to such a fantastical extent. Regardless of my doubts however I put my faith in director Luca Guadagnino, and thankfully he did not disappoint. Guadagnino's Suspiria may not deliver the same kind of magic that Argento's did over forty years ago, but instead it casts a new spell all of its own, paying respectful homage while paving its own twisted path.

Set in divided Berlin in 1977, the film follows aspiring American dancer Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) as she begins her education at the prestigious Markos Dance Academy under the guidance of veteran dancer Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton). All is not as it seems at the Academy however, and when a student mysteriously vanishes, elderly psychoanalyst Dr. Klemperer (also Swinton) also finds himself getting tangled in its dark web of secrets.

The original Suspiria is a hard act to follow, but instead of attempting to imitate Argento's distinct style, Guadagnino opts to do the exact opposite. The candy-coloured visuals are stripped away, the pounding score is replaced with ethereal melodies (courtesy of Thom Yorke), and the terror is much more scattered and sporadic. It's a remake in name only, sharing a premise and certain plot beats, but the tone and the style are worlds apart from those of the original. Guadagnino and screenwriter David Kajganich are more concerned with telling their own story of socio-political tensions in cold-war Berlin than imitating the source material by Argento and Daria Nicolodi, a wise move that makes this a fresh experience for both newcomers and hardcore Argento fans. Still, it does pay its respect to the original by delving into the 'Three Mothers' mythology, and by naming some of the characters after minor roles from the original.

The film also diverges from the original in terms of scares as well, making them much more sporadic and infrequent than the original. They become so scattered at times that you almost forget you're watching a horror film, until we reach the next ghoulish set piece and Guadagnino reminds us what this really is. It may not be as visceral as the original film, but there are some truly jaw-dropping moments throughout that really leave an impact once they're over with. The most memorable of these is the much-talked-about scene in which a dancer is flung around like a rag-doll in time to another dancers routine, my jaw was well and truly on the floor. It may take its to get around to each horrific set piece, but by the time it reaches its explosive climax it definitely doesn't disappoint.

Guadagnino's Suspiria is also very concerned with contextualising events, constantly cutting to news footage of the Lufthansa hijacking and talk of the Red Army Faction. It's a very politically overt film that sometimes overshadows the primary plot, but regardless of this, Guadagnino and his crew do a wonderful job of transporting us back to divided Berlin. From the grim bauhaus buidlings, to Guadagnino's own directoral style, it feels much more akin to Andrej Zulawski's Possession than Argento's Suspiria, but in the best way possible. It really captures that sense of cold-war paranoia that festers in the world around our characters.

Speaking of the characters, Dakota Johnson steps into the dancing shoes of our main protagonist Susie, who has a much more reserved role this time around. Johnson manages to capture the many different sides to this character as the plot unfolds, despite seeming somewhat held back near the beginning. Mia Goth takes a much more central role as Susies new companion Sara, who soon begins to investigate the strange goings on at the Markos Academy. For a character with little backstory, Goth brings a lot of natural pathos to the role. But it's Tilda Swinton who really stands out, taking on three seperate roles, that of Madam Blanc, as well as male psychoanalyst Klemperer and the mysterious witch Helena Markos. I was worried that Swinton's casting as the only integral male role would have been a bit distracting at times, but honestly there were times when I forgot that it was even her. She even shares a scene with the star of the original film, Jessica Harper, who has a brief but integral cameo.

For the most part I think Guadagnino's Suspiria really succeeds in reimagining the original film while simultaneously telling a new story, but it does have its flaws. My main issue was at times the film loses its sense of focus a bit, often allowing for Dr. Klemperer's subplot to overshadow the main story. It makes it a little confusing at times as to who our protagonist is, naturally we are led to believe that it's Susie, but there are times when her arc almost becomes underplayed in favour of this secondary plot. As well as that, the film has an epilogue that feels fairly glued-on and a little unnecessary. To some extents it works on an emotional level, but from a narrative standpoint it just makes things feel sort of uneven. Thankfully these flaws don't hold the film back too much however, and ultimately Suspiria manages to overcome them.

Considering how wary I was about a Suspiria remake, I was more than happy with what Luca Guadagnino has given us. You can tell he has such respect and admiration for the original, it's evident throughout, but instead of crafting a pale imitation of that film, he uses it as a basis to tell his own version of it. A chilling period piece that captures both the cold-war tensions of 70's Berlin and the spellbinding atmosphere of its source material, Suspiria is a film that may not strike a chord with some initially, but give it time and Guadagnino's reimagining will definitely cast its spell on you.

The 10 Most Underrated Cinematic Slashers

Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, all some of horror cinemas most iconic slashers. These fictional killers have hacked their way through groups of teens time and time again, some of them even still doing so now, thus cementing themselves in the horror movie hall of fame for eternity. However not every slasher reaches such legendary status, the slasher genre is so vast after all, so it's no wonder that a lot of these villains have faded off into obscurity over the years. Some of them however, deserve a lot better than that, so here are my picks for the 10 must underrated slasher villains.

10. Marty Rantzen- Slaughter High

Marty Rantzen was an innocent young geek who fell victim to the cruel jests of his fellow classmates, however, one day they pushed him a little too far. After a prank gone wrong leaves Marty horribly disfigured, he winds up in an institution where he spends several years plotting his brutal revenge. Eventually, he sets out to murder his former bullies one by one, by staging a faux school reunion that acts as his killing floor. Dressed in a high school football jacket and a creepy looking jester mask, Marty certainly has an eerie appearance, but its his grizzly and over the top methods that make him such a cool slasher villain. From lacing beer cans with poison that makes your intestines fall out (?), or replacing bathwater with acid, Marty goes above and beyond to punish his ex-tormentors in cruel and ironic ways, making him seem like a very dedicated cinematic slasher.

9. Kenny Hampson- Terror Train

Much like Marty Rantzen, Kenny was also the victim of a grim prank that left him traumatised and hungry for revenge. Hopping aboard a party-train on New Years Eve, Kenny began picking off his victims one by one, wearing a variety of costumes to blend into the fancy-dress party. He might not be the most memorable or unique slasher, but Kenny sure is cunning as he spends most of the film hiding in plain sight among the rest of the passengers. Not only that, but the fact that he managed to avoid being caught for so long aboard a train was an admirable feat. A tactical killer and full-blown master of disguise, Kenny is not to be underestimated.

8. Leslie Vernon- Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

In a world where the likes of Freddy and Jason are real-life killers, Leslie Vernon looks up to them in the same way that young lads look up to actors or footballers. Seeking to make a name for himself among the greats, Leslie fashions his own unique backstory, dons an eerie mask, and wields a sharp scythe before hiring a documentary crew to follow his journey to slasher stardom. What makes Leslie Vernon so memorable is that he comes across as a fanboy almost, someone who admires the likes of Michael Myers and seeks to stand among the slasher greats. He's got his whole murder itinerary planned out step by step, like some sort of weird to-do list, and knows the ins and outs of the slasher genres like the back of his hand. Very much in the same vein as Ghostface, Leslie Vernon took inspiration from the great slashers of horror cinema in order to become one himself, and he seemed to enjoy it a lot.

7. The Prowler- The Prowler

After being dumped via Dear John letter during World War 2, this deranged military man returned home to murder both his girlfriend and her new lover once the war ended. For years after this, the annual graduation dance was cancelled out of respect for both victims, but when the tradition is brought back 35 years later, the prowler returns. Dressed from head to toe in G.I. gear, the prowler is a seriously menacing killer who uses his military training to hunt and kill his innocent victims. A skilled tactician if there ever was one, the prowlers approach is quiet and subtle while his kills are as bloody as can be, using pitchforks and bayonets on his unsuspecting victims. This is one veteran who you wouldn't want to mess with.

6. Cropsy- The Burning

Inspired by a summer camp urban legend, Cropsy was a camp groundskeeper who was horribly burned in a prank gone wrong, you know where this is going at this stage. Armed with a pair of shears, he heads to Camp Stonewater five years later where he begins to dispose of the campers and counselors in the most grizzly fashion possible. Jason Voorhees may be the most well-known summer camp slasher, but Cropsy proves himself to be just as vicious. In the films most brutal scene, he springs out of a seemingly empty canoe to massacre a group of unsuspecting campers with his shears, none of them survive. He's by far one of the most brutal killers on this list, and could definitely go toe to toe with the likes of Jason Voorhees. Well, maybe not post-Jason Lives Jason.

5. The Raincoat Killer- Alice, Sweet Alice

Kids can be incredibly creepy in the world of horror, which is why this raincoat-clad killer is such a memorable villain. After her little sister is murdered on the day of her holy communion, the mischievous Alice becomes the prime suspect. As the killer continues to target those who have angered Alice in some way, it becomes clear that she may not be as innocent as she seems. The concept of a child killing people can be unsettling enough, but it's this particular killers costume that makes them so memorable. Dressed in a yellow raincoat and an eerie translucent mask, this killer is scary enough even before she does any killing, and has easily one of the best costumes in the history of slasher films. Is it really Alice behind the mask though? Well, you'll just have to watch.

4. Matt Cordell- Maniac Cop

Something of a tragic killer, Matt Cordell was a New York police officer known for his noble, but often violent ways. His brutal treatment of criminals (and a little corruption) eventually put him behind bars, where he was massacred in the prison showers and thought to be dead. Cordell survived however, but only barely, and his sanity was extremely fractured which caused him to go on a brutal killing spree throughout New York City. What makes Cordell so menacing is that his victims are often people who have done nothing wrong, from an innocent waitress to an unsuspecting couple, anybody could become his victim no matter how morally just they are. There's also a subversive element to Cordell's character as well, acting as a sort of metaphor for police brutality and such, something that's still relevant today. He certainly lives up to his title of maniac cop.

3. The Miner- My Bloody Valentine

Harry Warden, the original miner, was the sole survivor of a mining accident through which he lived by cannibalising his colleagues. Alive, but insane, Harry donned a mining outfit and armed himself with a pickaxe in order to get revenge on the negligent supervisors who left the mines early that day to go to the Valentines dance. Harry was eventually apprehended, but he left a lasting legacy on the town of Valentine's Bluff, and the annual Valentine's dance was subsequently cancelled. Years later however, the Valentine's dance is brought back, and the murderous miner returns to Valentine's Bluff, pickaxe in hand. From his eerie gas mask, to his signiature pickaxe, the miner is a truly terrifying villain with even more terrifying methods. When he's not murdering townsfolk, he's taunting the police with grizzly Valentine's poems and human hearts, he's a real romantic type. The miner is by far one of the most formidable killers on this list, who deserves to stand among the likes of Michael Myers and the gang.

2. The Hag- Curtains

This masked murderer terrorised a group of young actresses at a remote Canadian mansion, during a weekend-long audition for a new film. Dressed in black clothes and a creepy hag mask, the killer began eliminating each actress over the course of the weekend in brutal fashion. In one scene they even display that they have a talent for ice-skating as they chase a victim across an icy lake, sickle in hand. The hag has easily one of the scariest masks in slasher history, a vile crone mask that reveals only their piercing glare, it's pure nightmare fuel. They're also a seriously persistent killer, as evident from the aforementioned ice-skating scene, it's almost admirable how dedicated they are to their craft. The real cherry on top though is the final reveal of the killers identity, something that ends the film on an almost darkly comical note. I'd like to see Ghostface try to ice skate the way the hag does.

1. Billy/The Moaner- Black Christmas

Before Freddy, Jason, or Michael Myers were even ideas, there was Billy. This disturbing character hid out in the attic of a sorority house over the holidays, making strange phone calls to the residents before starting his killing spree. Billy, or 'the moaner' as the girls dub him, has an extremely unsettling voice that we hear during his phone calls, but what makes this killer so interesting is that we know very little about him. From his maniacal ramblings we know that his name is Billy and that he done something unspeakable with a girl named Agnes, but apart from that we know virtually nothing. This makes him seem much less human and more of a force almost, a sinister presence lurking within the house and terrorising all those present. He's a quiet killer when he wants to be, but when he kills it's cathartic and animalistic as he unleashes his rage on these unsuspecting women. The scariest part however, is that by the time the film ends he is never apprehended, he's still waiting in the house for his next victim.

Why You Should Be Watching 'Channel Zero'

It's no secret that the horror genre is flourishing right now, not just on the big screen, but on the small screen too. With shows like The Haunting of Hill House gaining massive acclaim and future projects such as Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone reboot on the way, television is becoming just as big a contributor to the horror genre as its big screen counterpart. A true gem amidst all the televised terror however, is SyFy's anthology horror series Channel Zero.

Created by Nick Antosca, who worked extensively on NBC's Hannibal, Channel Zero is an anthology horror series that takes inspiration from various internet 'creepypastas', with each season focusing on a new story and characters. Creepypastas, as most of you know, are horror-themed stories or images that circulate around the web, often originating on sites like Reddit, spawning the likes of Slenderman and the likes. Now I know how that premise sounds, especially considering how the recent Slenderman film fared, but Channel Zero merely uses these stories as foundations for something much more terrifying. Here are some of the reasons why you should be watching Channel Zero.

It's Creepy

It should go without saying that a horror show be scary, but maintaining that sense of dread over the course of several episodes is no easy feat (just look at American Horror Story). However, Nick Antosca and his team of writers manage to tap into the darkest corners of their collective minds to create a uniquely nightmarish experience each season. The show relies heavily on imagery and atmosphere to creep under its audience's skin, not so much to outright shock them, but moreso to chill them to the bone. Antosca has a keen eye for imagery and uses this talent to bring these nightmarish tales to life. Bordering on the surreal at times, Channel Zero walks the line between reality and dreams in a manner similar to certain episodes of Twin Peaks, both the original run and the return. Coming from someone who has seen a lot of horror films and tv shows, I can honestly say that no modern series manages to build an atmosphere as bone-chilling as Chanel Zero.

It's Concise

Perhaps the reason that those behind the show are able to maintain that sense of dread is because each season is fairly concise, with 6 episodes per season and four seasons so far. This almost makes each season feel like its own 6-hour horror film as opposed to a television series, and is a great format for storytelling on the small screen. This means that each season feels tightly written, with no filler episodes, loose ends, or simply running out of ideas. It gives the writers the freedom to tell these well-developed stories without having to make them too overdrawn or longer than they need to be. 

The Cast

But it's not all about the storytelling, it also plays host to an extremely talented cast in each season, with a few genre favourites popping up every now and again. Veteran Irish actress Fiona Shaw had a fairly prominent role in season one, while the always excellent John Carroll Lynch plays a really eerie role in the second season. Even the hitcher himself, Rutger Hauer, had a recurring role in season three as the sinister Joseph Peach, the patriarch of an inter-dimensional cannibal family. It's not all about the big names though, as Channel Zero has also managed to highlight a number of really talented newcomers as well, including Amy Forsyth (Hellfest), Olivia Luccardi (It Follows) and Brandon Scott (Blair Witch) who has appeared in both seasons 3 and 4. For a show with such a small budget it's crucial that Channel Zero have a strong cast to carry the material, and it could not be in more capable hands.

The Creatures

My favourite aspect of Channel Zero however, is the menagerie of nightmare creatures it has dreamed up over the years. The first season became synonymous with the eerie looking Tooth Child, a humanoid creature made entirely of teeth who has become something of a poster boy for the series. Tooth Child was just the beginning however, as later seasons gave us the likes of a grotesque meat-man, and a pale-faced scuttling being reminiscent of Kayako Sakei from The Grudge. The most recent season really turned the terror up to eleven however, with the twisted, contorting creature known as Pretzel Jack. This clown-faced being bends and contorts into strange and unnatural shapes while pursuing his victims, and was played by real-life contortionist Troy James as opposed to using CGI. What made him so interesting however was how he developed over the course of the season, but if you want to know more about that then you'll have to watch.

It's Compelling

Balancing out all of the terror however, is some truly compelling writing from Antosca and co. They create and develop characters that we care for, layered protagonists that we can empathise with and get behind in the struggle against their supernatural adversaries. For every nightmare monster our protagonists face, there is an equal number of inner demons up against them as well which makes their overall journey much more engaging. Something that stood out for me in season 3 particularly was how the show handles the subject of mental illness. Horror hasn't always been kind to mental illness and even now there are some films that still stigmatise it or misinterpret it. The third season of Channel Zero however, deals with a character who suffers deeply with depression, which manifests itself in the form of a terrifying monster constantly pursuing her. Instead of adding to the stigma, the show tackles mental illness in a similar manner to The Babadook, portraying it as monsters that our protagonists must live with and face down when the time comes. It's clearly a show with a strong team of writers behind it.

So if you're looking for some more terrifying television to indulge in, look no further than Channel Zero. Blending nightmarish atmosphere with compelling storytelling, strong performances, and unique monsters, the series stands out as one of the most original horror series on television right now. And with 6 episodes per season, it's the perfect show to binge.