Hereditary Review

There are always things people pass down from generation to generation within families, the traditions, traits, and worldviews that congregate to build up who we are. The entire concept of nature versus nurture is built upon this concept. These things are implicity inherited from parents and families. Hereditary explores this implicit passing or values and personalities within an isolated family in Utah. From the onset of the film, I was left on the edge of my seat with an uncomfortable feeling. That may be because the opening shots revolve around the mom’s personal totally-not-creepy-at-all livilehood: creating expositions with miniatures reflecting her own life. This is reminiscent of Cusack’s bizzarre pastime in Being John Malkovich, but more on that later.

As the film progresses the viewer begins to understand how the family has come to interact with one another and the family’s history and dynamics become increasingly clear. Thankfully, much of this exposition is unfurled through actions by the family and not through dialog. As if a mystery was unfolding, the film leaves plenty of clues along the way for the viewer to unpack, with a surprisingly satisfying ending that completes the thematic elements of the film.

Leaving the film, I was surprised by Aster’s ability to draw from so many influences while still creating something refreshingly new. The eerie and psychological nature of Rosemary’s Baby is there; the powerful building of suspense seems influenced by The Witch, yet Hereditary supplies the ending to make it all worth it. Finally, I was surprised by the use of miniatures reflecting Annie’s profession. This reminded me of the dolls that John Cusack works with in Being John Malkovich. The reflexive nature of this device comes to fruition as the film progresses. Ultimately, the film revolves around Annie grappling with her own demons that she has gained from her mother and the lengths she goes to protect her children and not make the same mistakes. This all propels the themes forward and demonstrates the delicate and difficult nature of parenthood and taking care of a family.

For having only been a directorial debut from Ari Aster, I was blown away by the character development, mise en scène, and captivating aura surrounding each scene. Without too much effort, the viewer is made aware of something terribly evil and sinister surrounding the characters, as this environment continues to shroud and overtake the film in an eerily suspenseful way. This atmosphere is furthered by the harrowing score and some terrifyingly grotesque imagery. Without giving too much away, Hereditary is a slow burner well worth your attention that will stick with you well after the running time.

Rating

★★★★½
A terrifying tale supported by a fantastic lead performance from Toni Collette and a harrowing soundtrack.