Review--Hereditary

Horror films have a problem. They are typically met with a certain amount of snobbery for the genre’s ever-present tropes, lack of introspection, and the tendency to lean heavily on cheap gimmicks such as jump scares or shocking gore.

In some cases, the criticism is absolutely spot on. Especially with the onslaught of PG-13 “horror” films where the true drama or terrifying components are clothed in stereotypical garments and rely upon the cheapest tricks of filmmaking available. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the rule.

When I first saw the trailers for the film Hereditary, my immediate response was “oh, another Insidious or possession story. Guess I’ll be giving this one a pass.”

But there was something in the trailer that sort of called to me. I can’t put my finger on it, but the 60-second spot had a particular atmosphere to it that caught my attention. I went from dubious to curious. Then I saw the reviews.

My favorite films are often those that polarize the genre’s fandom. I loved Insidious (the first one) as well as Sinister. Both of which broke certain molds while adhering to others. The lack of emphasis on special effects, the often stifling, suffocating atmosphere, the slippage of characters’ sanity, and the eerie plot elements simply worked for me.

The reviews of both films seemed overwhelmingly positive, but at the same time, I saw a LOT of grousing regarding the films on social media. I think in both cases, the movies and their soundtracks delivered a certain experience that some weren’t ready for. Or interested in.

After Hereditary hit the theatres, I was curious to see what the reviews would be like. Sure enough, I went from curious to “must see now!” Those whose tastes are close to mine found the film to not be what they expected, but a hell of a ride. Others thought the film was stupid or that it wasn’t at all what they signed up for when they purchased their tickets. A film that can produce those kinds of reactions is exactly what I was looking for.

In Hereditary’s trailers, a young girl appears to be possessed by her late grandmother, and hilarity ensues. A certain number of film-goers probably expected another Insidious or Exorcist-style tale. What did they get instead?

This is a very difficult film to review. Like Martyrs, Memento, Cabin in the Woods, and a few dozen other movies, discussing the plot will ruin the experience. Therefore, I have to be very careful how I discuss this.

Hereditary is an experience. The atmosphere is heavy, a merciless fog of depression, angst, and hopelessness. Since the opening more or less takes place at a funeral, this is a shock to no one. But the film doesn’t keep that atmosphere. It lifts and at the same time doubles down as an uncanny, nearly Lovecraftian phenomenon begins to rule these people’s lives.

As I said, the trailer doesn’t begin to reveal anything about the characters or the plot. Instead, it serves as a rope-a-dope to get you into the theatre. Once there, the director proceeds to take you on a ride through psychological horror at its best while sprinkling the supernatural around like rice at a wedding.

For most of the movie, the supernatural elements might as well be simple delusions. But when things start to unravel, it takes a direction I wasn’t prepared for. Instead of feeling like a bait and switch, it felt more like a welcome surprise. Instead of following a formula, it smashes the typical beats and plot elements that plague certain movies in the genre.

Walking out of the theatre, I stared at BMan and said: “What the fuck.” It pretty much summed up the movie. As we talked about the film afterward, I realized more and more that I liked this movie. A lot. There were some directorial and cinematography choices that reminded me of M. Night Shamylan’s good habits without trying to say “surprise!” at the top of its lungs in the last five minutes of the film.

Hereditary sets you up. Hereditary hints at what’s really going on. But the distractions it provides make you forget much of what the story has already laid out. So when it finally comes to a head, you’re both prepared and unprepared. The final two scenes are disturbing in multiple ways that I can’t even begin to explain. It was glorious.

This movie is bound to end up in my digital collection. I will more than likely watch it four or five times to try and capture every beat that worked and how the misdirection worked. It was the kind of story I like to write, read, and watch. Both defying expectation while providing the kind of experience that goes beyond expectation is rare in genre movies. But Hereditary is not a simple plot, simple conceit, or simple anything.

If you’re a fan of psychological horror with a good dose of the supernatural, and want to walk away from an experience with a smile and the words “what the BLEEP was that!” bleeding from your brain, then you should definitely give Hereditary a try.

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