Hereditary is a 2018 American psychological horror movie directed by Ari Aster, and the cast includes Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd, and Gabriel Byrne.
Every now and then I watch a horror movie that will just stick with me, for better or worse.
Hereditary is one of those unforgettable films.
It focuses on family trauma and grief, telling the story of a woman dealing with her mother's death and her own family problems, including two teenage kids and a husband.
Toni Collette, who plays the mother, steals the show in this one, as she puts in an incredible performance.
The film begins with a death. Annie (Toni Collette) her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), son Peter (Alex Wolff), and daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro) are mourning the loss of Annie's mother, Grandma Leigh.
Annie is an artist who creates miniature models, who is trying to seek some control over her chaotic life and Steve is a psychiatrist who keeps his emotions tightly controlled. The kids seem fairly normal, but unbeknownst to them all, Grandma Leigh was involved with demons and cults.
Can the family overcome these demonic forces, or will they fall victim to the horrors that await them?
This film is dark and is so much more than just a horror movie, but Hereditary is one of the best horror films of recent times for me.
It has that same grief and trauma feeling similar to The Babadook, but so so much better.
Of the family, Steve is the probably the most stable as he tries to keep everyone together as everything is falling apart around him.
The son, Peter, slowly descends into mental madness, and it is compelling to watch. Alex Wolff shines as Peter as his mental state spirals.
Milly Shapiro, who plays Charlie, also puts in an excellent performance, especially as this was her acting debut, and she nails the creepy vibe her character portrays.
But the standout performance as mentioned above comes from Toni Collette.
Her portrayal of grief is amazing and she deserved all the accolades she got from playing Annie. as she leads the film from the front, showcasing all her acting skills with the different emotions that she delivers in the movie, and she should have won an oscar.
While the demon and cult elements are pretty well done too, the real horror of the movie comes from the emotional trauma experienced by these characters.
The film is powerful and incredibly emotional and is a bit exhausting to watch as well, and you could watch this movie multiple times and always find something new to speak about, and the mental exhaustion is all to real.
Whether it's the supernatural elements, the mental health themes, or just the dynamics of the family, the film has a LOT of depth.
The first half of Hereditary moves at a slow, deliberate pace, carefully laying the groundwork for what’s to come later, as it focuses on building tension, developing the characters, and creating an overwhelming sense of unease.
Every moment feels like a piece of a larger, more sinister puzzle, though you may not realize it at first, and the unsettling atmosphere grows heavier as the story unfolds, making you feel like something terrible is just around the corner.
Then comes the second half, and that’s when the film really grabs you by the throat, and without giving too much away, this is where all the quiet dread, strange moments, and lingering tension explode into full-blown horror.
What started as a slow-burn family drama spirals into something unforgettable, and by the time the credits roll, you’re left rattled, trying to process what you just witnessed.
It’s the kind of movie that rewards repeat viewings because every time you watch, you pick up on more on all of the hidden subtle details, things that were always there but may have gone unnoticed the first time.
It carefully plants these visuals without drawing too much attention to them, leaving it up to the viewer to either spot them or remain blissfully unaware, and once you do notice them, you won’t be able to unsee them, so if you’ve only watched this film once, do yourself a favor and watch it again.
Hereditary is, in my opinion, a modern masterpiece. I know some people might roll their eyes at that, and that’s fine. but I absolutely love it, and what makes it even more impressive is that this was Ari Aster’s debut feature film.
Aster manages to craft a film that is emotionally devastating, as he blends psychological horror with emotional depth in a way that feels seamless, never relying on clichés, but instead, he builds tension methodically, using grief, guilt, and family trauma as the backbone of the horror.
The film’s slow burn approach might not be for everyone, but for those who appreciate unsettling, horror, Hereditary is an unforgettable experience.
And Aster followed it up with the excellent Midsommar as well.