Hereditary
She isn’t gone.
Hereditary is as haunting a film as any I’ve seen in some time. It’s clearly inspired by The Shining and maybe Rosemary’s Baby and/or The Exorcist, among others, but the influence of Stanley Kubrick’s meticulous attention to detail is noticeable and extremely important to the atmosphere of this film. Like The Shining, this is a movie that builds from a point of relative normalcy into a throughoughly unsettling nightmare of the profane. I could see how some might not find Hereditary to be as scary as the marketing material might lead them to believe, but I think that, again like The Shining, the storytelling here is more nuanced than an initial viewing might suggest.
From the first frame, a word I’d use to describe Hereditary is intentional. Like Kubrick’s 1980 horror, the viewer can feel Ari Aster’s voice guiding each and every decision behind the film — from the sharp, David Lean-esque scene transitions to the colors of each character’s clothing. The cinematography in particular echoes Kubrick’s wide angles and slow dolly moves in The Shining, but with the extended takes that James Wan is known to use in the Conjuring films and the first Insidious. The film’s use of miniatures is also strikingly similar to the way Kubrick frames the Overlook Hotel’s maze. There’s a lot of love for movies on display here, horror or otherwise — and I love it. When a movie wears its influences on its sleeves so clearly and affectionately, I find an almost endearing quality to the film — as endearing as a movie like this can be.
The acting is also excellent across the board. Toni Collette shoulders the majority of the film’s emotional moments, and her performance is memorable, to say the least. I was equally reminded of Jack Torrance from The Shining and Amelia Vanek from The Babadook throughout the film. Her vocalizations are also profoundly disquieting, with one particular scene echoing a horrifying moment from last year’s It Comes at Night for me. Alex Wolff also deserves special mention, as he sells shock, terror, and resentment well. Milly Shapiro is the face of the film, and her subtle expressions and extremely effective clicking noise make her scenes unsettling.
The less said about the plot, the better. If you like scary movies, just watch this. It’ll probably feel like The Witch — A24’s curation of horror films has impressed me. They find movies that aren’t made by the same people and aren’t about the same things, but convey similar themes so well. When I see that A24 logo on a poster or trailer, I may not know what’s in store, but I know it’s been chosen carefully.
The sense of dread Hereditary builds is oppressive and lingering. The score hits at key moments and it’s very effective in conveying the confusion and terror the characters feel. Coupled with the smart script and inspired framing, Hereditary’s sounds aren’t made to outright shock you — but to get under your skin and make you double check that dark corner in your room at night.
I wouldn’t say that the film is perfect. Horror is subjective, and what works for me may not work for you. But the way this film is crafted worked for me, and even if I didn’t agree with every single creative choice, I was always eager to see what would happen next. It’s an intense and haunting film, and if you’re open to something like that, Hereditary is certainly worth your time.
