Rated: R - Runtime: 152 min
tesg's Rating: Three stars (out of four)
Dario Argento's original trippy, colorful horror cult classic succeeded on visuals and atmosphere. There really wasn't much to the story, it was just good enough. It assaulted you with colors and crazy music and got the hell out in about 90 minutes. Nothing looks or feels quite like it, and that's what makes it work.
Luca Guadagnino's take on this is exactly the opposite. The story is the same basic premise, but it's far more complex. The characters are greater in numbers and have more depth. The surroundings are...muted. The rich colors of the original are nowhere to be seen. The music is subtle and haunting. And at a 2 1/2 hour running time, it's in no hurry to get to the point.
And yet, I was never bored. I would not have cut a thing out. It kept my attention all the way through.