Hereditary

— Sometimes it’s hard to know if those Sundance darlings will live up to the hype, particularly when we’re talking about a horror film. “Heredity” really is a great example of a well done creepy, chilling, scary, bloody film that’s well written and orchestrated. Toni Collette deserves much of the credit since she’s the one whose grief, hatred, and shame are so believable. Somehow her reaction to the events is more unsettling to watch than the appalling acts themselves. This isn’t some campy horror film, it’s the real deal!

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[2018. 167 min. Written and directed by Ari Aster. Starring Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, and Milly Shapiro.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hereditary-2018

Midsommar

— After the creepiness and horror of last year’s “Hereditary,” I was expecting something great from this year’s “Midsommar.” It is creepy and bloody, but somehow it doesn’t pack quite as much wallop. There’s a different feeling about it since it takes place mostly in daylight, during the time of the midnight sun. The real horror still reveals itself slowly, but at some point the paganism, symbolism, and blood-letting become too much. Anthropological customs and rituals that are terrifying because they seem to be comprehensible, start to become more plot device than cultural possibility. It’s still a very good horror film, but without the punch of “Hereditary.” If you like creepy and aren’t adverse to blood, this is a good film for you!

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[2019. 147 min. Written and directed by Ari Aster. Starring Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, and Will Poulter.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/midsommar-2019