A new frontier in the horror genre

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2020)

"Midsommar" ups the ante after Ari Aster's "Hereditary".
Ari Aster does not make typical horror films. In fact, don't go watch this movie expecting jump scares, cliche comic reliefs, one dimensional characters and an unambiguously good or bad ending. It's quite the opposite.
Still set around a cult (similar to Polanksi's "Rosemary's Baby"), this 2nd movie further reinforces Ari Aster's cinema defining traits.
The scenes and characters provide greatly conflicting tho predominantly unsettling emotions.
Some scenes seem simultaneously tragic and comic. Other scenes are so extremely traumatic that I felt compelled to rationalize them.
At times, characters seem aware about the doom overhanging them; yet, they still fell victim to their personae, or, even dare embrace their new reality in an appel du vide fashion of sorts. Some other times, they act awkwardly or stupidly but are ultimately relatable.
It felt like these 2h45 had me trying to make meaning of something absurd and trying to find escape in a suffocating trap.
Didn't mention it yet, but basics are plenty covered and very well executed: acting, cinematography, soundtrack & ambiance.
In short, a great naturalistic, nihilistic and surrealist journey.