Recently I finally had the chance to sit down and experience director Luca Guadagnino's remake of Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA (pre-order HERE). Short review: I loved it. But I can't help but wonder what Argento himself thought of the movie. And today it looks like we have our unfortunate answer. Turns out he didn't like it much, if at all. Argento recently said in an interview with Radio Rai 1’s Un Giorno da Pecora the movie did not excite him and – get this – he says it betrayed the spirit of the original. Ouch.
Specifically, Dario Argento says about Guadagnino's SUSPIRIA remake:
It did not excite me, it betrayed the spirit of the original film: there is no fear, there is no music. The film has not satisfied me so much.
He went on to say that it was “a refined film, like Guadagnino, who is a fine person.”
I think it kind of goes without saying that I don't agree with Argento here, but all the same it's his film so he can feel anyway he likes when someone remakes it. That said if you haven't had the chance to see the remake of SUSPIRIA yet DO NOT LET THIS STOP YOU FROM SEEING THE FILM. Make up your own mind about it. It's a truly singular piece of filmmaking, the likes of which we haven't see since Kubrick… For better or worse.
Synopsis:
Young American dancer Susie Bannion arrives in 1970s Berlin to audition for the world-renowned Helena Markos Dance Co. When she vaults to the role of lead dancer, the woman she replaces breaks down and accuses the company's female directors of witchcraft. Meanwhile, an inquisitive psychotherapist and a member of the troupe uncover dark and sinister secrets as they probe the depths of the studio's hidden underground chambers.
The remake was directed by Luca Guadagnino (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME) from a screenplay written by David Kajganich (THE INVASION) based on the original film written by Dario Argento (DEEP RED) and Daria Nicolodi. This new version was produced by Guadagnino, Kajganich, Marco Morabito, Brad Fischer, Silvia Venturini Fendi, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, William Sherak, and Gabriele Moratti. Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Angela Winkler, Ingrid Caven, Elena Fokina, Sylvie Testud, Renée Soutendijk, Christine LeBoutte, Fabrizia Sacchi, Magosia Bela, Jessica Harper, and Chloë Grace Moretz star. Radiohead's Thom Yorke provided the music. SUSPIRIA conjures itself onto Blu-ray January 29, 2019.