Got back from seeing it a couple hours ago. I... loved it. I liked Hereditary quite a bit when it came out but I've come down a little bit on it since then. This was leagues better than that. The atmosphere, the world building, the acting, the story, and use of themes is so stellar.
It's not really scary, but it is uncomfortable, and maintains a feeling of unease and intrigue throughout. The film gets pretty twisted at times, but you have to see what else this place has to offer. There are a few moments that the outcomes of which I could see coming, but the tension is so well built, that I found myself questioning whether or not they would pull the trigger. And a few of these moments are capped off with extreme gore. So squeamish beware.
It's beautifully shot. It's colorful, and there are many creatively framed shots throughout. The choice to have this take place almost entirely during daytime is a bold one for a film marketed as a horror film, but I think it pays off tremendously, and really helps sell this community, and the twisted, borderline absurd stuff that happens in the film. The score likewise is fantastic, moving from European inspired ritualistic tunes, to more unsettling horror sounds, and a masterful building of tension from start to finish.
The acting from everyone is great, but Florence Pugh is the real star here. Ari Aster has a way of getting actors to reach inside themselves and find the raw human emotion, and put it on full display. Pugh is fantastic in the film. You feel for her character and really kind of get behind her, and her performance is important, because her emotional state is incredibly important, especially in the final act.
The themes of family, loss, grief, and the breakup movie vibe are so well woven into the film. The opening minutes really set Pugh's character up brilliantly, and helps the audience buy into the decisions that are made late in the film. I, to my own surprise, had a drink the kool-aid moment in the end.
The film is very bizarre, and twisted, but so well conceived, that you as an audience member kind of buy into it.
The film gets you in the characters shoes, but also has an almost documentarian quality to it. You are both a participant, and an observer in the proceedings. And this will certainly be something that turns people off, but the length of the film, I felt was completely justified, and a benefit to the film. Everything is given so much time to be explained, and digested, that you really come away with a real understanding of this place, and the twisted way in which it operates. Some may find it meandering, and self indulgent, and I can understand that. But I thought it was totally necessary, and I can't imagine a 1 hr 50 min version of this.
After Hereditary I was hoping for something a little more bold, and unique. And while it definitely shares similarities with The Wicker Man, I felt like it was enough of its own thing to be called original. It turned out to be one of my favorite films of this year so far. I can't wait to see what Aster puts out next.
It's not really scary, but it is uncomfortable, and maintains a feeling of unease and intrigue throughout. The film gets pretty twisted at times, but you have to see what else this place has to offer. There are a few moments that the outcomes of which I could see coming, but the tension is so well built, that I found myself questioning whether or not they would pull the trigger. And a few of these moments are capped off with extreme gore. So squeamish beware.
It's beautifully shot. It's colorful, and there are many creatively framed shots throughout. The choice to have this take place almost entirely during daytime is a bold one for a film marketed as a horror film, but I think it pays off tremendously, and really helps sell this community, and the twisted, borderline absurd stuff that happens in the film. The score likewise is fantastic, moving from European inspired ritualistic tunes, to more unsettling horror sounds, and a masterful building of tension from start to finish.
The acting from everyone is great, but Florence Pugh is the real star here. Ari Aster has a way of getting actors to reach inside themselves and find the raw human emotion, and put it on full display. Pugh is fantastic in the film. You feel for her character and really kind of get behind her, and her performance is important, because her emotional state is incredibly important, especially in the final act.
The themes of family, loss, grief, and the breakup movie vibe are so well woven into the film. The opening minutes really set Pugh's character up brilliantly, and helps the audience buy into the decisions that are made late in the film. I, to my own surprise, had a drink the kool-aid moment in the end.
I found myself so invested in Pugh's character, that after she's made the sacrifice and is shown reacting and finally settling on a smile, I was almost moved to tears at her finding a sense of peace, despite the horrific nature of the situation.
The film gets you in the characters shoes, but also has an almost documentarian quality to it. You are both a participant, and an observer in the proceedings. And this will certainly be something that turns people off, but the length of the film, I felt was completely justified, and a benefit to the film. Everything is given so much time to be explained, and digested, that you really come away with a real understanding of this place, and the twisted way in which it operates. Some may find it meandering, and self indulgent, and I can understand that. But I thought it was totally necessary, and I can't imagine a 1 hr 50 min version of this.
After Hereditary I was hoping for something a little more bold, and unique. And while it definitely shares similarities with The Wicker Man, I felt like it was enough of its own thing to be called original. It turned out to be one of my favorite films of this year so far. I can't wait to see what Aster puts out next.
