| Directed by: Ari Aster Starring: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter |
There are so many films that come out every week let alone every year, aren’t there? We can get so caught up in trying to keep up with the latest awards contenders, box office hits, and culturally relevant pieces that we just don’t have enough time to turn back the clock and check out films from the past. But it is so important to expand our horizons and experience the art that has set the stage for today’s cinema. You might need to find the time, so it is important to make wise choices with what you spend that time watching. Whether we head back 10 years, 50 years, or even 100 years, there is great cinema throughout the years. But let’s rewind the clock and here are some reasons why you should check out… Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster
Ari Aster is one of the biggest rising star filmmakers in the game. A24 has allowed him to explore his creative mind and deliver some of the most disturbing films in recent memory (Hereditary will have to make an appearance on The Wasteland Rewind at some point). But his filmmaking is next level and that is what makes Midsommar one of the best folk horror films in a long time. The tension is impressive as the suspense is heightened over the course of 150-minutes. The visuals are striking and engrossing. The cast is perfect. Aster creates a disturbing symphony as he conducts the madness.
Florence Pugh
Pugh just might be the most impressive young actor in the business working today. Her range is impeccable and the amount of emotion that she can pack into one performance is most impressive. The opening sequence of this film is one of the most tragic in recent memory and Pugh pours out every bit of emotion needed. The insecurity she emotes while being emotionally abused by her on-screen partner is top-notch. The rollercoaster that Dani (Pugh’s character) goes on is a tall order and this young talent rises to the occasion. The physicality of her performance is unmatched as well. That final look says it all.
Folk Horror
One of the oldest traditions of horror is to be embedded in the works of an isolated society. It is obvious that Aster has seen The Wicker Man and brought that energy into Midsommar. The purely unique and expertly constructed society in this film is so distinct and unnerving in so many ways. The traditions will chill you to the bone. The costumes and production design are so eerie and perfectly rendered. The second we get into this village; we know something just isn’t right. This incredible world will not soon escape the darkest depth of your mind. The world is perfectly fleshed out with a healthy dose of human sacrifice.
The Visuals
The cinematography from Pawel Pogorzelski is a sight to behold. The need to create such a bright and sundrenched world is done so well. It is hard to watch as the world is so bright and white everywhere. The perfectly framed camera angles and movements make this world come to life. The grotesque elements that bring most of the horror will burn themselves in your brain. There is plenty of violence, gore, and blood to go around. This might not feel like your traditional horror film but what you see on the screen will chill you to the bone.
The Dramatic Themes
There is plenty from the horror side of things that work so well in Midsommar but the real hook is the deeply affecting human drama. The focus on mental health at the beginning of the film is shocking and brutal. Aster will never pull punches and you feel every second of the tragedy that unfolds. The great writing filled with plenty of nuances can convey so much depth in the themes of the film. The handling of relationships and specifically toxic relationships is poignant. The only elements more chilling than the horror are the ways that Dani’s boyfriend (and his friends) harm her emotionally. As the film reaches its climax, the audience finds itself fully in Dani’s corner as she must finally confront the uncomfortably relatable abuse level against her.
