A supernatural psychological horror film starring a popular Hollywood actress has been dubbed the “scariest movie,” with many viewers calling it a “masterpiece.” Released in 2018, Hereditary follows a grieving family that begins to unravel terrifying secrets about their ancestry after the death of their secretive grandmother.
The movie has received a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, leaving both the critics and viewers blown away. Featuring Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd, and Gabriel Byrne, the film is renowned for its eerie atmosphere, haunting visuals, and deeply emotional performances. After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, it received critical acclaim upon its theatrical release, becoming one of A24’s highest-grossing films to date.
Annie Graham, a miniature artist, lives with her husband Steve and their children, Peter and Charlie. Following Ellen’s funeral, Annie uncovers disturbing revelations about her mother’s past and her ties to a secretive cult.
Tragedy strikes when Charlie dies in a horrific accident, plunging the family into overwhelming grief and psychological distress. As Annie investigates their ancestral history, she uncovers chilling truths about their lineage and the dark forces at work.
The film escalates into a harrowing climax, exposing the family’s grim fate and the ominous presence that has loomed over them all along.
Many critics and viewers who loved the movie have given it a five-star rating. One of the critics wrote: “Toni Collette delivers a soul-shattering performance in Hereditary that reminds us how much sacrifice parenthood is and how deeply parents can scar their children, utterly beyond repair.”
Another critic said: “It’s an uneasy and visually well-crafted horror exploring our parental fears. It’s also a film that, surprise, surprise, has split opinions among audiences and critics.”
A third one said: “Hereditary is insane without being absurd or campy, or calculated in its provocation. Is it a masterpiece? I think it is.”
One of the users wrote: “What a powerful and original story, filled with brilliant twists and unforgettable performances. Toni Collette delivers one of the finest performances in cinema history. Honestly, there’s nothing bad I can say about this film.”
However, there was a certain section of the viewers and critics who were left unimpressed by its storyline.
One of the critics explained: “Writer-director Ari Aster’s debut feature is not coy about its intentions: it opens on an obituary and then gives us mourning(?) daughter Toni Collette at her mother’s funeral, noting all the strange new faces present and also, oh yes, Mom’s “secret rituals.” (Some mention should be made of Collette’s go-for-broke performance here as a woman processing her pain by recreating it in miniature, her face continually contorting under the triple strain of grief, horror, and mental overload.)
“Rather, having announced itself, it works as a bravura technical exercise in the slow reveal — on both the micro and macro levels. Cameras are forever following terrified gazes to the source of the terror, and revelation builds on revelation until an awful culmination begins to seem inevitable. But “awful” should not be confused with “astonishing.”
“Sometimes, the banality of evil is the point: the transcendent lengths to which people will go to achieve their mundane ends. And “technical” should not be confused with “clinical” or “unfeeling” — because the gradual accumulation of sorrow and dread is integral to the technique.”
Many complained about the movie being “slow”. A user wrote: “So slow and boring. Struggled to finish it.”
Another user said: “It’s not horrible, but it’s super slow with no major twists or anything to make up for it. It was obvious, but also super confusing for no reason. Overall, I didn’t hate it, but I don’t understand why people love it it is definitely not that good.”
A third user said: “I’ve genuinely never been so disappointed in a film. After all the hype this film was just bad! It’s not scary, it’s not shocking it’s just dull from start to finish with the exception of the occasional unintended laughs.”