Filming horror movies can, in some cases, be quite emotionally challenging for actors and can linger after work. This was also the case for the lead actress from 50 Shades of Grey, who participated in the remake of a classic horror film.
Which actress is it? Many of you probably know Dakota Johnson from 50 Shades of Grey and the subsequent parts. Those who have ignored the series so far and are interested in superheroes might have seen Johnson in Madame Web. The Marvel film from this year received poor reviews and has a rating of only 11% on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, Dakota Johnson has made several other noteworthy films. For example, the remake of an Italian horror film that is long considered a classic and cult film. And as is often the case with horror films, working on it can have lasting effects.
The lead role in the remake of a genre classic
Which film is it? Suspiria from 2018 is the loose remake of an Italian horror film of the same name from 1977. The original was created by Dario Argento, arguably the most important representative of Italian “Giallo” cinema, a subgenre of thrillers that is very close to horror films due to its brutal murder scenes.
The remake of Suspiria was directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call me by your name, Challengers). In it, Dakota Johnson plays an aspiring dancer named Susie, who wants to join a dance school in Berlin. She quickly celebrates her first small successes and becomes an important figure within the school. However, as is typical with horror films, appearances can be deceiving, and the dark sides of the story soon emerge.
The film is, among other things, not for every viewer due to the strong emotions of the main character, as well as the horror elements. Making such a film can also be challenging for the actors in front of the camera.
Some even reached their physical and mental limits, just think of Shelley Duvall in Shining. In other cases, the crew on set can be a source of stress, like in Mad Max: Fury Road when the lead actor tends to be difficult.
How did Dakota Johnson experience the filming? The work itself was a lot of fun, the actress says today. On set, it was very funny, even cheerful.
However, she absorbed a lot of emotions through her role and was unable to shake them off after filming without help:
When I work on a project, I sometimes realize that I – I don’t feel ashamed of it – am a very permeable person and absorb many feelings from people. When you sometimes work on dark things, it can stick with you, and then talking to someone who is really nice is a really good way to move on. My therapist is a really nice woman.
Dakota Johnson via jeuxvideo.com
Johnson was not traumatized after filming, yet she sought professional help in the form of therapy to process the strong emotions.
Suspiria, by the way, received mixed reviews from critics. The film holds a critic rating of 65% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Whether you prefer the remake or the much more comic-like original is probably a matter of taste. Both are presented in their own way eerie and very atmospheric. Have you seen either of the films, or even both? Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments! If you are looking for horror recommendations, check out MeinMMO – for example, a list of 5 WTF movies.
