The first reviews are pouring in for the new Suspiria remake, and it sounds like this reboot is more than capable of standing on its own.
With any remake, comparisons are bound to be made to the original. And in the case of Suspiria, those comparisons threatened to be rather unflattering considering that the original is a bona fide horror classic. But by the sound of the reviews thus far, it looks like the new Suspiria has differentiated itself enough from its predecessor to be regarded as an entirely different type of film — though one that may still be regarded as a classic in the horror genre.
From the film’s innovative effects and outstanding acting performances, to its shocking narrative and haunting use of sound, color, and lighting, many critics are heralding the film as a legitimate work of art — which isn’t a praise that gets lobbed at horror movies very often. Director Luca Guadagnino has taken the bones of Dario Argento’s 1977 original and made something completely new that promises to disturb and terrorize audiences on levels unheard of 4 decades ago.
The new film does share at least one significant connection to its progenitor, though, and that’s actress Jessica Harper. Harper played Susie in the original, a role taken over by Dakota Johnson in the reboot, but she was brought on for a new role in the remake. “This thing had begun so long ago, and now here I was walking onto another set 40 years older, with a new Susie, and they all welcomed me,” Harper told Syfy Wire in a recent interview. “They were all so happy I was there, like a piece of the history that gave birth to this new movie was in the room. It just felt really cool and really right. It was great.”
This movie sure has been hyped by critics, so here’s hoping horror fans won’t be let down when Suspiria hits theaters on Oct 26.
