Introduction
Ari Aster’s movie Hereditary is a revolutionary addition to the horror movie scene. The film has everything that makes an amazing movie, good acting, special effects, a solid narrative, and most importantly, the ability to make you feel. The movie not only invokes fear in watchers, but grief and sadness as well.
A Brief Plot Summary
The base of any movie is its story. No matter how good the actors are or how well the editing is done, a poorly written plot will cause the movie to fall flat. This is something Hereditary does not struggle with. The story follows the Graham family after the loss of their matriarch Ellen Graham. Throughout the plot Ellen’s daughter Annie is forced to uncover the dark past her mother has tied to her family. She struggles with grief, not only over her mother, but her daughter Charlie who dies not long after in a gruesome freak accident. The family is forced to overcome obstacle after obstacle, unaware that every hardship they face has been intentionally planned.
Bringing the Story to Life
The actors truly brought the movie to life through raw portrayals of grief and fear. Alex Wolff, the actor who played Annie’s son Peter Graham, portrays the horror he feels with ease. He refrains from large reactions, depicting Peters quiet, detached nature well. Millie Shapiro encompasses Charlie’s oddities with ease, making the audience uncomfortable. All of the actors did phenomenal, but Toni Collette stood out amongst everyone. She played Annie, an angry, grieving mother and daughter, and she did it well. She held nothing back in her performances, they were big, raw, and emotional. One of her most notable moments is her monologue at the kitchen table. She portrays the anger and mourning of a mother with such ferocity that its easy to forget she is just acting.
Details, Details, Details
The cherry on top of the cake that is Hereditary is their attention to detail. It is one of those films that you can watch over and over again because there is always something new to find. Beyond that there are details that are so minute that they could easily go unnoticed if not actively looked for. One of these details is the color symbolism regarding characters outfits. Without seeking out this information it would likely never be noticed, however once its been pointed out its glaringly obvious that every cult member is wearing shades of reds and blues. With this detail uncovered it is revealed that almost all characters besides the Grahams themselves are participating members of the cult, serving their lord King Paimon. There are a plethora of other details hidden throughout the film such as:
- Paimon’s seal
- The cultists’ inhabitance of the Graham household
- The forced consumption of a mysterious herb
- Scenes foreshadowing the theme of decapitation
Expansions of these details along with other hidden easter eggs can be found here.
Summary
Hereditary is a revolutionary film that changes the way the audience sees horror. It has a perfect balance of stereotypical horror tropes and unseen concepts, making the movie feel familiar without getting boring. It is packed full of details, and is easy to rewatch over and over.
