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Suspiria: Imprint Collection #356 Limited Edition
[Blu-ray 4K]
Blu-ray ALL - Australia - Via Vision Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (12th February 2025). |
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The Film
 Luca Guadagnino's 2018 remake of "Suspiria" is a bold, polarizing reimagining of Dario Argento's 1977 cult classic. While the original film is celebrated for its psychedelic visuals, eerie score, and subversive approach to the horror genre, Guadagnino's version pivots toward a more grounded, cerebral interpretation. By eschewing the garish colors and overt supernatural horror of Argento’s film, Guadagnino explores themes of power, trauma, and personal transformation through a much slower, more deliberate narrative style. However, while this reinvention is rich in atmosphere, it risks losing the visceral intensity and unique emotional appeal of the original. One of the most striking features of Guadagnino’s "Suspiria" is its atmosphere, which is steeped in dread and tension, though far more subdued compared to Argento’s flamboyant approach. Set against the backdrop of 1970's Berlin, the political turbulence of the era infuses the film with an unsettling energy that permeates the story. The post-WWII setting, coupled with the Cold War context, lends an air of historical weight that is largely absent in the 1977 version. This shift allows Guadagnino to examine the horrors of the world through a more philosophical lens, intertwining personal and collective trauma with the occult underpinnings of the dance academy. The film's standout performance comes from Tilda Swinton, who plays multiple roles, including the sinister Madame Blanc. Swinton's multifaceted portrayal is mesmerizing, evoking both vulnerability and malevolent authority. She effortlessly becomes a dominating presence on screen, even as the film’s slow pacing can cause the viewer to lose patience. Dakota Johnson, playing Susie Bannion, delivers a more nuanced portrayal than Jessica Harper in the original. While Johnson's Susie lacks the ethereal quality of Harper's, her transformation from innocent ingénue to something much darker feels more deliberate and earned in Guadagnino’s version, which takes its time to build this arc. The film also features an extraordinary supporting cast, with Mia Goth’s performance as Sara standing out as the most emotionally potent as well as memorable turn from Chloë Grace Moretz as well. The score, composed by Thom Yorke of Radiohead, contributes greatly to the film’s haunting atmosphere, though it diverges from the iconic work by Goblin in Argento's original. While Yorke’s compositions are melancholic and eerie, they lack the striking, immediately memorable energy of Goblin's infectious prog-rock melodies. The use of sound in Guadagnino's film is subtler, heightening the unsettling tone but not necessarily leaving a lasting imprint. In many ways, Yorke's score reflects the film’s more somber, introspective mood, marking a departure from the exuberant energy of the original. One of the most divisive aspects of Guadagnino’s film is its pace and tone. The film is deliberately slow, giving ample room for character development and thematic exploration. However, for many, this results in a languid and drawn-out experience, one that undermines the visceral horror of the 1977 version. The slow burn gradually builds to a violent, grotesque climax, but by then, the viewer may have lost the sense of urgency and dread that Argento's film possesses, with its relentless pacing. The finale, while visually arresting, feels like a culmination of thematic exploration rather than a conclusion to a tight narrative, and its excessive length may turn off audiences expecting a more traditionally structured horror film. Additionally, Guadagnino’s version introduces an element of feminist subtext that was largely absent from Argento's original. The power dynamics within the dance academy — the struggle for control, the manipulation of women, and the subjugation of their bodies — are explored in depth, as is the idea of women both empowering and destroying one another. This thematic shift makes Guadagnino's "Suspiria" feel more like a commentary on societal and psychological trauma than a straightforward supernatural horror story, and it broadens the scope of the film. However, in doing so, it risks alienating viewers who were expecting the kind of occult horror spectacle that Argento delivered. Ultimately, Guadagnino's "Suspiria" is an ambitious, layered reimagining of a horror classic that is likely to be appreciated by those seeking a more contemplative, intellectual approach to the genre. While it lacks the fevered energy and immediacy of the original, it compensates with its haunting atmosphere, stellar performances, and deep exploration of themes such as power, trauma, and transformation. The film is not for everyone, especially those who were drawn to Argento’s more visceral, visually opulent take on the material. However, for those willing to invest in its slower, more introspective pace, Guadagnino's "Suspiria" offers a complex and ultimately rewarding viewing experience.
Video
Presented in the film's original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1 mastered in 4K 2160p 24/fps and mastered using HEVC codec with HRD10 enhancement. This transfer has been licensed from Koch Media, the same transfer used for the German release. Imprint has ported it over, and the image is fantastic. Grain structure looks great, the colors are pop with the HRD10 enhancement. Black levels are deep and bold, it's a vibrant beautiful picture that will look impressive on your 4K display.
Audio
Three audio tracks are included in English/German/French Dolby Atmos, English/German/French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and English/German/French LPCM 2.0 Stereo. For this review I chose to view the film with its Atmos track and boy was this impressive! The dialogue is clean and clear, the surround channels are moody and subtle, the score is haunting, the entire track does a beautiful job of immersing the viewer in this world. In a word this track is breathtaking. Optional subtitles are included in English only.
Extras
Imprint has released this film on three discs with a plethora of bonus features, below is a closer look. DISC ONE: 4K UHD This disc features the film in 4K (2160p 24/fps). Accompanying the film is a feature-length audio commentary by author and academic Miranda Corcoran, the scholar comments on witchcraft and femininity and how they correlate. She comments on the film's themes and takes us through an examination of the film and its characters. The disc also includes the film's theatrical trailer (2:37) and teaser trailer (1:43) DISC TWO: BLU-RAY This disc includes the the film in standard HD (1080p 24/fps). The same feature-length audio commentary by author and academic Miranda Corcoran is also included. "The Making of Suspiria" featurette (3:56) is the typical EPK promotional clip. "Suspiria: The Secret Language of Dance" featurette (4:13) another EPK clip that takes a look at the dancing sequences in the film. "The Look of Suspiria" featurette(3:57) takes a closer look at the cinematography. "The Transformation of Suspiria" featurette (4:27) takes a look at this new version of the film. The disc also includes the film's theatrical trailer (2:37) and teaser trailer (1:43) DISC THREE: BLU-RAY "Cuts" is an interview with editor Walter Fasano (40:53), this is a newly produced extra that takes a closer look at the editing process for this film. "Of Witches, Mothers and Death" is an interview with Italian film critic Davide Pulici (30:09), is another newly produced feature as he takes us into a critical analysis of the film and its themes. "Suspiria's Three Fathers: Argento, Fassbinder, Guadagnino" is a video essay by author and film scholar Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (14:56) takes a look at the differences between the two versions of the film. "Thom Yorke's Spells: The Music of 'Suspiria" is a video essay by film writer Phillip Jeffries (18:48) takes an in-depth look at the film's score. There are a series of press interviews with: - Luca Guadagnino and Tilda Swinton (9:25) - Dakota Johnson (8:45) - Mia Goth (4:21) - Chloë Grace Moretz (5:33) - Jessica Harper- Thom Yorke (7:30) BAFTA Guru Masterclass with Luca Guadagnino from September 2018 (77:40) the director takes into his filmmaking process, easily one of the best supplements on this disc. Oscar Award Conversation with Luca Guadagnino and the Cast (10:51), a discussion with the director and cast of the film.
Packaging
Packaged in two keep cases housed in a hardbox case and comes with 7 art cards. This edition is limited to 1500 copies world-wide.
Overall
The only other 4K option for purchasing this film is an out of print German releases, so for fans of this film this Imprint release comes as a welcomed addition to their collection and should be an easy purchase before this edition of 1500 sells out.
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