Hereditary.

Review #1099: Hereditary.

Cast: 
Toni Collette (Annie Graham), Alex Wolff (Peter Graham), Milly Shapiro (Charlie Graham), Gabriel Byrne (Steve Graham), and Ann Dowd (Joan) Directed by Ari Aster.

Review: 
If you had not already heard, my city had quite a storm on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, with the result being that some parts of my town were flooded. As such, the review for this film (which had already been out for nearly two weeks by the time I saw it on Tuesday night) was delayed from its original intended day of Wednesday to now - apologies for doing so, but I hope that you will enjoy this review, which somehow managed to be over 700 words.

Admittedly, horror films can span numerous threads and situations, where it can be things besides just trying to get a quick scare, and there have been some recent films that showcase interesting examples of getting scares. I'm reminded of The Witch (2015, also distributed by the film studio A24), which mixed its 17th century family dynamic (and a short cast) with some creepy atmosphere to make for some fine entertainment. It had a methodical way of pacing despite being 93 minutes, but I bought into what it sold. With this movie (and its 127 minute run-time), you would not be surprised that this is a slow burn to watch, complete with family drama and occasionally creepy horror moments. For better or worse, this film sets out with ambition to tell a nightmare tale mixed with tragedy - with one result being some whiplash.

In its short cast, Collette delivers the best performance, fully committed to her role with the kind of devotion and grace that you would expect in a film (whether involving family horror or not) that certainly lends itself some attention. Wolff is fairly solid for his time on screen to watch, but it isn't anything particularly memorable aside from what you'd probably expect from a conventional role - for better or worse. Shapiro, in a role that seems in-line with creepy kids you'd see in horror films is okay, but it isn't anything too special. Byrne is fine, if not a bit unassuming. Dowd is slightly refreshing in that she's the only one in a prominent role that isn't one of these dreary family characters, even if it's a brief role. Watching this movie play out is an exercise in seeing people disintegrate in terms of emotional state that toes the line between being compelling and unintentionally amusing. The dinner room sequence in particular is an example of where the movie may gain or lose some people, in that you might find yourself either finding it to be something to think about, or something to giggle at in how these lines could almost be used ironically. The cinematography by Pawel Pogorzelski is pretty fine to look at, and it sure helps in a movie that likes to linger at times. Perhaps it is the clutter of its subplots that ultimately serves to the film's benefit or its downfall for viewers, and I find myself in the latter category. It has a few moments that are a bit surprising, but those are more offbeat than terrifying. It isn't so much that I wanted the film to bask itself in being familiar, but scenes such as the seance actually seemed more interesting than when it liked to linger on its family drama or even the reaction shots. Sometimes the cliche or the tried-and-true method really does make for an entertaining movie over just one that likes to play around with occasional intensity, complete with an ending that I'm sure will satisfy anyone looking for jarring ways to close off the family angle - but for me it was just a way to get one good laugh. Whether it is disturbing or just silly is up to you.

You might say that this is something that probably needs a second watch to really look into what makes this movie tick with its sensibilities to try and make a nightmare ride, but I can't find myself doing so. It especially suffers if you compare it to other modern horror films, such as The Witch or It, or even newer releases like Upgrade because I felt not so much less unsettled by those movies but more satisfied with where it ultimately went. Movies can be emotionally powerful things to watch, but this one felt a bit flat for me, although that's not to say it won't be for someone with more patience or more understanding, however. Perhaps it is my disappointment that influences my thoughts on the movie, which isn't terrible in any real sense. It is hard to find the right grading for a movie that certainly will work for people buying into what it is trying to sell in horror and tragedy, but it is also a film that feels hollow in the parts that mattered most to me - being compellingly scary. If you're into the sort of thing that this movie is going for, all power to you, but for me I can't do the same.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.