An Uncomfortable Portrayal of Grief and Sorrow

Rating: 8/10 (1 November 2018)

Hereditary is another one of those allegory films that has many interpretations which was brilliantly depicted throughout the film. The difference between Hereditary and Mother! for example, was the fact that Aster gave the audience subtle clues that hinted at many interpretations whereas Mother! left you feeling confused for weeks.
The choice of acting talent was a perfect fitting for the film. Toni Collette who played the mother was astounding in her role and managed to take me through the horrifying and debilitating journey through grief. She is one of the few actresses that can personify any character.
Another outstanding performance was that of Milly Shapiro who played Charlie, the daughter. There was something eerie about her performance that I still can't explain but she really gave me the creeps whenever she was shown on the screen.
And let us not forget Alex Wolff who played Peter, the son. His transition from a normal teenage boy to one dealing with overwhelming grief and guilt was slow but amazing. His eyes told you everything and I find him one of the best among the new generation of actors.
As for the cinematography, I felt the movement of the camera and the camera angles added to the eerie atmosphere of the film and brought it's paranormal element to life. It felt as if you were a spirit watching the events unfold from every possible corner of the house. The choice of music was also done well and obviously chosen for a reason which managed to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Furthermore, when it comes to the genre of the film, I wouldn't categorise it as a horror per se because while there was a little bit of everything, it didn't horrify me as much as it left me feeling overwhelmed with emotion and somewhat depressed at the end. To me it felt more like a psychological thriller that took me on a harrowing journey through grief, depicting what the mind is capable of when you suffer the unbearable loss of a family member.
All in all, I found the movie disturbing in the best way possible and will definitely recommend it to my family and friends. The great thing about movies are the fact that not everyone will experience them the same way. Finally, the best part of this movie was the fact that there was no sex scenes which proves that not every horror or thriller needs sex to sell.