A psychological horror that has left audiences shaken is now available to rent on Amazon Prime.
Directed by Ari Aster in his feature debut, this film has been widely described as a modern horror masterpiece, praised for its relentless dread, powerful performances, and unsettling narrative.
Unlike conventional horror fare, Hereditary (2018) begins as a grounded family drama before gradually descending into outright terror.
The plot follows Annie Graham (Toni Collette), an artist and mother, whose family begins to unravel after the death of her secretive mother. The eerie occurrences, cryptic revelations, and supernatural undercurrents all build toward a devastating finale.
Collette’s performance anchors the film – intense, raw, and unflinching as Annie slips into hysteria. Alex Wolff delivers an equally strong turn as Peter, the son whose breakdown becomes one of the film’s most haunting images.
Hereditary has garnered a cult following online for its ability to linger long after the credits roll. A Reddit user summed it up bluntly: “’Hereditary’ is the scariest film I’ve ever seen, and it’s not even close…”
The post continues, listing standout moments: “The scene of Annie hovering over Peter’s bed… As a grown a*s man, I genuinely found myself waking up at 2:00 am looking for someone over my bed. Annie repetitively banging her head on the ceiling. Absolutely mental.”
Other viewers echoed the sentiment: “Annie’s screams of anguish… Toni Collette is a fucking gun actor man.”, “Only watched that scene once and only intend on watching it once. … it was the most scarred I’ve ever been by a horror film.” Another one said: “Honestly the best and scariest thing about the film to me was the family drama and horrific event that happens. It felt so real…”
Critics have lauded the film’s technical craft – meticulous framing, deliberate pacing, and a score that elevates the unease. Aster uses silence and stillness just as effectively as shocking visuals. The movie isn’t built around jump scares but around escalating psychological horror that builds to genuinely disturbing revelations.
Hereditary is now routinely cited among the best horror films of the 21st century. Toni Collette received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, while Ari Aster has been acclaimed as a new voice in horror, paving the way for Midsommar (2019) and beyond.
Hereditary is now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.