Suspiriais a1977 horror filmcreated byDario Argentoand Daria Nicolodi, based on the 1845 essaySuspiria de Profundisby Thomas De Quincey.Suspiriareceived widespread critical acclaim for visuals, style, color usage, and nominations for the Saturn Awards’ Best Supporting Actress and Best DVD Classic Film Release.Suspiriais one of the most influential horror films and was the inspiration for a 2018 film of the same title,directed by Luca Guadagnino.
The 2018 adaptation ofSuspiriawas described by Guadagnino as aversion which pays homage to the original film, rather than a remake of it. The film received praise for visual elements and acting, alongside criticisms about the historical-political setting as being considered unnecessary and arbitrary to its prevalent themes. From themes, to color usage, influences, audience response, accolades, and awards, here’s how the 2018 adaptation ofSuspiriastacks up against the original 1977 film.
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The theme of the 1977Suspiriafilm was based on occult concepts with inspiration from fairy tales includingBluebeard, Pinocchio,andAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The 2018Suspiriafilm explores themes of generational guilt in Germany during the Cold War, combined with themes of motherhood, evil, and dynamics of matriarchies.Guadagnino’s adaptation ofSuspiriais a reinvention of Argento’s themes into narrative ideas, rather than a recreation of the themes conveyed in the original film.
Theoriginal 1977Suspiriafilmby Argento utilizes vibrant colors, with the most prominent being red, and applies darkness to evoke fear, dread and mystery. Argento insisted on using the same three-strip color process fromThe Wizard of Ozin 1939, despite the color technique being antiquated when makingSuspiria. Guadagnino described his contrasting version, saying, “It has no primary colors in its color palette, unlike the original. It [is] cold, evil and really dark."
Inspiration
The aesthetic of Argento’sSuspiriawas inspired by Disney’sSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937), for its mythical portrayal of a heroine facing evil.Argento explained, “It has been said from the beginning that Technicolor lacked subdued shades, and was without nuances – like cut-out cartoons… we were trying to reproduce the color of Walt Disney’sSnow White.” Guadagnino’sSuspiriais inspired by contemporary dance choreography, and reactive initiatives of Germany’s political landscape occurring in 1977.
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Suspiria (1977) Musical Score by Goblin
Themusical score for the original 1977Suspiriafilm was mainly composed by the progressive rock band Goblin, in collaboration with the film’s creator Argento. Goblin’s score forSuspiriawas reused in Hong Kong films, includingDance of the Drunk Mantis(1979),We’re Going to Eat You(1980), and more. The theme was named one of the best songs released between 1977-1979, and sampled on the songs “Legal Coke”, “Weather People”, and “Swords Drawn”.
Suspiria (2018) Musical Score by Thom Yorke
The musical score for the 2018 adaptation ofSuspiriawas composed by Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, and was his first completed feature film soundtrack.Yorke said, “There’s a way of repeating in music that can hypnotize. I kept thinking to myself that it’s a form of making spells. So when I was working in my studio I was making spells. I know it sounds really stupid, but that’s how I was thinking about it.”
Critical Response to Argento’s Suspiria (1977)
Critical responses to Argento’sSuspiriaafter its 1977 release were published inThe New York Times, stating, “Argento has an unusually horrific slant on life… Suspiria… does have its slender charms, though they will most assuredly be lost on viewers who are squeamish. The plot, as transparent as the pane of glass that slices up the movie’s first victim, is intentionally ridiculous, and Mr. Argento’s direction has the mocking, stylized simplicity of a comic strip.”
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Critical Responses to Guadagnino’s Suspiria (2018)
The critical responses forGuadagnino’s version ofSusperiawere polarized, with praise for visual elements and acting, and criticism for the historical-political setting being arbitrary.Critics deemed Guadagnino’s film“unnecessarily drawn out”, with “too many discursive shifts to build much tension”, which created “an arch sisterhood distinguishable only by looks.” Critical responses also praised the film and described the absence of Argento’s “spark of pure diabolical craziness” as “indigestible new layers of historical meaning added.”
Accolades & Awards
BothSuspiriafilms by Argento and Guadagnino received nominations, accolades, and awards throughout the years in different categories and criteria. Argento’s 1977Suspiriawas nominated for the Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress in 1978, Best DVD Classic Film Release in 2002, and won Rondo Hatton’s Classic Horror Award in 2018.Guadagnino’s 2018Suspiriareceived accolades for Best Original Soundtrack, Special Effects, Cinematography, Musical Score, Score/Soundtrack, Original Song, Costume Design, Makeup, Supporting Actress, and more.
Cinematic & Cultural Impact of Argento’s 1977 Suspiria
Argento’s 1977Suspiriawas one of the most influential horror films, and led to a subsequent film trilogy,The Three Mothers, about witches who unleash evil across the world. Bands have named themselves afterSuspiriaand the film has been referenced in various movies and TV shows includingTerror in the Aisles(1984),Juno(2007),The Office(Season 7),Scream 4(2011),American Horror Story: Hotel, and more. Argento’sSuspiriaalso inspired Guadagnino’s 2018 adaptation.
Cinematic & Cultural Impact of Guadagnino’s 2018 Suspiria
Guadagnino’s 2018Suspiriawasdescribed by audiences as"a coldly violent séance for the evils of the 20th century", cementing the film in pop culture. The cinematic and cultural aspects of the film paid homage to the original while also incorporating modern concepts. The impact ofSuspiriaconveys that “Guadagnino’s wicked opus ultimately cares more about the scars it leaves behind than it does the violence that caused them, or might cut them open again.”
