Hereditary - Movie Review

Overview

The reviewer praises Hereditary (directed by Ari Aster) as a rare modern horror film that feels both deeply crafted and emotionally believable. It follows the Graham family, whose history is steeped in tragedy, and the horror escalates as Annie (played by Toni Collette) starts noticing unsettling things in their remote, creepy, spacious home—especially in the quiet, dark corners during the night.

Main Plot Highlights (No Major Spoilers)

• The film opens with Annie saying goodbye to her dying mother, quickly establishing the family’s grief and tension. Annie has a younger daughter, a son, and a husband (Gabriel Byrne).
• Annie copes through her hobby/career: making detailed miniatures and dioramas, visually mirroring the film’s themes of distorted reality and dread.
• As presence-like activity intensifies, the family begins to notice the same unsettling signs.
• The story shifts from slow-burn unease into something far more catastrophic, shown through the breakdown of multiple family members.
• The reviewer argues the supernatural horror works best because it’s grounded in family drama—it’s frightening not only because of ghosts/monsters, but because it feels like trauma and grief could realistically spiral the way it does here.

What Makes the Review Stand Out (Reactions + “Why It Works”)

Tone and direction

• The reviewer says the opening is immediately creepy and that Aster controls fear with sophistication—using unexpected dread more than jump scares.
• The fear feels constant, not momentary.

Editing and sound design

• The film relies on quiet, lingering shots, including wide angles where something is “there but you might not notice.”
• Chilling timing in both sound and visuals keeps tension high without offering relief.

Toni Collette’s performance

• The review is heavily anchored in Collette’s acting, described as potentially Oscar-worthy Best Actress material.
• Annie is depicted as walking a tightrope between realism and escalating instability, especially after she “passes her breaking point” early and stays on edge for the rest of the film.

Young Charlie (Milly Shapiro)

• The reviewer highlights Charlie as highly disturbing despite minimal dialogue.
• Her performance is credited with building scares that pay off later, making her integral to the film’s most memorable moments.

“Don’t show it yet” strategy

• The reviewer repeatedly praises Aster’s restraint: he withholds what you want to see, letting imagination fill in the gaps.
• This approach is said to make the film scarier than direct exposure.

Comparisons and Perspective

• The reviewer compares Hereditary to other domestic/arthouse-leaning horror they enjoy, especially The Babadook, for similar unsettling family/mental-health dread.
• However, they argue Hereditary strikes a stronger balance between mainstream horror and art-house depth.

Minor issues noted (second act)

• Red herrings that make the direction unclear for roughly 10–15 minutes (the reviewer expects it to make more sense on a second viewing).
• Some exposition-dumping as Annie explains past events, though the character drama keeps it engaging.

Overall Verdict

The reviewer concludes that Hereditary is among the best horror films they’ve seen in a long time and encourages viewers to see it in theaters, noting it has a wide release despite being R-rated (referenced as “8:24” via subtitle timing).

Sponsor Segment (Shudder)

The video includes a pitch for Shudder (AMC Networks):

• Offers a 30-day free trial via a link in the description.
• Promotes themed programming for Father’s Day and school-related content, plus claims that Shudder has titles others (like Netflix) don’t.
• Mentions example horror titles including Stir of Echoes, No One Lives, The Reef, and Frailty.

Notable Personalities Mentioned

• Ari Aster (director)
• Toni Collette (Annie)
• Gabriel Byrne (Annie’s husband)
• Milly Shapiro (Charlie/young Charlie)
• Chris (the reviewer’s name appears as “Chris” during a screening reaction)