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Writer/director Ari Aster's brilliant horror/social satire is a film that would make M. Night Shyamalamadingdong jealous, very jealous.
"Midsommar" is everything that M. Night imagines his movies to be, but are not. Namely, being truly terrifying, albeit with a keen wit regarding theme and plot development. Smart.
Bold.
You want "character-driven"?
Well here it is.
Carried by Florence Pugh's flawless performance, "Midsommar" could have yet been improved upon with a good 12 minutes of editing.
Nonetheless, Ari Aster isn't afraid to shock his audience into submission. If ever there was a Halloween movie guaranteed to shock you, "Midsommar" is it.
Prepare for the worst.
This is one brutal movie. Not for the faint of heart.
"Midsommar" will not be everyone's cup of tea.
That said, if you're down with Aster's nuanced restraint, even his graphic depictions are engaging.
The violence is just literal enough, but you can clearly make out rubber from flesh.
The cycle of life, as carried out in a dystopic Swedish cult community, is the social Petri dish that Ari Aster uses to examine death, for the complex confusion and fear that it instills in all humanity.
Indoctrination is an essential part of the cult plan.
There's even a slasher-film aspect to "Midsommar" that tips its hat to black comedy.
All you need to know going into this transgressive (if surrealistic) film is that it covers: animal abuse, cannibalism, incest, suicide, matricide, homicide, and some serious fucking.
My work here is done.
Get thee thinking cap on.
Rated R. 148 mins.
