Midsommar

Director: Ari Aster

Stars: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter, Vilhelm Blomgren, and Archie Madekwe.

Company: A24 Films

Rating: R for disturbing ritualistic violence and grisly images, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language

Film Trailer

When I see a film, I often cannot explain in words why I love watching, enjoying, and soaking it in. It is because film, to me, is living in the hour and a half, two, or three hours of watching it. I adore sinking into the story, characters, cinematography, direction, writing, feelings, emotions, thoughts, commentary, persuasion, thrill, and/or fun of a film.

After seeing 4000+ films, so far, few stories surprise me. Many films are not meant to surprise, but grab the viewer along for a ride. I love the journeys inside a film.

One of those films which thrilled me, this year, was “Midsommar” by Ari Aster. This is his sophomore feature-length film, with his first being the fantastically horrifying, “Hereditary” (2018). I saw a few advertisements about “Midsommar”, and thought I’d see it because it was done by Aster; I was not ready for the brilliance and terrifying beauty of it all.

“Midsommar,” without giving away any spoilers, is a story about a young couple, Dani (Florence Pugh) and Christian (Jack Reynor), who are going through a rough patch in their relationship. A family tragedy keeps them together, and Dani opts to go on a group trip with Christian to a midsummer festival in remote Sweden. The group finds themselves immersed into the village and begin to partake in the festivities (A24, 2019).

The performances by Pugh, Reynor, Harper, Poulter, Blomgren, and Madekwe are phenomenal. Each play their part naturally as the story unfolds around them. However, it is the village and villagers that seamlessly mold into the story. Aster’s immense attention to detail comes forward when the group of friends travel to the observe the midsummer festivities. The costumes, customs, buildings, atmosphere, traditions, festivities, and practices are completely believable. Although many of the customs are horrifying, sickening, and disturbing, the villagers only see it as normal practices of their village. This raises the questions: is it all wrong? Or is it just part of their society?

The themes of the film are multiple, but all are pointed, meaningful, and purposeful. There is a deep and complex play between the horror of entrapment and the respect of customs. At another level, there is an intricate discussion of relationships, emotional dependency, love, lust, sex, attraction, compassion, and trust. Pugh is at the heart of these themes and immerses herself into sadness, horrors, thrills, and changing relationships around her; Pugh’s range is impeccable. Aster made a brilliant move in casting her in the lead role, accompanied with the up-and-coming Jack Reynor.

Some critics of the film may claim it is too similar to films such as “The Wicker Man” (1973) and “Midsummer” (2003). Those films do have similar settings to “Midsommar,” but the plots, cinematography, and purpose of the films are drastically different. At its core, “Midsommar” is about a couple’s relationship falling apart and the toxicity which surrounds them.

“Midsommar” is not for the faint of heart because many of scenes and images are hauntingly disturbing. Overall, it is a brilliant, original, beautiful, and terrifying film. The direction of Ari Aster is top-notch, and the cast’s performances are incredible.

Enjoy it!

Sources:

A24 (2019). Midsommar. Retrieved from https://a24films.com/films/midsommar