Suspiria (2018)
“Love and manipulation, they share houses very often. They are frequent bedfellows.” -Dr. Josef Klemperer
This unsettling quote perfectly captures the atmosphere of Suspiria (2018), a visually stunning and psychologically disturbing film. Going into this movie, I had been told 3 things. My buddy Austin likes it, it's messed up, and there are things that you have never seen in a horror movie before. That went three for three. From the moment the film opens with the anxiety-filled coaching from the mothers, the use of vibrant yet unsettling colors throughout creates unease. Even with all of that, you do notice right away that this is going to be somewhat of a slow burn which I was not expecting. I found myself wondering, beyond the artistic cinematography, what was so captivating about this film? Then all the sudden some of the most brutal and unexpected scenes showed up on screen and I don’t think that I will ever be able to unsee them (if you have seen it you know exactly what I am talking about). I will say, that scene brought me back, but overall you are left with what I believe is too much dialogue. Dakota Johnson does deliver a captivating performance, which we at ZEJ have never said before. She showcased the transformation of her character Susie with depth and believability, while aiding the mystery of the story.
Now, I have never seen the original, but I will say that this is not a typical horror film. The movie leans towards being an overly confusing horror movie that goes for a lot of shock value instead of jump-scares like traditional slasher horror. I understand why it is adored by viewers, due to the incredible visuals that will give you chills and being terrifying not due to jump scares, but due to the eerie vibes it gives off. With all that said, I personally do not love this kind of movie and had to do the “ending explained” Youtube route when it finished just to realize I did understand the film, it just added so much to make it seem deeper than it is. Horror fans it's a must see, but the regular fan can skip.
-J
