Conceived / pitched as a family drama - but shot as HORROR

Rating: 7/10 (9 September 2018)

I had heard good critics reviews of this film. Later it was recommended by my friend, thus I had to watch it.
I am an ardent fan of Toni Collette since the Sixth Sense and Little Miss Sunshine days (both movies I have seen more than 6 times).
Miniature specialist Anne Graham (Toni Collette) lives with her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), son Peter (Alex Wolff), and daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro). When Anne's mother dies, Anne confesses her frightful relationship with her mother at the funeral eulogy and mental illness running in her family at the counseling support group..
In a freak car accident when Charlie's head is decapitated while Peter is driving, strange events unfolds. Anne is helped by Joan (Ann Dowd) a member of counseling group to communicate with Charlie through sÃ©ance. More ghostly events occur resulting in the finale where the whole family dies to join as coven members headed by Paimon spirit.
The screenplay writer director Ari Aster after giving a short film The Strange thing about the Johnsons in 2011; directs his first feature length film debut terming the movie as tragedy turning to a nightmare rather than a horror movie; shot the movie on a set stage (and outdoors set of the house) in just 32 days.
Most of the script is well connected and aptly executed. But Aster falters in the final run. A movie that had all the potential to become a master-piece like Omen or Shining, fails in the end.
But taking that aside, and few other nit-picks (why one did / did not do this?) here and there, the movie is good.
It grips the audiences throughout with punctuated props as each relating events unfolds. Nothing seems to be out of place.
Toni Collette (who liked the script so much that accepted the film even though she did not want to do dark, heavy movies) and Alex Wolff (HairBrained and Coming through the Rye fame) act brilliantly and both may deserve award nominations.
The setting, cinematography (Pawel Pogorzelski) and music play their role to enhance the eerie atmosphere.
With the budget of USD 10 million , it has already earned more than USD 80 million as a box-office success with critical appreciation.
A good addition to the horror genre.
I will go with 7.25 out of 10.