"We're Going To Stand Until... It's Right To Sit!'...

Rating: 10/10 (28 November 2019)

Soon after suffering a tremendous family loss, and in the middle of a disintegrating relationship w/ her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor), Dani (Florence Pugh) decides to go w/ him on a trip to a remote village / commune in Sweden w/ his friends. One of them, Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren) grew up there. When they arrive, Dani and company meet the extremely friendly villagers in what seems like an idyllic setting. It's apparent almost immediately that something just isn't quite right. At least not what modern Americans would call "normal". There's a definite cult-like atmosphere. Some subtle undercurrent is bubbling up through all of the pageantry and bliss. An uneasiness is growing slowly, until a particular ceremony proves overwhelming for the visitors. From this point everything -slowly- unravels. MIDSOMMAR wears its influences proudly, especially the original WICKER MAN and Shirley Jackson's short story, THE LOTTERY. In fact, this film would have fit in quite well in the early 1970's, when such unusual, even shocking fare was far more common. Director, Ari Aster (HEREDITARY) has made another psychological / occult horror gem, and like his first film, it's full of ominous foreshadowing and wicked surprises! Very effective and memorable...