When it was first announced that Luca Guadagnino would be directing the Amazon Studios-distributed reimagining of Dario Argento’s Giallo masterpiece Suspiria, cinephiles were, understandably, a little apprehensive.
The disquiet had nothing to do with Guadagnino himself, mind you, whose credibility has since soared following the release of his Best Picture-nominated drama, Call Me By Your Name. Rather, it was more a knee-jerk reaction resulting from the countless times we’ve witnessed the modernization of a horror classic go awry. Still, there’s no denying that Guadagnino’s filmography, including 2015’s delightful A Bigger Splash, has eased some of the worry.
Currently slated for an autumn release later this year, Suspiria has officially wrapped post-production and is on the prowl, ready for an appearance on the film festival circuit (perhaps TIFF?). In the meantime, one of the leading ladies, Dakota Johnson, disclosed to Elle that production was so intense, that it sent her to therapy.
“[Filming Suspiria], no lie, fucked me up so much that I had to go to therapy. We were in an abandoned hotel on top of a mountain. It had 30 telephone poles on the roof, so there was electricity pulsating through the building, and everyone was shocking each other. It was cold as shit, and so dry.”
For those who don’t know, Dakota Johnson will be playing the film’s main protagonist, Susie Bannion, initially portrayed by Jessica Harper in Dario Argento’s original 1977 horror flick. And while we haven’t heard too much about what to expect just yet, the actress’ comments here certainly make it sound as if we’re in for something interesting.
Besides, with an Oscar nominee at the helm and an ensemble that features the aforementioned Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Mia Goth, and Academy Award-winner Tilda Swinton, Suspiria seems to be that rare case where cinephiles are actually looking forward to seeing a remake.