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Post by peteyt on Apr 12, 2020 15:41:58 GMT -5
So recently I watched the 2018 remake of Suspiria. I had been wanting to watch it for a while, and tried to go in open minded. Problem is the original is probably my favourite horror film, so I went in a bit biased.
When I first heard about the remake I wasn't keen, then even less keen when I heard it wouldn't be colourful like the original and wouldn't have a Goblin like score. To me these two things are what makes the original so was unsure how it would work with both those key things removed. To me the music and the visuals make Suspiria a kind of nightmare and an attack of the senses.
However I later realisled that Suspiria's unique style probably couldn't be replicated and it would probably be a mistake to try to copy it. When I realisled this wasn't going to be a typical Hollywood remake I started to wonder if this could actually be decent. To me the problem with remakes is they try to either change too much or not enough. However I realisled most of the horror remakes also tended to be hollywood style and this is probably why they don't always do well. Take the remake of Day of the Dead, it has nothing to do with the original apart from the Zombies really but it's more than that. It just feels like the ultimate generic zombie film. At least it seemed the Suspiria remake was going to try and do something different, and be a bit arty.
I'll have to admit while I like things that are stylistic I'm not really an arthouse film fan. I don't mind films that make you think, but I'm not the brightest ha so films that are very arthouse I often leave wondering what happened. For example I like the style David Lynch has but from the films of his I've seen (not loads) I find them too abstract to the point I feel I leave knowing less than before I started watching. There's kind of a point to this part that I'll come back to.
The Suspiria remake certainly has a lot of stuff going on. I didn't mind it but my biggest issue was there was too much extra. The original is very simplistic and this tries to add a lot of extra stuff. The film is set post world war 2 and that plays a big part - it seems to have a lot about national guilt and the abuse of power. For example the students at the dance academy put a lot of trust in the teachers, who are secretly part of a coven who abuse that trust and use the pupils for their own needs. It also has a kind of interesting twist different from the original.
The thing is the original isn't a film I shouldn't like - a lot for example claim it doesn't seem to make sense, non linear etc. But for me it makes simple sense - it's about the lead investigating and later discovering the dance school is ran by a coven of witches. It doesn't have a lot of plot but there is one if somewhat simplistic. It's basically a dark fairytale. For me the remake tries to be different but it tries to explain what didn't really need to be explained. I just felt all the extra stuff weighed down the film. It is apparently a full hour longer than the original and I did feel it dragged a lot at times. The original is quick but in a good way, never dragging things out when it doesn't need to.
Don't get me wrong the remake is okay, it has a kind of weird feel to it, some have even said a kind of forbidden feel while watching, like you shouldn't be watching it. The ending is very weird but the use of CGI blood has also divided a lot of people. For me though it shows sometimes less is more - the original works so well because it is so simple.
Has anyone seen both? What did you think?
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Post by endo on Apr 12, 2020 15:48:39 GMT -5
I like the original, I haven't seen the remake. I've heard mixed reviews on it. Some folks here have seen both and their opinions on the remake were split.
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Suspiria
Apr 12, 2020 16:04:59 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by peteyt on Apr 12, 2020 16:04:59 GMT -5
I like the original, I haven't seen the remake. I've heard mixed reviews on it. Some folks here have seen both and their opinions on the remake were split.
I suppose it depends what kind of film you like.
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Post by gorepolice on Apr 14, 2020 6:46:37 GMT -5
I'm not into art house stuff either. I hated every minute of this film.
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Post by MacReadyOrNot on Apr 14, 2020 7:59:36 GMT -5
I prefer the original more, but there's some really good things in the remake. The kills are pretty brutal. More so than I thought there would be. Also, Tilda Swinton is pretty damn great in her two parts.
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Suspiria
Apr 17, 2020 19:12:07 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by peteyt on Apr 17, 2020 19:12:07 GMT -5
I'm not into art house stuff either. I hated every minute of this film. Just wondering if your a fan of the original?
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Post by gorepolice on Apr 17, 2020 20:01:37 GMT -5
I'm not into art house stuff either. I hated every minute of this film. Just wondering if your a fan of the original? Not a huge fan of the original. I like the soundtrack, think it's well shot and colorful, but it doesn't make a lick of sense story wise.
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Suspiria
Apr 18, 2020 4:53:43 GMT -5
via mobile
endo likes this
Post by peteyt on Apr 18, 2020 4:53:43 GMT -5
Just wondering if your a fan of the original? Not a huge fan of the original. I like the soundtrack, think it's well shot and colorful, but it doesn't make a lick of sense story wise. I was just curious because on paper it's not the kind of film I like but somehow the original is probably my favourite horror film. It's plot it basic but that for me works in its favour. Weirdly a few years ago I see phantasm for the first time which was apparently heavily influenced by Suspira. I'd heard a lot of good things but I just wasn't keen. Just felt a bit random. It's probably one I'll need to rewatch. I also found suspiria's sequel inferno similar, a little too arty. I did find some horror fans found it too arty and some arthouse people a little too horror. It had decent bits though and I've only seen this once too so I'll have to rewatch it. There is a 3rd one mother of tears which is apparently the least favourite of most but not seen it yet. It's a late Argento film and most of his later stuff isn't as well regarded
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