An insane, otherwordly masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (2 August 2019)

I didn't see Heredity from Ari Aster but I definitely will. I saw Midsommar 2 days ago and I'm still shocked, still with the atmosphere in my head, it's really bewitching.
We follow a group of american friends going to a festival in Sweden. The music is very harsh, tense, you can tell it's not gonna end well. Even before the trip, the setup is very dark because Dani's sister has suicidal tendencies.
And then it really begins. The trip is thrown away is a few shots, because it's about the festival.
Dani and her friends are welcomed by a community of maybe 100 people. They seem kind even though a bit weird, and I don't really understand how these young people could be interested in a traditional, local festival, but anyway. Some of the friends have actually related studies about anthropology, so I guess it all starts from here.
Quickly, a lot of unsettling things happen, and Dani and his friends feel more and more insecure. These locals culture is odd, to say the least. Quite shocking actually. Do NOT bring your children.
This cultural differences bring a really good reflexion about what is good and evil. It's not just about a bunch of weird people, we could actually learn some things from them.
Dani, even with the strange coutumes, starts to feel integrated to the locals, while his friends are freaking out (and they should). It's hard to see what's wrong and what's right. Ari Aster makes a perfect job at muddying the waters.
All I say sounds like a basic horror movie but it's not. The atmosphere is perfectly conceived, it's deep and captivating. I didn't even feel the 2 hours and a half. But it is really mentally exhausting, maybe like Funny games or Clockwork Orange.
The narrative progression, the tension is so well-rythmed it's a surreal experience.
Everything is beautiful. Even when horrible things happen, it's just shot perfectly, with perfect colors, and clever details ( some of the friends take drugs and sometimes you see subtle changes in the shots, in the background). The costumes, the dances, the architecture, the symbols and runes...they put a lot of work in details and creating this universe.
The actors are amazing, regarding the tough scenes they have to realize. Dani is a nice discovery for me.
It's impossible to describe really (without spoilers), but I loved it and I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind some graphic violence. (a few shots)