Midsommar (2019) Review

This film… THIS FILM

I came into this with so many different ideas and expectations and it was really hard to not let that cloud my first reactions and responses. So many reviews, breakdowns and theories had popped up in my suggested on YouTube and in my emails and on all my suggested news and I tried so hard not to read or watch anything before I saw the film. After watching Hereditary (and wow slow burn to the last act which is insaneee) I was excited to see Ari Asters sophomore debut at a feature-length (which he wrote and directed).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vnghdsjmd0

The story follows Dani (Florence Pugh omg, more on that later) a young American whose relationship with her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor), is falling apart. After her sister (spoiler alert, stop now or forever hold your peace) takes her and her parent's life in murder-suicide, the couple stays together, both characters shrouded in guilt as they are pressed together through tragedy. One of Christians friends Pelle invites his friendship group to Sweden for their Midsommar festival which occurs every 90 years where it slowly becomes clear that they are in the company of a Pagan cult (sorry Wicker Man, this film takes the cake on weird folky cultishness).

There is a certain sinister elegance to this film that references more sophisticated horrors like The Shining and is a bit less ‘boo’ and a bit more ‘Woah wtf’. Aster mentioned in interviews that are wasn't as much a horror film, rather a break-up movie which is reflected in the vindictive slide of Dani and Christians narrative. Through the movie, their distancing relationship is seen through dizzyingly disorientating visuals and twisted rituals that propel Midsommar beyond a 'creepy folk tale' into a feature that worms its way under your skin and sits there buzzing as the slow burn crescendos in the final act.

For a horror film it’s long, over two hours kind of long, 140 minutes kind of long, which is kind of unexpected for a film like this, whose run time is usually expected to sit at 90 minutes. Yet, despite this, there was something so entrancing and unsettling that I could barely look away. I think one of the most unnerving things about this film is the lack of darkness that usually shrouds horror. Ari Aster manages to make the bright, summery, intensity of the location into an almost artificial warmth acquired through oversaturation. There is no-where to hide in this film and themes surrounding American entitlement, male privilege (white) and dealing with mental health are bare in the squint worthy sunlight. The cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski and set designer Henrik Svenson captured disquieting beauty within eerie confides; whether that was through the detailed tapestries, gorgeously painted buildings or the maypole looming like a crucifix in the background.

I felt every moment of emotion with Dani, the grief was pure spectacle and catharsis, and, as an audience, you ached with her. There is no containing or compartmentalising in this film, you hurt alongside her, breathing with the choral screams of anguish. Pugh was incredible playing a woman who clung to the final constant in her life until letting it go was as triumphant as finally seeing her smile. Reynor made his egotistical and unobservant character, Christian, somewhat sympathetic and his performance is real and horrified. Other cast members include William Jackson Harper (Chidi from The Good Place), Will Poulter (he is such a dick in this) and Vilhelm Blomgren (pied piper kind of vibes, except he’s the only one who remembers Dani’s birthday).

The thing that made this film culminate in such success was the score and audio. It buzzed and hypnotised the viewer removing you from reality when paired with the trippy visuals (I have it under good authority that you should NOT watch this film whilst tripping). Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak) is triumphant when the string-heavy score pairs with the abnormal breath and choral outbursts throughout the feature.

I want to give the film 5 stars but after watching I found myself wanting for a bit more 'weird' and a bit less 'build-up' and because of that I’ll give it a 4.5.