Unlike any horror movie you have ever seen

Rating: 10/10 (28 January 2020)

Strange, haunting, beautiful and unlike anything you have seen before. Midsommar does have some very disturbing moments but it is neither an extremely violent movie or an overtly scary one. The film has a subtle and unnerving intensity. Ari Aster does a great job of slowly cranking up the tension and weirdness level all the way to a shocking, disturbing and on some level, hopeful climax. And all of it is done under bright daylight, with strikingly colorful images and beautiful scenery. On the surface, Midsommar is a film about cults and folktales. But if you dig under the surface, this is really a film about loss, grief, family, belonging and caring. Dani, played with heartbreaking vulnerability by the young and talented Florence Pugh, suffers a terrible tragedy in the beginning of the film. She looks for emotional support from her somewhat aloof and uncaring boyfriend, played by Jack Reynor. Their unraveling relationship and her need for companionship and support is the crux of the story. And that is why the unforgettable ending is so bittersweet.