David Pierdomenico
A death in the family causes each member to process their grief differently. This ultimately leads to an unraveling of a web of horrors that cannot be contained. That’s the most that can be revealed about this films plot without getting into spoilers. In a genre often filled with cheesiness and gratuity, Hereditary remains a hidden gem.
Relic From An Older Time
Despite being set in modern day, as evidenced by characters’ use of smart phones, Hereditary feels very much like a horror film released in the 60s or 70s. Rather than prematurely leaping into the terror, it takes its time and allows itself to build. It treats itself as a family drama first and foremost. Which seems like a lost art in horror films. Too often many of them try too hard to aim for shock value and gratuitous sex and violence/gore. While this film does have its share of gore, it’s never cheap and always feels justified. It demonstrates that horror is all the more potent when we have compelling characters and storyline. In many ways it’s reminiscent of such classics as Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and The Wicker Man (the 1973 original, not the hilariously terrible 2006 Nicholas Cage remake).
An Exercise in Discomfort
Perhaps the film’s greatest strength is its overarching sense of dread that seems to permeate throughout its duration. Even from the opening scene, the film effectively keeps its audience feeling uncomfortable. Not since The Witch back in 2015 has a film maintained such tension. Disorientation is the name of the game. It comes in the form of the family members being constantly hostile to each other, to the point that the audience cringes. The main character also designs dollhouses, many which look like the rooms in their house. With some creative camerawork, there are times we aren’t sure if the camera is focused on the house itself or merely zoomed into one of these creepy imitators. Stanley Kubrick employed similar techniques in The Shining to subliminally confuse the viewer. Hereditary proudly follows in its footsteps.
In addition, for a great portion of the film, the audience can’t be sure if something truly supernatural is taking place, or if the main characters are simply losing their minds. It moves at a very slow pace for the first half of the film, biding its time and building up the pressure. Because of this however, it makes the payoff in the second half all the more earned.
Oscar Hopeful?
Usually discussing horror films for Oscar consideration is an exercise in futility. However, after Get Out was nominated for Best Picture (and won Best Original Screenplay) earlier this year, all things seem possible. Hereditary boasts an amazing performance from Toni Collette, who rarely disappoints in any film she’s in. She demonstrates a wide range of emotions while portraying a character that goes too far, says awful things to her own children, and begins to lose her mind down a rabbit hole of superstition. Yet despite all this, she still maintains audience sympathy as it’s clear she’s a woman in pain and grief.
We are also treated to equally compelling (and creepy) performances by the rest of her family played by Gabriel Byrne (who famously played Satan in End of Days), Alex Wolff, and Milly Shapiro. The most shocking thing to learn however is that this well acted, sharply written, and beautifully shot film was directed by an amateur. To date, Ari Aster has only directed a number of short films and Hereditary is his feature length directorial debut. Hopefully he doesn’t suffer the same fate of Orson Welles by peaking too soon in his career.
Not For Every Horror Fan
As much as this film can be praised, it should be pointed out that not every horror fan will enjoy it. As previously mentioned, The Witch was a brilliant film that was well written, acted, directed, as well as being incredibly tense and haunting. But because of its slow burn approach and intense media hype as “the scariest film ever made” it suffered quite a bit of backlash. It’s important to acknowledge that fans of slashers or “jump scare teen horror” will probably find Hereditary too slow or dull. And there’s nothing wrong with that. The genre and its fans are incredibly diverse. That said, this film certainly appeals to those who prefer classic horror, as well as those who prefer suspense and dread over jump scares and gore. And for those fans it does appeal to, it’s a clear winner.
