Best horror film I have seen in years!

Rating: 9/10 (1 October 2018)

So I saw Hereditary at the theater last night. I am absolutely blown away. This was easily the best horror films of 2018 and one of the best I have seen in years.
I won't go onto details about the plot as I don't want to ruin anything, but to say this movie played with your emotions would be an understatement. Not only did the film have me on the edge of my seat, but it constantly had me wondering where the film was going.
I was all around impressed with the directing. For a first-time director Ari Aster did an outstanding job. He really channeled from classics like Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist to make this modern masterpiece.
On top of the directing the movie made amazing use of sound to not only scare, but to unnerve. The sound in the movie perfectly built tension that helped carry the film during some of its slower moments.
It's rare for a horror movie to have acting as a selling point, but Hereditary delivers. I'm a fan of Toni Collette, but this may be her best role. She really portrayed the wide range of emotions someone going through grief experiences. Outside of the horror elements the acting alone made this film a credible family drama about loss.
Of course just like so many great classic horror films this movie psychologically manipulates the viewer. The movie has a slow burn methodical plot progression that builds suspense and creates a feeling of dread. At times the movie is purposely slow, but of course this is just to build up for what will come.
When the extreme elements of horror finally happen you are absolutely floored. There were scenes that made me cringe and will stay with me for some time. The gore and violence though all served a purpose, there were no cheap scares.
The movie really plays with your expectations for a modern horror. This is not a jump cut horror film, no this is meticulously crafted suspense driven film that pushes the boundaries on modern horror.
That's what I love about this movie. It is one of a handful of films that seeks to rebuild the horror genre into the suspense driven atmospheric journey that pushes the viewer to the edge of sanity. This is what happens when directors who love the genre get a chance to make a horror film. A 9 out of 10.