One of the most interesting names to emerge in the horror genre in recent years has undoubtedly been Ari Aster. He made his stunning feature film debut with Hereditary, one of the most talked-about movies of 2018. It tells the story of a grieving family who become haunted by a supernatural force.
Aster quickly followed up his debut with the 2019 horror movie Midsommar, which follows a group of friends who travel to a rural part of Sweden to take part in the community's massive mid-summer festival, which quickly turns into a nightmare. Both movies show Aster's impressive talents as a filmmaker, but which is his best work?
10 Hereditary: The Horror
Both films are quite easily categorized as horror films, but Midsommar is more about the creepy atmosphere than pure horror. However, Hereditary has been called the scariest horror movie in recent memory by many fans of the genre.
There is a dread and tension hanging over the entire movie that shocks the viewers in some moments. And when the movie does really embrace its horror nature, it doesn't hold back, making for a terrifying final act.
9 Midsommar: The Comedy
Audiences won't find much humor in the dour and intense Hereditary, but Aster proves he has a pretty good sense of humor with Midsommar. While it is also an intense film with some pretty heavy subject matter, it also feels satirical at times.
The movie never goes so far into the comedic territory that the tension of the story is lost. But the comedy comes from the characters being self-centered and ignorant tourists, seemingly unaware of what is going on around them.
8 Hereditary: The Slow Burn
Part of what makes Aster's movies so engrossing is that he takes his time to build a compelling story and characters that draw the audience in. He never seems to be in a rush and prefers the "slow burn" approach to telling his stories, which often gradually reveals the more startling elements.
This works most effectively in Hereditary, as the mystery and horror of the movie continue to build over time. While Midsommar has a similar structure, the tension that is maintained in Hereditary is almost unbearable, yet makes for an unforgettable experience.
7 Midsommar: The Setting
Aster is a great visual artist and the look of these two movies is quite varied. While Hereditary is a simple yet dark family drama, Midsommar is one of the most bright and colorful horror movies you're likely to see.
The setting of the rural Swedish festival is a totally unique and engrossing place for the movie to unfold. Even as the horror elements begin to show themselves, the audience wants to explore this world, its rules and customs more.
6 Hereditary: Examination Of Grief
Aster is clearly interested in telling more than just a scary story with both of these movies. In fact, both Hereditary and Midsommar deal with grief in ways you don't usually see in horror films. This theme is more prevalent in Hereditary and is handled expertly.
Some of the most memorable scenes in the movie do not even involve supernatural elements, but rather focus on the family drama unfolding because of their shared grief. It is raw and uncomfortable but adds to the overall story.
5 Midsommar: Examination Of Relationship
While Midsommar deals with grief, as well, its examination of a toxic relationship is the more interesting aspect of the film. The central relationship in the film is not overtly terrible, yet it is one that has clearly grown unhealthy over time.
Aster deals with the relationship in cleverly subtle ways, as well as in big dramatic ways. It is also used to shape the tension and allow the characters to develop in some very interesting ways.
4 Hereditary: The Ensemble
The casts for both of these films are excellent, but Hereditary's family drama aspect really makes for an interesting ensemble piece not usually seen in a horror movie. Again, just watching the family share those uncomfortable moments together makes for some of the most intense and captivating moments in the film.
All of the actors work so well together, forming a believable and grounded family unit. There are powerful performances mixed with more reserved performances, all of which balance each other perfectly.
3 Midsommar: The Heroine
While there are great performances from the supporting cast, Florence Pugh is obviously the star of the show in Midsommar. She gives a fantastic, star-making performance as Dani, a girl trying to get over a horrific tragedy by accompanying her boyfriend and his friends on this trip.
Pugh really makes Dani such a compelling character, and it is her journey that becomes the fascinating part of the movie. The audience really wants to see Dani survive and find happiness, so it's easy to become invested in this journey with her.
2 Hereditary: Toni Collette
Horror films don't often get recognition from the Oscars, which means there have been some amazing performances over the years that have failed to get nominated. One notable exclusion in recent memory was Toni Collette's harrowing turn in Hereditary.
Even with such a strong ensemble element, Collette owns the film, with such a powerful performance that grows rawer as the story progresses. It is sympathetic, haunting, scary, and impossible to look away from.
1 Midsommar: Ending
In both of Aster's films, the slow-burn approach leads to a climax that gets really insane. In Hereditary, the final part of the movie is somewhat controversial, as some audiences didn't like how much it embraced the horror and felt there were too many unanswered questions.
Midsommar's ending is a much quieter, yet still a wild ending that feels a bit more satisfying. Watching the ceremony at the center of the film come to its horrific and bizarre conclusion, as well as the final show of Dani, is an unforgettable conclusion.
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