The Wicker Man (1973)+ Hereditary + Suspiria (2018)

Rating: 5/10 (18 October 2019)

If you liked any of the movies mentioned in the title it's quite possible you would like this one. I personally liked The Wicker Man (original and not the remake), but the latter two I have mixed feelings about. I do find movies about cults or the occult fascinating; however, I can only handle too much darkness before I call it a night, so for me it's about striking up that balance between terrifyingly watchable vs. a disturbingly one-time watch. This is a one-time watch for me.
I knew nothing before coming into it, but basically right off the bat, you get that spine-tingling score indicating that it's not a rom-com. It sets up a pretty chilling introduction with the main character's back story and once all the characters get to Sweden...honestly...if any of them ever watched The Wicker Man, they wouldn't even be stepping out of the plane...but, anyway, they didn't, and here we have the story.
The visuals ranged from borderline pretentious to out-of-the-box amazing. It nailed the picture-perfect with an ominous undertone atmosphere-props to cinematography, overall. The first half of the movie had a good flow, but midway the movie slowed down in pacing, and after a while I just kept thinking "yes, it's a cult, I get it, please get to the ritual now." When they do get to the ritual, the scenes just drag. I can appreciate a slow-burner, but I laboured to finish the second half of the movie.
It was a memorable film, I'll give it that, but not one I hope to sit through again.