Beautiful study of strange and forgotten rites

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 2020)

After I had watched Aster's movie "Hereditary", which I found weird and unsettling, but cheesy in the end, I was not sure about his new movie "Midsommar". But when I read the premise, I instantly knew, I had to watch this movie.
The original Wickerman is one of my alltime-favorite movies and I am very fond of pagan rites, so Midsommar was a must. There are also a few concept which have been taken from the Wickerman-reboot, which I also like, because I like trashy movies.
And boy, I was not disappointed. The atmosphere of this movie is everything. The swedish characters are believable, their faith feels true. Sadly, the main characters felt weaker, over-emotional, kind of "forced following the script".
Outside of very few gory scenes, the movie "drowns" in light and creates an almost pastoral reality, adding the concept of highly specific rituals, which make sense - in a way.
I took the chance and watched the Director's Cut and it enhances the movie's power, but it creates a kind of foreshadowing.
I recommend this movie for people who don't need jumpscares. I also admit, that I don't find any scene truly scary (outside of the first part of the movie, which was quite emotionally brutal). Now I have to go and read Frazer's "The Golden Bough" again ...