153) Hereditary (2018)

"We have looked to the northwest and called you in."

Director

Ari Aster

Cast
Toni Collette - Annie Graham
Gabriel Byrne - Steve Graham
Milly Shapiro - Charlie Graham
Alex Wolff - Peter Graham
Ann Dowd - Joan
Mallory Bechtel - Bridget


I reviewed director Ari Aster's 2019 popular psychological horror/thriller "Midsommar" back in 2020. Eventually I would write something about his other popular psychological horror/thriller "Hereditary" - Aster's breakout film which was released the year before "Midsommar." 

This is the second time I've watched "Hereditary." Fellow horror fans recommended it to me back in 2018. It caught me off guard when I initially saw it. The movie came across as daring in its horror elements. 

This time, I caught a lot more subtle details I initially missed since I knew what to expect the second time.

At first, I thought it was a decent horror movie with scenes that stuck with me. I initially found it truly unsettling. I liked it a lot as a horror film. Have my thoughts changed after seeing it again?

In "Hereditary," Toni Collette plays Annie Graham, a mother of two and an artist in miniature models. She lives with her psychiatrist husband, Steven (Gabriel Byrne), their teenage son, Peter (Alex Wolff) and 13-year-old daughter, Charlie (Milly Shapiro). 

The story starts as Annie and her family attend her mother, Ellen's, funeral. Annie wasn't close to her mom.

A short time after the funeral, Steven gets a call from the cemetery informing him that Ellen's gravesite was desecrated. No other details are really given as to why. These things just happen, or do they?

Later, Peter is invited to a party. Annie wants him to bring Charlie which he reluctantly does. 

At the party, Charlie, who has a severe nut allergy, eats a slice of chocolate cake that's cut with a knife someone used to chop walnuts. 

While Peter is up in a bedroom smoking a bong, Charlie goes into anaphylactic shock.

He speeds down a country road to get his sister to a hospital. Charlie, sitting in the back seat, rolls down the window and sticks her head out for air. 

When Peter swerves to avoid a dead dear in the road, he maneuvers too close to a telephone pole. It hit's Charlie causing her to become decapitated. 

After this horrific tragedy, things quickly turn grim in the Graham house. The relationship between Annie and Peter starts diminishing. 

During this time, Annie joins a support group for those grieving the death of loved ones. There, she meets a member named Joan (Ann Dowd). After talking to her a couple of times, Joan convinces Annie to come by her apartment.

When she does stop by, she teaches Annie how to conduct a séance. Joan claims she has successfully made conduct with her deceased grandson whom she has been communicating with on a regular basis.

It takes Annie a bit to register the paranormal phenomenon she witnesses at Joan's apartment.

Toni Collette as Annie Graham in "Hereditary."

So, she tries contacting the soul of her daughter at home. She does manage to make contact, or so she thinks. 

Peter starts experiencing unexplainable activity around him, even while at school. His sanity becomes strained because of it.

Annie returns to Joan's apartment. Her door is unlocked but she's not home. Inside, Annie notices familiar symbols indicating Joan may not be quite what she appears to be.

Based on what she saw at Joan's, Annie starts going through her mother's boxed up belongings. She finds a photo album with pictures of Joan and Annie together conducting some strange cult ceremonies with other people. Annie figures out that her mother was a leader in a dark cult.

Meanwhile, the paranormal events take on an evil tone, and Annie believes Charlie's spirit has become vengeful. 

The entity she brought in becomes more than Annie can control, and it takes over the family. 

I initially thought "Hereditary" is well made. As far as execution, pace, acting and being scary, I still think it's well made. That's as far as it goes. The story doesn't offer anything worth retaining.

I host a film discussion group at my library, and we discussed this film a few nights ago. 

One participant pointed out that Ari Aster doesn't seem to like Christians. I think they're right. 

I don't know for sure if Aster hates Christians or not. It's all speculation and interpretation based on his two popular movies. But if these two popular films are any indication, signs seem to point towards a general disdain for religion. Again, maybe this is an incorrect observation? 

"Hereditary" depicts what evil can do (or what Hollywood thinks evil can do), leaving goodness and holiness in some unknown unobtainable place, and having the deadly cult come out accomplishing its goal. Yet, the cult and its destructive activities isn't necessarily glorified. It destroys the Graham family, taking it over in the process, and it all leads to death and the demonic - literally. It's evil and is presented as such. Still, because of the evil demon's desire to take over the family, there's nothing they can do to stop it. Goodness and providence aren't even considered. Annie only turns to herself to stop this evil but fails completely. This is pretty much how most demonic horror movies are portrayed. 

Basically, the premise gives me mixed messages. I don't know what to take from this story. 

The pace of the story is well executed, the horror elements having quite the staying power, and Toni Collette gives an amazing performance. Otherwise, the story is too muddled. 

I think the acting, the realism, the strong emotions, and horror visuals which don't hold back are what make "Hereditary" the success it is among horror fans. 

Watching "Hereditary" made me think of the things I said about the film "Midsommar." I initially gave that movie positive remarks. Maybe I need to reevaluate it as it also depicts religion as something positive and welcoming on the outside, but sinister, evil, and deadly on the inside. I don't know how I missed that the first time. When it comes to Hollywood and religion - any religion - Hollywood rarely gets the basic tenants of most religions right. Evil is evil, and good is ever present and stronger.

Hollywood certainly doesn't agree. In most horror films, especially those depicting possession and demonic entities, Hollywood likes to portray the evil as unconquerable and the good as aloof.
With "Hereditary" it's the same scenario, more or less. The cult and its destructive activities aren't necessarily glorified. It's evil and is presented as such. Still, because of the evil demon's desire to take over the family, there's nothing Annie can do to stop it. Goodness and providence aren't even considered. Annie only turns to herself to stop this evil but fails completely. 

At the end scene, Joan is seen crowning Peter now possessed by the evil entity referred to as "Paimon - one of the eight kings of hell." She says, "We reject the trinity and pray devoutly to you, great Paimon. Give us your knowledge of all secret things, bring us honor, wealth, and good familiars. Bind all men to our will as we have bound ourselves for now and ever to yours."

Evil is evil, but it wins regardless... is the message I got out of this. 

Watching this a second time, I picked up on the subtle hints and references to what's really going on unbeknownst to Annie and her family. It grows more and more apparent as the story progresses.
Toni Collette gives a great method performance. All her fear, anger, and sadness are portrayed with amazing realism. Her reactions are how I would imagine a mother reacting to such unbelievably traumatic situations like the ones Annie and her family go through. 

Aside from that, it's just another typical ghost story that leaves nothing for the audience but a couple shocks, scares and disappointment. The story is just as mundane and formulaic as most other demonic-themed horror movies out there. 

"Hereditary" carries the tag "This generation's 'The Exorcist' but heads will spin more savagely." Well, my head is spinning but not for the reasons they think. And it's definitely no "The Exorcist."