4.8/5.0
Hereditary is a film regarding the deep roots of ancestry of which you cannot untie yourself from. Drawing you in from the opening scene with its unsettling family dynamic. The further you are drawn into their lineage a profound sensation of dread builds up, that leaves you holding your breath until the very end. Devoted and notable performances from Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, and Molly Shapiro. The most preferred way to go into this film is without any kind of preface. This film is an experience.
Each family tree draws their own history, some favorable and others… not so much. For the Graham family the unfavorable heritage outweighs the favorable. The small family unit of the Grahams consist mother Annie and husband Steve and their two children. Annie comes from a long line of traumatic childhood and upbringing. Older teenager Peter, an average pothead high-schooler with a small group of friends. 13-year-old Charlie with stoic and apathetic facial expressions who struggles with social anxiety, prefers to be on her own. While innocent conciliator Steve, strives to bring the family together. The Graham’s each distinctively deal with the recent death of Annie’s mother. In the process of coping, Annie expresses her grief through her art of building large dioramas, which is reflected consistently throughout the film. During the process of what should be grieving, a deeper understanding of their ancestry begins to unfold.
Spoilers Below
Hereditary completely embodies the exact sensation of what every horror film should aspire to achieve. Truly one of the most horrifying films I’ve watched that leaves you haunted afterwards. It’s been days since I’ve watched the film and I’m left double-checking each corner of my room before bed. Hereditary is tied together so naturally that you’re left in awe and questioning if you actually just watched that. The acting from each character was absolutely phenomenal, the alluring cinematography, along with the incredible foreshadowing leaves you in a dream-like state or rather a nightmare you can’t wake up from.
Toni Collette left me with my jaw dropped. From the opening scene at her mother’s funeral I saw such a raw honest performance. The shame she felt from her indifference or incapability to feel more sorrow towards her mother’s death, felt authentic. Once learning the difficult and overbearing upbringing that Annie experienced we come to understand why she may have felt a slight indifference to her mother’s death. And honestly I didn’t disagree with her methods of grieving, given any toxic relationship with parents it’s difficult to feel genuine sorrow even at such circumstances. We’re given the impression that Annie did not share a close relationship with her mother as she states at the funeral, “she was a secretive person with private rituals.” Hello foreshadowing. Actually while we’re on this point the entire film begins to form its roots in those two single phrases regarding Annie’s mother. Annie’s inability to share with her husband that she is seeking counseling shows her incapacity to express her emotions, in a different manner than those of her dioramas. Throughout the film not only Annie, but the family as a whole finds more pain in displaying and dealing with emotion, than over the traumas they are confronted with. Toni Collette delivers an absolute perfect act. The scene where she snaps on her son Peter, you can feel her rage and inability to forgive Peter. Along with her stumbling across her words, a favorite line of mine, “That fucking face on your face.” It feels so convincing and she is no longer acting as Toni, she is Annie. When filled with such anger its difficult to place your words correctly and that proved it to me even more.
We later on find her carrying on her complex relationship with her son, that she may have “inherited” (haha) from her mother. Which may I say is absolutely terrifying?! The scene where Annie finds herself sleepwalking and walks into Peter’s room, the absolute horror on her face almost brought me to tears. I was absolutely frozen, it felt so real that I was stuck between is this a dream, a memory, or real-life? The film places you in a hypnotic state between the horror and performances.
Naked Brother’s Band Alex Wolff delivered a near perfect performance with such dedication and commitment. And yes I referred him to as Naked Brother’s Band because, the truth is I am a fan. We know he has had far better acting career references other than those from his younger years on the Nickelodeon show, but this is me just fangirling back to those days. Anyways back on track, Alex Wolff’s dedication!! Did y’all know he told everyone to refer to him as Peter while filming and finally introduced himself as Alex on the last day of filming. Wow. The terror in Peter’s face after the accident was chilling. The horror and panic Peter felt, I felt. I was a bit confused about what really happened after the accident and when did he plan to explain what had happened to Charlie? But at the same time had I done what Peter had done, considering it was truly an accident, I might’ve gone into sheer panic and been unable to form a rational decision. Peter continued to persistently impress me with his reactions to the traumas his family undergoes.
Before Hereditary I have never heard of Molly Shapiro before, but after this film it’s a face I’m not likely to forget. Her stoic facial expressions in extreme situations made me feel uneasy to say the least. At her grandmother’s funeral she stares at the dead body of a once loved one with such apathy and bites into a candy bar. She continues to show off her deadpan glare throughout the film. The scene of her cutting off the pigeons head was startling, to see her with a blank expression with no sympathy to the once living creature. Charlie was meant to be and earned her place to be Paimon.
Beneath the surface of their lack of exhibiting emotions, we find deeply damaged characters. The lack of familiar affection and ability to express and say what they truly mean, set the tone for the rest of the film. The family is so passive-aggressive towards each other it seems emotionally toxic. We find emotionally challenged characters who are pushed to their limits with each new trauma that they are confronted with.
The overall theme was exceptionally horrifying and was an outstanding film, but not one that was a pleasure to watch. I want to point out just how impeccable the cinematography went along to set the surreal distressing tone of the film. I was absolutely petrified and filled with anticipation with each new scene. To better explain this film, it left me frightened without making me jump. From the opening scene I felt dread building up inside of me, holding my breath until the final scene I felt like I was finally able to breath again. The crucial portion of this film that leave you in fear is the fact that there is no solution, there is no way out from your heritage. You couldn’t even put a face to such a fear, it’s an inevitable horrific ending.