It’s the witching hour. And there is no better time to revisit Dario Argento‘s Giallo horror “Suspiria.” As the remake expands nationwide in the coming weeks, audiences will have the opportunity to experience director Luca Guadagnino‘s interpretation of the cult classic horror. Dabbling in the occult, and trimming down the lurid facade, Guadagnino’s “Suspiria” looks the exact antithesis of Argento’s nightmarish, psychedelic trip. But the feeling remains the same.
In this video essay from ScreenPrism, Guadagnino’s reimagining is taken to task. Everything about Argento’s film feels like a resplendent visual concoction, we’re immediately put under the spell of the horror film. Whether it be by the vibrant colors or hypnotic music of Goblin, Argento lures us into this nightmare and we just don’t want to wake up from it.
READ MORE: Moving Through Colors in Dario Argento’s ‘Suspiria’
Roughly 40 years later, Guadagnino is taking a different look to his film. While still wildly hypnotic in its sound design and tepid glances from stars Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton, there is something far more sinister in this take. It gothic and subdued. But still, the feeling remains the same.
With his follow-up to the seductive “Call Me By Your Name,” Guadagnino is paying homage to the feeling he had when he first watched Argento’s feature. A cover version of sorts, the director isn’t remaking the film, but rather supplementing his own interpretation; turning his feelings into stark visuals and perverse story that will leave an indelible mark as it gets under your skin.
Guadagnino is by no means aiming to remake a film that already holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans around the world. Instead, as a scholar of horror, Guadagnino is writing a humble letter to Argento, rendering staggering visuals and haunting tracks that like the 1977 original remain a perfect nightmare in the world of horror.