Midsommar Movie Review

Midsommar (2019)

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Written by: Ari Aster
Directed by: Ari Aster
Starring: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Vilhelm Blomgren, Will Poulter
Rated: R
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Plot
A couple travels to Sweden to visit a rural hometown's fabled mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre ceremony at the hands of a pagan cult.

Verdict
This movie crafts a mood. It's not horror, but just this unsettling feeling. You know something sinister is approaching, it's just a matter of where to look. The pace is slower. That's part of what makes this unnerving, making you wait for each step into this strange void. It becomes more difficult to give this bygone village a pass as their practices become more horrific and violent.
Watch it.

Review
Aster's previous film, Hereditary, was a well plotted, unsettling movie. I couldn't wait to see what he did next.

This starts with a strained relationship. Dani and Christian both want out, but don't know how to end it without presumably hurting the other person. A tragedy twists the relationship to the point that Dani needs the emotional support and Christian feels trapped.

Jack Reynor and Florence Pugh play Christian and Dani

The reveal of the tragedy is so unsettling from the sound to visuals to the mini-realization. How unsettling Aster makes this moment is his strength.
There's a fair amount of awkwardness with Dani and Christian's friend and then the movie quickly puts us en route to Sweden. It's some slick editing that moves us to the new location. Christian, Dani, and friends are on a plane.

This is a strange trip, which isn't surprising with this movie. There's a lot of subtlety. This is a different culture, and the visitors are trying to be respectful. They traveled with their classmate to his home. From the start it's strange as the classmate's village is very rural and from a completely bygone era. No one seems prepared for that.

This is well made, and that's a nod to the directing. The imagery is really amazing, with many scenes taking place outdoors. The music is used to such great effect too.

Florence Pugh plays Dani

I know what this movie is. Something sinister is lurking around the corner and I'm waiting for that moment.
When they see a woman jump a few hundred feet to her death, they are appalled. This has some extremely graphic gore. "It's just part of the ceremony." doesn't cut it. Their classmate apologizes for forgetting to tell them, but this is beginning to feel like a setup. What is this village going to do to them?

Visitors to the village begin disappearing. Dani is concerned as she should be, but her friends don't seem to be. That's kind of addressed in that the two guys begin researching the village for a thesis and at that point are only interested in self gain. Things just keep getting stranger.

This movie is a slow burn. Regardless of whether you like the movie, it has a distinct mood. This leaves an impact. Like Hereditary, it leaves you with some questions, but all the answers are there.