Gripping is the word.

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2018)

I so rarely write reviews despite seeing so many movies. And when i do it is often when i have difficulty understanding the high ratings of a movie.
This time it is different.
I have watched so so many horror movies in my life, that it needs something special to impress me. But i have to say Hereditary delivers. But why does it do so?
Having seen so much already i might look for other things than i used to, i don't know.
I don't get scared anymore, i think that is beyond me by now, but i still love a well crafted movie and here is what i think this one did so well:
1. The storytelling - It is, for once, really well done and thought through. There is hardly any feeling of "why do they do that" or "why do they act in that way in that situation". It all fits together quite well.
It is first of all a very gripping emotional tale about how a family of individuals cope with heartbreaking events.
2. The acting - On top of the above the acting is top notch. I always enjoy watching Toni Collette. I think she is a great actress. Babriel Byrne does a really great job as the father desperately trying to keep things together and i was for the most part very impressed with the young Alex Wolff. He does a very emotional performance that can't have been easy.
3. The filming and pace of the movie - For me the movie is almost perfectly shot and the slow pace fits it perfectly. Every important scene takes the time that is needed to really make you see and feel everything, right to the bone. It never gets pretentious or boring, it just works.
The only thing for me that was maybe a bit of... compared to the rest, is the ending. But for the most part you have no idea about what it really is about and i chose to embrace it and still gave it a 10/10.
Nice to see that it is still possible to make a well crafted horror movie.