Produced and imagined beautifully, “Hereditary” is one of those movies that stays with you long after viewing it. Not only does it continue to shock during the entire movie, the underlying messages transform it from purely horror into a psychological thriller. The movie did not rely on cheap scares to keep the audience engaged, but a complex story line you may struggle to understand on first watch. Leaving you in the dark for the majority of the movie was one of the keys in building intrigue. While the supernatural element is well developed, the most important aspect is the all-encompassing notion of family. We don’t have control over family, or problems we were predestined to have; all we have control over is how we deal with it.

The Graham family faces the death of their youngest child, Charlie, at the accidental hands
of her older brother. That in itself is hard to watch play out, due to the impeccable acting. Ari Aster is a brilliant cinematographer and producer who knows exactly how to get the most emotion out of the viewer with his selected way of filming. Creating the most twisted and disturbed storyline possible without the movie becoming corny is a feat in itself, but he goes beyond, producing an elaborate storyline and making it one of the most memorable pieces of work I’ve ever watched.

The movie is presented in a way where you feel like you are watching this family in a doll house, and you are simply an observer. This feeling is implied by the events occurring, and how you slowly realize the family has no control over what is going on in their lives, almost like being controlled by an outside force. That notion creeps in at the end when everything comes full- circle. Aster achieved this sinking feeling by use of cinematography, specifically placed shots, and “Easter eggs.”

Although the ending is extremely unexpected, it makes complete sense when you analyze the clues given before. A technique Aster employed was distraction. He leads you away from the clues that were there the whole time.

After watching the movie multiple times, I would recommend it to anyone who likes a horror film that moves you.