Is this a direct remake of the 1977 movie?

Not really. It takes the basic premise—a girl goes to a dance school run by witches—and goes in a completely different direction. It's much longer, more political, and less colorful than the original.

How much gore are we actually talking about?

It is extreme. There is a sequence involving a dancer's body being contorted that is widely considered one of the most difficult horror scenes to watch in recent years. It is anatomical and very wet.

Can a 15-year-old watch this if they like Stranger Things?

Probably not. This is several levels above Stranger Things in terms of graphic content and psychological weight. Unless they are a very mature horror buff, wait until they're older.

Is the nudity sexual?

No. It is ritualistic and involves the coven members in a non-eroticized way. It's more about the physical presence of the characters than anything else.

Suspiria

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2018

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A visceral art-house descent into a Berlin dance academy run by a coven of witches. It is gorgeous, long, and deeply upsetting.

6.7/10

65%

72%

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Suspiria

movie

R, 2018

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A visceral art-house descent into a Berlin dance academy run by a coven of witches. It is gorgeous, long, and deeply upsetting.

6.7

65%

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6.7/10

65%

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Screenwise Verdict

Luca Guadagnino's 2018 reimagining of Suspiria is a beast. It swaps the neon-soaked thrills of the 1977 original for a drab, wintery Berlin and a plot that feels like a history lesson written in blood. This is not a 'popcorn' horror movie. It is an art-house meditation on power, guilt, and the female experience that just happens to include some of the most gruesome sequences ever put to film.

If you are looking for a movie to watch with your kids, this is absolutely not it. But if you want a film that respects your intelligence and isn't afraid to get truly weird and nasty, it is essential viewing for the adults. Just be prepared for the 'hook' scene, it is the kind of visceral imagery that you cannot unsee.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults or older teens who are already seasoned horror fans. It is far too intense and psychologically taxing for younger viewers or anyone sensitive to body horror.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It is a movie about a literal death coven. There is no moral center here, just artistic obsession, ritual sacrifice, and the brutal destruction of bodies.

Imaginative

The way dance is used as a physical language for spellcasting is brilliant. The production design captures 1970s Berlin with a grim, muted palette that feels entirely unique in the horror genre.

Safe

Features some of the most disturbing body horror in modern cinema. One sequence involves a dancer being physically folded and snapped into a knot through sympathetic magic. It also contains ritualistic nudity and extreme gore.

Enriching

Dense with historical subtext regarding the German Autumn and the Red Army Faction. It explores complex themes of collective guilt, motherhood, and the price of artistic perfection.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Tilda Swinton delivers a masterclass by playing three different roles, including a male psychotherapist under heavy prosthetics.
The Thom Yorke score is a haunting, melancholic departure from the original film's prog-rock vibes.
The choreography is genuinely stunning, treating dance as a literal weaponized force rather than just performance.
It avoids the typical jump-scare formula in favor of a slow-burn atmosphere that stays with you for days.

⚠

What to Watch For

The mirror room sequence is a legendary piece of body horror. If you or your teen are squeamish about bones breaking, this is your exit ramp.
Ritualistic nudity occurs throughout the final act. It is presented as part of the occult ceremony rather than being sexualized.
The runtime is over two and a half hours. It is a commitment that requires patience for its deliberate, academic pacing.

Conversation Starters

"How did the 1970s Berlin setting and the political unrest outside the academy mirror the chaos happening inside?"
"Why do you think the director chose to have Tilda Swinton play the role of the elderly male doctor?"
"In the world of this movie, is art worth the physical and psychological toll it takes on the performers?"
"How does this version's take on 'motherhood' differ from more traditional, sentimental portrayals?"

Deep Dive

A Different Kind of Motherhood

Guadagnino's Suspiria is less a remake and more a complete structural overhaul of Dario Argento’s 1977 classic. Where the original was a psychedelic fairy tale, the 2018 version is a grey, rain-slicked historical drama. It places the Markos Dance Academy right against the Berlin Wall during the 'German Autumn,' a period of real-world terrorism and national soul-searching. This context makes the coven's internal power struggles feel heavier and more grounded in reality.

The Swinton Factor

Tilda Swinton is the secret weapon here. Her portrayal of Madame Blanc is elegant and tragic, but her secret role as Dr. Josef Klemperer adds a layer of grief that the original lacked. By having a woman play the man who is investigating the coven, the film centers the female experience even when it's exploring male perspectives on history. It is a bold choice that actually pays off, though you might not even realize it's her until the credits roll.

The Price of the Dance

The horror in this film is anatomical. It focuses on the way a dancer’s body is a tool that can be broken. The sound design is particularly aggressive, emphasizing the wet thuds and cracks of the human form. If you are watching this with an older teen, use it as a bridge to talk about high-concept horror and how directors use the genre to explore 'un-filmable' concepts like ancestral guilt. It's a challenging watch, but for the right viewer, it's an unforgettable one.