Hereditary (2018)

A grieving family is haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences.

Jess’ Review

Ari Aster is rapidly cementing his identity as a powerhouse within modern horror with the recent hit of Midsommar (2019). But it’s his first big breakout, Hereditary, that truly exemplifies his talents as a filmmaker. And it is this film that I revisit today.

Subverting everyone’s expectations from the offset with a brilliant marketing campaign, Hereditary is, in a word, unexpected. The film swerves all the cliche horror tropes in favour of a brutal journey of grief; finding horror in the harsh reality of loss as much as it does the more extreme elements that emerge in later acts. The plot (without giving too much away) follows strained relationships within a family unit experiencing intense trauma. It’s realistic in its depiction and leaves the audience unsettled from the get go. The intensity skyrockets around midway, where Hereditary takes its final form as a frightening, gory descent into hell.

Toni Colette as troubled mother, Annie Graham, is phenomenal. Her descent into something akin to madness is horrific, yet wholly captivating in its execution. She emotes sorrow with such stark intensity that several particular scenes set to a soundtrack of her grief were perhaps some of the hardest to watch. Millie Shapiro and Alex Wolff also put in excellent performances as her children. Wolff, in particular, gives Colette a run for her money when it comes to the hard-hitting use of emotional turmoil. The way their relationship progresses throughout the film is nothing short of masterful, deeply disturbing but masterfully acted nevertheless.

Ari Aster demonstrates a real affinity to building atmosphere. Visually Hereditary is a dark film. It’s set to a bleak soundtrack that highlights just how important music is within the genre. It adds another layer of unease, and is executed perfectly between painful silences. The shots also linger, following a grief-stricken face long enough to make us want to turn away. It’s uncomfortable even before the true horror arrives. And when it does, it’s brutal, gory and gritty in its realism. The audience is not prepared for the sudden, fleeting bursts of violence and we’re left reeling from the shock.

Whilst I originally disliked the ending, on second viewing I found that I could appreciate it a lot more. Aster actively litters the film with hints and clues alluding to its climax. It ties together well, and having built a insurmountable amount of tension in its runtime, finally releases us in a burst of chaos in the final 15 minutes. It’s a shocking ending, offering a surreal but powerful payoff with some haunting images that I’d forgotten were waiting for me.

Hereditary is a scary film, that gets under your skin not just in your face. Elevated by brilliant performances, an ever-undulating plot and a bloody finale, it’s engaging as it is bleak. As Aster himself describes it, this ‘is a film about suffering.’ A tough watch, understandably, but a real gem for horror fans.

8/10