You'll want to see it again...

Rating: 10/10 (25 September 2019)

As usual with Ari Aster, you're going to be begging to watch this atmospheric masterpiece more than once because it's chock full of intricate foreshadowing and detailed explanations that are only clear at the end of the film that you will definitely want to experience. Similar to Hereditary, each viewing is unique due to the stealthy way these hidden gems are placed. That said, even if you're the type of person who can only watch a movie once and that's it for you, the way that Aster works his magic reminds me of a Grateful Dead concert in the respect that while you've heard the songs a hundred times, there was always something new to experience - even at the 101st concert.
While I'll compare Hereditary and Midsommar, they're actually nothing alike so far as plot, characters or story line. Like Aster's previous film Hereditary, Midsommar surrounds a family (of sorts) and of course, family tragedy with the incredible, genius foreshadowing that explains yet totally leads you astray but that's where the similarity ends. If you loved Hereditary for those traits as I did, then Midsommar will quickly become your favorite film.
A group of adult thesis-writing grad students in the middle of the Summer season of their lives who decide to travel to Sweden in the Wintertime with a common friend, an exchange student in the group named Pelle, experience things that only one could imagine coming out at night. However, the real creep factor here is that due to the location, it's broad daylight nearly 24 hours.
Pelle reigns from a smaller Swedish village and is excited to share his home with his new American friends. Each friend in the group has his (or her) own reasons for wanting to embark on this adventure which are all revealed during the progression of the film. The trip, which begins as a trip within itself (you'll see what I mean) slowly and methodically begins to turn darker and more sinister with each passing moment.
With Aster's films I'm never left feeling disappointed or asking myself obvious questions such as, "Why didn't the characters do this or that, then?" Or, "Well, I guess it had to go that way because it's a movie." Nope, there are NO negative afterthoughts. There ARE unexpected twists, and what you expect to happen doesn't, and what you anticipate happening sometimes does only to reverse your conclusion with yet a new twist. That is JUST SIMPLE, STELLAR WRITING and I've only ever experienced this with Hereditary and Midsommar. Yes, I actually bought both films because there's always something new with each viewing experience. Many viewers described this as a gore film due to the INTENSITY and realistic sense of the scenes although there were only 3 in total that I counted. That isn't a lot compared to slasher films.
This film will trigger you in the most primal, cerebral way and will give you nightmares for years. If you like TRUE horror then I highly recommend this.