Just like other cult films, this is strange.

Rating: 6/10 (9 July 2019)

A few years go i remember seeing Ari Aster's Hereditary in the cinemas. I was very excited to see it due to the reviews i had seen. However, by the end of that movie i was actually quite annoyed that I was pulled in by the same old tropes critics use for these kind of 'artsy' films by claiming it was a new classic. It certainly wasn't. Anyway, i decided to give Aster another chance after i thought the trailer for this looked very interesting. So here's my review:
First of all the acting in this is fantastic. Florence Pugh is the stand out in this as she goes through every emotion possible in this film and makes it feel believable as to why she feels a certain way at certain times. This is one of the things i DID like about Hereditary - the acting. Another thing to praise is that visually it's quite a stunning film. Every shot in this film feels like it was seriously thought out and in a strange way kind of makes you feel happy which i think the film is trying to do in a very strange brainwashing way. Almost to make us feel how the characters are feeling. Another great thing is that it's not the kind of film that relies on jump scares to make you feel uncomfortable. A combination of acting, setting, and camerawork do it just fine.
There are also some very funny moments in this. Will Poulter cracks a few jokes here and there but the main laughs in this film i think may have been unintentional. Without giving anything away, there's a lengthy scene towards the end that had my entire cinema laughing out loud. Its safe to say its definitely quite silly in some parts.
That said, this film deals with some of the same themes as Hereditary which is where it falls apart a little bit. Themes such as grief, paranoia, and sacrifice. The story doesn't really evolve too much and you can guess early on where this film is going to go. Also, like other strange cult films, there is never a satisfying explanation/conclusion to the film. It doesn't give enough for the viewer to really understand what the hell just happened.
Because Critics loved Asters previous film, lots of them talk highly of this one too. However, that's the weird 'artsy' part of themselves talking who think a slow burn is a bright burn.
Overall, I did find myself enjoying this film mostly for the reasons stated previously. It is a very well made film. Just dont expect to see anything you haven't seen before (except maybe that one hilarious scene i briefly touched upon!). It went on for probably 30 minutes too long and could have done with a more well developed story. If you liked Hereditary i think you will like this. If you didn't then you'll probably still have a more enjoyable(?) experience.
6/10