Brilliant and uncomfortable

Rating: 8/10 (3 June 2020)

It only clicked after viewing that I was watching the same director as 'Hereditary' and yet, of course it is so obvious. Here is a thorny tale of deep pagan magic and enslavement - or, I should say here is another tale of deep pagan magic and enslavement.
It is an intriguing coincidence that the hidden Scandinavian culture is the subject of horror. I am of course referring to 2017's 'The Ritual' which pitted guileless tourists against an ancient power they have no chance of grasping. A part of me wonders if there is an agenda against the lore of ancient Europe and then I realise, yes, of course. The church tortured it to the point of cultural memory so it is perhaps fitting paganism is the subject of modern horror.
If you liked 'Hereditary' you will like this. But I reckon this will be too weird, too highbrow in a way for the common audience. I am certainly looking forward to the next Ari Aster project as he is proving to be an evocative, deeply rooted director.