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EPISODE 63 | Jan, 26, 2026

Suspiria (2018)

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Summary

This episode of 'Horror Joy' delves into Luca Guadagnino's 2018 reimagining of 'Suspiria.'

Brian and Jeff explore the themes of academic horror, feminism, and political violence within the film's setting of post-war Berlin.

We compare Guadagnino's version to Dario Argento's original 1977 film, discussing the significant differences, including the portrayal of witchcraft and the regulation of bodies in an academic setting.

We highlight the film's complex power structures and touches on the role of music, dance, and cinematic techniques in creating horror.

The discussion also questions Guadagnino's claim of making a feminist film, examining the intricate dynamics between the characters and the violent depiction of women's bodies.

We find a blend of intellectual and emotional engagement in the film, despite their mixed feelings about some aspects.

Breathing Back the History of German Modern Dance through the Horror Film Genre in Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria (2018) by Wesley Lim

Entanglement In Time: Nostalgic Affect As Cine-Choreography In The White Crow (2018) And Suspiria (2018) by Kaixuan Yao

Radically Feminist or Monstrously Feminine?: Witches and Goddesses in Guadagnino's Suspiria (2018)Goddesses in Guadagnino's Suspiria (2018) by Lindsay Macumber

Roberts, John W. “Dancing the Dance of Another: Allegory, the Diagram, and Suspiria (2018).” Discourse: Journal for Theoretical Studies in Media and Culture, vol. 45, no. 1–2, Dec. 2023, pp. 33–64. EBSCOhost,


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