Midsommar
Peter Charney

Review by Peter Charney Pro

Midsommar

2019
★★★★

Watched 02 Jul 2019

I’ve realized that I like Ari Aster, the Director, a lot more than I like Ari Aster, the Writer. That said, I do think this is a more successful story than Hereditary overall, and I suspect this will generally appeal to a wider audience. 

The first act is absolutely spectacular. The build up to the trip is wonderful, the early dialogue is written so well, and the supporting characters are a lot of fun! Early scenes about “relationship drama” are actually the stand out of the film for me. It’s once we reach our Midsommar, that the pacing starts to feel a little slow at times and perhaps some of the plotting could have stronger supported what is set up for the characters. 

I will spend quite some time thinking about the themes presented here. I think this film has a lot to say, and it layers its ideas at just the right place beneath the story’s surface. The score, cinematography (lighting!!), and production design are all fantastic, and Florence Pugh is about to explode. 

Slight Spoiler Below:

I really want to see an Ari Aster film about something else...? Ultimately, the overal tone and the ending specifically feels a little too similar to Hereditary as well as some other horror films from the past several years.

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