Title: Hereditary
Release Date: 07/06/2018
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Plot
Hereditary is a chilling horror film that delves deep into the twisted dynamics of a family haunted by their dark and mysterious ancestry. Set in a secluded and eerie house, this film takes viewers on a suspenseful journey as the Graham family’s darkest secrets unravel.
The story revolves around Annie Graham, a talented artist, and her husband Steve, who are grieving the recent death of Annie’s secretive mother, Ellen. As the movie begins, the family appears to be coping with the loss, with Annie attending a support group to deal with her grief.
However, it soon becomes apparent that there is something deeply disturbing and inexplicable about their family history. Annie’s daughter, Charlie, exhibits peculiar and unsettling behavior, often creating disturbing artwork and exhibiting a fascination with decapitations.
Alex Wolff delivers a mesmerizing performance as Peter, Annie’s troubled teenage son. The strained relationship between mother and son adds an extra layer of tension to the already unsettling atmosphere.
As the film progresses, strange occurrences begin to plague the family. Annie starts seeing apparitions and experiences vivid nightmares.
Meanwhile, Charlie becomes increasingly detached from reality, causing concern among her family members. The eerie and haunting score by Colin Stetson amplifies the sense of unease, perfectly complementing the tension building on screen.
A significant turning point in the film occurs when tragedy strikes, shattering the already fragile familial bonds. The Graham family’s relationships crumble, as secrets long buried threaten to destroy them.
Toni Collette delivers a spectacularly intense and emotionally charged performance as the grieving and tormented Annie, showcasing her talent for portraying complex and troubled characters. The movie explores themes of inherited trauma, the destructive power of secrets, and the fine line between sanity and madness.
Director Ari Aster masterfully crafts a visually stunning and atmospheric film, using slow purposeful pacing to build tension and shock viewers with unexpected and deeply unsettling moments. The final act of the film takes viewers on a nightmarish rollercoaster ride, as it delves into the disturbing rituals and supernatural elements that have plagued the Graham family for generations.
The cinematography by Pawel Pogorzelski is exceptional, with dynamic camera movements and haunting imagery that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. Hereditary is a shocking and thought-provoking horror film that delivers spine-tingling scares while exploring the depths of human despair and darkness.
It is a deeply unsettling and psychologically intense experience that will leave audiences questioning the nature of evil and the extent to which our actions are predetermined by our ancestry. With its strong performances, gripping narrative, and a constant sense of dread, Hereditary is a standout horror film that pushes the boundaries of the genre.
It will leave you breathless and haunted, long after the credits roll.
6 Best Scenes from Hereditary
1. The grandmother’s funeral:
In the opening scene of “Hereditary,” the film sets the tone for the darkness that is about to unfold.
The camera slowly pans over a dollhouse-like miniature of the Graham family home, foreshadowing the family’s entrapment within their own lives. At the funeral for Ellen, the family’s grandmother, emotions run high as Annie, Ellen’s daughter, delivers a detached eulogy that sparks tension between her and her son, Peter.
While Annie struggles with her mother’s complicated legacy, her own inner demons begin to emerge. This scene serves as a catalyst for the unraveling of the family, igniting a series of disturbing events.
The grandmother’s funeral represents the first step into the nightmare that lies beneath the surface, setting the stage for the horror to come. 2.
Charlie’s death:
“Hereditary” takes a shocking turn with the unexpected death of Charlie, Peter’s younger sister. At a party, Charlie begins to experience an allergic reaction to a cake containing nuts, resulting in her struggling to breathe.
In a panic, Peter, who is under the influence of marijuana, rushes her into the car and in a desperate attempt to get her to the hospital, swerves to avoid a dead animal on the road. The camera follows the tragic trajectory of Charlie’s head smashing into a telephone pole, instantly killing her.
Charlie’s death is a pivotal moment in the film, driving a wedge between family members and amplifying the sense of sorrow and grief that permeates the rest of the narrative. It signals the descent into darkness and serves as a turning point in the plot, pushing the characters into a deeper state of horror and despair.
3. Peter’s possession and decapitation of himself:
In a horrifying climax, the movie reaches its zenith when Peter, tormented by supernatural forces, is possessed by the spirit of Paimon, an ancient demon.
As Peter’s mental state deteriorates, he finds himself manipulated by external forces, losing control of his own body. In a truly shocking and gruesome scene, Annie, Peter’s mother, discovers Peter in their attic, where he has decapitated himself with a wire.
The sight of Peter’s headless body, his own severed head adorned with the crown of King Paimon, leaves the audience horrified and disturbed. This scene solidifies the film’s descent into full-blown psychological and supernatural terror.
It reflects the cyclical nature of trauma and inherited evil within the Graham family, culminating in a chilling and unforgettable ending. The scene’s graphic nature and the transformation of the main character into an agent of ultimate evil leave a lasting impact on the viewer, provoking thoughtful reflection on the themes of fate, destiny, and the sins of the past.
4. Annie’s discovery of her mother’s secret room:
Tensions rise as Annie, consumed by her grief and suspicions, discovers her mother’s secret room in the attic.
The room is filled with bizarre and sinister artifacts, such as a book on demonology. Annie learns that her mother was part of a cult that worshipped King Paimon, an entity that seeks to possess a male body.
This revelation sends shockwaves through Annie’s understanding of her family’s history and her own identity. The discovery of the secret room forces Annie to confront a dark family legacy that she thought she had left behind.
It deepens the sense of dread and establishes a connection between the supernatural events and the past, propelling the plot towards its horrifying climax. 5.
Steve burning in the attic:
As the supernatural forces take full control, the Graham family’s patriarch, Steve, becomes another victim of the malevolent spirits haunting their lives. Unbeknownst to Steve, Annie is conducting a seance to contact the spirit of her daughter, Charlie.
Suddenly, Steve is engulfed in flames, burning alive in the attic. The scene is both visceral and deeply unsettling, as the viewer witnesses the tragic demise of an innocent character.
Steve’s death symbolizes the complete breakdown of the family unit, pushing each member further into a state of despair and exposing the full extent of the evil at play. It adds a layer of hopelessness and despair to the narrative, escalating the tension and propelling the remaining characters towards their inevitable fate.
6. Peter being crowned the demon king:
In a chilling culmination, Peter, fully under the control of Paimon, finds himself at the center of a ritual.
Annie, now possessed and acting as a cult member, guides Peter through the rituals and occult chants. As he willingly becomes the vessel for King Paimon, Peter is crowned with a wreath symbolizing his newfound demonic status.
This final scene signifies the ultimate victory of evil, as Peter’s transformation into the demon king solidifies the notion of inherited darkness. The weight of the film’s central themes of fate and destiny fully manifests in this disturbing moment, leaving the audience with a sense of profound dread.
The scene concludes the narrative with a chilling reminder that the sins of the past continue to haunt the present, perpetuating a cycle of violence that seems impossible to escape.
