4 Reasons Why David Gordon Green's Suspiria Remake Could Be Great
In between fielding questions about Natalie Portman's thong bikini in Your Highness, director David Gordon Green confirmed that he hopes to remake Dario Argento's horror classic Suspiria next. As someone who really likes horror movies, I'm usually somewhere between disheartened and furious each time Hollywood announces a remake of another one of my favorite '70s films. But a remake of Suspiria actually has real potential. Here's why.
1. There are no preconceived expectations to live up to.
Unlike The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Halloween, Suspiria doesn't really come with a set of iconic characters and images that Green will have to recapture for the masses. Really, only horror buffs and cinephiles are going to be familiar with the source material, and the original film is mostly celebrated for its style. Green would be a fool to try and one-up Argento in that area, so hopefully, he can beef up some of the other components of the film, like the script. Which brings me to...
2. The original is really stupid.
I love the stylish colors, insane murders and creepy atmosphere of Argento's classic, but it is a dumb movie. It's not even dumb in the singular, off-the-wall way of some of the director's other films. For example, in Phenomena, the fact that Jennifer Connelly has a psychic connection to bugs pretty much renders any other plot holes moot. Suspiria is more frustrating.
It builds the mystery well at first -- with atmospheric dread and horrific murders getting equal screen time -- and then (spoilers) throws almost all of it away during one out-of-nowhere conversation where some old guy with a book on witchcraft explains everything to the heroine. Argento's sense of visuals and style still propel the film to a scary climax (although the way the head witch gets vanquished is a bit of a letdown, too), but from this ridiculous scene on, the film never regains its original momentum.
Argento was never celebrated for his masterful plotting, but the lazy devices used to explain plot points in this one trump the irrationality of almost all of his other classics. I think there are more examples of silly story development, but I honestly can never remember the plot and explanation for the movie... and I've seen it more than three times.
3. The concept is full of potential.
I may change my tune once witches actually become the new vampires, but right now I'd be happy to see any movie about an all girls ballet school run by an evil coven, even if it's a remake. If Green can take this concept and give it the story treatment it deserves, we'll be in for a fun ride.
4. David Gordon Green is versatile.
It'd be great to have this film tackled by a director who possesses a love and understanding of both art films and genre-films. Between his stoner comedy/'80s action hybrid and American Neo-Realist critical darlings, David Gordon Green has proven his fondness and skill with multiple genres and tones. And his little-seen Undertow actually shows that he's willing to merge arthouse sensibilities with exploitation, which could make for a very interesting take on Suspiria. Plus, judging from the trailer for Your Highness, he's not afraid to take chances. For better or worse.
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Comments
A remake of Suspiria is pointless and borderline offensive.
How on earth can you make a "faithful" remake of an auteur film?
It's like remaking Annie Hall.
Who said anything about faithful? I just want it to be good.
What about the Goblin score?
SUCKS BALLS
I guess it's possible, since they're on like their fifth reunion now. I'd rather they score a real euro-horror movie though.
It was a prestigious dancing academy NOT a boarding school AND they were all ballerinas. You've seen the movie, right??? Sucky script or not, it is still better than most of what Hollywood has put out recently.
I have seen it, but (like I mentioned) I don't remember the plot so well because kaleidoscopic lights and girls falling through glass stick with you more in that film. Thank you for the catch.
To be clear, I think it's a great movie. I just don't think it's untouchable. If Green tries to make it like Argento, he'll fail. But if he takes the concept and focuses on improving Argento's faults instead of trying to top his style, it could be something. I'd be more skeptical about a remake of Opera or Phenomena, honestly.
If Green really wanted to honor the original he should use child actors-like Argento originally intended. But if you think he can go a different direction then just take the basic idea and call it something else...none of this Karate Kid crap! 🙂
Green said "faithful" in the article you linked to.
Sheesh, don't you guys read your own stuff? =P
Yeah, I'd prefer that too if I had the choice. But I don't, and it sounds like this is happening. That first idea is better than anything that will probably actually happen, and a totally inspired way to pay homage. He does say he's setting it at an all girl's boarding school for the remake, so we'll see.
But then he goes on to say "I’m gonna put my spin on it."
That said, now he's talking about recreating scenes and using Goblin samples, which I agree sounds totally pointless.
I just felt like if Snyder can make an empty-headed, action movie Dawn of the Dead remake and have fans of the original get behind it, then there should be a way to do Suspiria right since the original actually has some real shortcomings. I mean, I also think it'd be cool if people stopped remaking movies, but as far as they go, I'll take this one before a lot of others that have been done.
This is one of the worst fucking ideas ever.
Brian Clark, this is a truly idiotic and pointless article. You obviously know nothing about cinema in stating "the original is really stupid"and taking an irritatingly superior position over the movie. If you think David Gordon Green is capable of greatness, then that speaks for itself.