Suspiria Ending Explained, Plot, Cast, Trailer, and More
by Mathelene
Updated Jul 24, 2023
Suspiria (2018)
Suspiria, a 2018 supernatural horror film directed by Luca Guadagnino, was inspired by Dario Argento's 1977 Italian film of the same name. The story revolves around an American woman, played by Dakota Johnson, who joins a prestigious dance academy in Berlin, unaware that it is run by a coven of witches. Tilda Swinton plays three roles in the film: the lead choreographer, a male psychotherapist linked to the academy, and the coven's leader.
The movie also features Mia Goth, Elena Fokina, and Chloë Grace Moretz in supporting roles as students of the academy. The project of remaking Suspiria was initiated in 2008 when Guadagnino acquired the rights from the original film's creators, Argento and Daria Nicolodi. However, it faced financing conflicts and was canceled when initially offered to David Gordon Green.
In 2015, Guadagnino confirmed his plans to direct a homage to the original rather than a straightforward remake. The screenplay, penned by David Kajganich, was set during the "German Autumn" of 1977, exploring themes of generational guilt in Cold War-era Germany, alongside motherhood, evil, and matriarchies.
In contrast to the original's exaggerated colors, Guadagnino envisioned the visuals of his Suspiria as "winterish" and devoid of primary colors. The film incorporates stylized dance sequences choreographed by Damien Jalet, contributing to its depiction of witchcraft.
Filming took place in Varese, Italy, and Berlin during late 2016 and early 2017. The movie's musical score was composed by Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, drawing inspiration from krautrock. The film is dedicated to the memories of Franca Sozzani, Jonathan Demme, and Deborah Falzone.
Suspiria premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2018. After a limited release in Los Angeles and New York on October 26, 2018, it earned over $180,000 in its opening weekend, marking the year's highest screen-average box-office launch. The film was later released in wide distribution on November 2, 2018, and in Italy on January 1, 2019.
Despite the film's polarizing reception, with some praising its visuals and performances and others criticizing its historical-political setting as unnecessary, Suspiria remains an intriguing addition to the horror genre.
Suspiria Ending Explained
As the finale approaches, the last performance of Volk is imminent. Susie has gained a deeper understanding of her purpose at the academy and is resolute in her decision to comply, even when Sara warns her about the potential dangers. Sara, initially skeptical of Patricia's claims, begins to investigate further and uncovers the unsettling truth about the academy's dark activities.
She discovers Patricia and other tormented girls in a deteriorating state in the caverns below. In her attempt to escape, Sara's leg is broken but miraculously repaired, allowing her to return to the performance room for Volk. Josef, haunted by the fate of his missing wife and his own ties to the academy, is unknowingly drawn into the larger plot.
The instructors believe he is the missing piece for their ritual and manipulate him into returning to the academy, where he becomes an unwitting participant in their sinister plans. Susie realizes that the time has come for the ritual to commence and ventures into the depths of the building.
She finds herself in a room filled with nude dancers engaged in the ceremonial dance. Another group surrounds Patricia, Olga, and Sara, who are under a spell and suffering but still alive. Both Blanc and a withered Markos are present, along with a naked Dr. Josef, ready to bear witness.
At a crucial moment, Blanc surprises everyone by expressing a newfound closeness to Susie. She suggests that Susie should leave and not partake in the ritual, knowing that Susie's life will be sacrificed to preserve Markos. However, Markos, growing impatient with Blanc's hesitation, uses her power to attack her, prompting the arrival of one of the Three Mothers, adding a further twist to the intense situation.
Suspiria Plot
During the German Autumn of 1977, Susie Bannion, an American from a Mennonite family in Ohio, enrolls at the Markos Dance Academy in West Berlin. The academy is troubled by the disappearance of student Patricia Hingle, who claimed the academy was run by a coven of witches.
Patricia's journals, found by her psychotherapist Josef Klemperer, detail the existence of The Three Mothers, ancient witches predating Christianity: Mater Suspiriorum, Mater Tenebrarum, and Mater Lachrymarum. Initially skeptical, Klemperer becomes suspicious after Patricia vanishes.
During a rehearsal, a Soviet student named Olga challenges lead choreographer Madame Blanc and later finds herself trapped in a room with mirrors. Susie's aggressive dance during the rehearsal inflicts injuries on Olga's body, leading to a gruesome fate for her. The academy's matrons elect Mother Markos, a disfigured witch, as the new leader, but one of the matrons commits suicide.
Susie becomes close to her classmate Sara and gains favor with Blanc, landing the lead role in the upcoming performance, Volk. Meanwhile, Sara investigates the matrons and discovers hidden passages with esoteric artifacts. During the public performance of Volk, Sara emerges to dance her part despite her fractured leg, with her eyes changing color.
After the performance, Klemperer encounters a woman who resembles his presumed-dead wife, only to realize he has been lured to the academy for a sinister purpose. Susie attends a dinner with the matrons and later confronts them, revealing herself as Mother Suspiriorum. She renounces her own mother, who dies back in Ohio. Susie initiates a witches' sabbath, killing Mother Markos and her loyal followers. Patricia, Olga, and Sara are granted death as they had suffered greatly.
The academy resumes as usual, with some of the matrons surviving. Klemperer, spared from the sabbath, is met by Susie, who erases his memories after recounting the fate of his wife, Anke. The film ends with Susie looking out approvingly from the academy.
Suspiria Cast
Dakota Johnson
Susanna "Susie" Bannion / Mother Suspiriorum
Tilda Swinton
Madame Blanc / Mother Helena Markos / Dr. Josef Klemperer (as Lutz Ebersdorf for the latter)
Mia Goth
Sara Simms
Angela Winkler
Miss Tanner
Ingrid Caven
Miss Vendegast
Elena Fokina
Olga Ivanova
Sylvie Testud
Miss Griffith
Renée Soutendijk
Miss Huller
Christine LeBoutte
Miss Balfour
Małgosia Bela
Mrs. Bannion / Death
Jessica Harper
Anke Meier
Chloë Grace Moretz
Patricia "Pat" Hingle
Fabrizia Sacchi
Pavla
Jessica Batut
Miss Mandel
Alek Wek
Miss Millius
Vincenza Modica
Miss Marks
Vanda Capriolo
Alberta
Brigitte Cuvelier
Miss Kaplitt
Gala Moody
Caroline
Anne-Lise Brevers
Sonia
Sara Sguotti
Doll
Halla Thordardottir
Mascia
Olivia Ancona
Marketa
Clementine Houdart
Miss Boutaher
Doris Hick
Frau Sesame
Mikael Olsson
Agent Glockner
Fred Kelemen
Agent Albrecht
Cast
Character
Suspiria Where to Watch?
As of now, "Suspiria" is available for streaming on the popular platform Amazon Prime Video. This means that if you have an active subscription to Amazon Prime, you can easily access and watch the movie without any additional cost. "Suspiria" is just a click away from your viewing pleasure, and you can watch it at your convenience from the comfort of your own home.
With Amazon Prime Video's extensive library of films and TV shows, "Suspiria" joins a wide selection of entertainment options for subscribers to enjoy. Whether you're a fan of horror movies or simply interested in exploring a unique and chilling cinematic experience, "Suspiria" promises to deliver a thrilling and suspenseful journey.
Furthermore, Amazon Prime Video allows you to stream "Suspiria" on various devices, including smart TVs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This flexibility enables you to watch the film wherever you are, whether it's in your living room, during your daily commute, or while traveling.
So, if you're in the mood for a gripping supernatural horror film filled with mesmerizing dance sequences, a captivating storyline, and stellar performances from Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, and the rest of the talented cast, "Suspiria" on Amazon Prime Video is a must-watch for any movie enthusiast.
Simply head over to the platform, search for the film, and press play to immerse yourself in this haunting and visually stunning cinematic experience. Enjoy the thrills and chills that "Suspiria" has to offer as you delve into the mysterious and dark world of the Markos Dance Academy in Berlin.
Suspiria 2018 Trailer
Suspiria Ending Explained - FAQs
The film was directed by Luca Guadagnino.
The film follows Susie Bannion, an American who joins the Markos Dance Academy in Berlin during the German Autumn of 1977.
Yes, "Suspiria" (2018) is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The film premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2018.
"Suspiria" is a supernatural horror film.