Aster redoes more old hits to explore more trauma

Rating: 6/10 (17 December 2019)

This was advertised as A24 does "The Wicker Man". I found "The Wicker Man" (original, '72) laughable other than the end, and I have mixed feelings about "Hereditary" and most A24 horror. Still, as a horror fan, I'm interested in seeing a new stylish director find his/her own brand. If he continues the same pattern, with "Hereditary" and "Midsommar", Ari Aster's brand consists of the following:
-First half of the movie: drama about coping with grief from multiple family loss.
-Second half: revisit past horror movies as someone gets drawn into a grisly cult sacrifice.
Featuring:
-interesting cinematography
-sets that imitate dollhouses
-repulsive images
-severe bloody trauma to heads
-mutilated corpses used as ritual dolls.
-erie music
-sketches and drawings telling you exactly what is going to happen
-harm by friendly-looking people who trick the protagonists
-many naked out of shape older people
-books about mysticism
-deformed/unusual looking people
-burning men
-women in emotional agony
-men struggling to show emotions
-slow pace, interrupted by disturbing imagery
With both movies, I applaud the technical skill, but I am disappointed in the story resolution, and overall left more disgusted than horrified. Any sympathy I developed for the characters eventually wiltered away, as I questioned their decisions. Specifically with "Midsommar" much as I enjoyed some shots and appreciated the tension built up starting at midway through the film, I ended up feeling annoyed.