The fact this movie didn’t even get any nomination for an Oscar is INSANE. Watching this cemented Toni Collette as one of my favorite actresses, she’s amazing.
@@RestlessTome well good to know we found the official arbiter of all things movie, clearly everyone else in your illustrious cabinet of academy members disagreed, because the academy of cinematic arts looked at hereditary and said it’s not as good as everything else they gave awards too. It’s a good movie, if you think it’s better than every other movie, good for you 👍, but what the academy said still stands, those are the movies it lost its nominations to. Sorry for spitting facts😉
@@Mrs.Garrison69 The academy has been biased against horror for decades! The fact that Get Out even got a nomination was amazing. I was not disparaging the other movies you mentioned, simply stating my opinion that Hereditary was more deserving. 🙂
@@RestlessTome I agree with you about the Academy being biased against horror. It has mostly been a genre that will get nominations for technical awards but that's about it. Until recently, science fiction was in the same boat. At the very least Toni Collette should have been recognized more for her role. She legit gave one of the best acting performances from an actress the year Hereditary came out.
I've always felt so bad for the dad. One of the only times I've seen the father in a scary movie not act irrational and insane. He's just trying to hold things together and keep his family happy and healthy. him breaking down in the car is what got me.
he married one of his patients which is bad enough and instead of doing anything proactive (especially for his son) he completely checks out by taking pills. definitely not his fault but he could’ve done more.
Another cool detail: in the beginning the dad is complaining about all the footprint on the floor and thinks they are from the kids, but actually the footprints are from the cult members. They are constantly breaking into the family’s house. Also Joan probably never had a grandson. She tolld the Mom that her grandson’s favorite toy was the chalkboard they performed the seance with. But at the parking lot where Joan tells the mom about the open seance, you can see a bunch of chalkboard in her trunk. She just used a random board from the supermarket for the seance.
28:38 Melanie’s confusion as she’s genuinely having a rough time and then not knowing what to do with Eric’s presentation of a small blue ball in a glass is hilarious lol
I think that the mother’s sleepwalking/trying to kill her kids is her subconscious understanding that both her kids were cursed. That is why when Peter says in the sleepwalking scene, “you tried to kill me,” his mother says back, “I was trying to save you!” Subconsciously she must have known her family was cursed/doomed (recall the classroom conversation in the beginning of the movie about literary characters tragically not having any choice, and just being pawns in a hopeless machine). She tried to “save” her kids from their inevitable family fate by killing them in their sleep.
@@martinezgerard Wether their dead or alive he can still use them, He has Law Manipulation and Conceptual Manipulation, plus Soul Manipulation, plus he can manipulate the dead, I looked up everything about him, I'm planning to use him for my fanfiction. I know every ability he has, he has type 09 immortality, so he can easily possess a dead body.
This movie has an avalanche of Easter eggs but the one I’ll point out is in the famous family dinner fight scene Annie says that Peter is always sneering and having that “face on your face.” Later in the movie Peter sees a reflection of himself at school and the face is sneering back at him. So one of the ways that Paimon could have been messing with the family is making Peter’s face look different to Annie then what Peter was actually looking like. Just another example of the trickster demon messing with the family
A lot of the shots inside their house are framed as though they're filming a miniature, too-- I'm not sure exactly how, maybe a specific kind of lens, but I constantly found myself wondering if the set is even real and why the camera was positioned in certain ways that would show the entirety of the room rather than focusing on the characters... There's so many subtle and intentional details in the way this movie was shot and it is truly a work of art.
SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR THE MOVIE: Paimon was summoned into the body of the unborn Charlie, which is partly why she has the unsettling quirks that we see throughout. Charlie/Paimon was unaware of themself while inhabiting that body, likely unable to exist as TRUE PAIMON inside of a female body. That is why the cult refers to Paimon in Peter's body as Charlie at the end, because Paimon WAS Charlie (and Charlie was Paimon) their entire life. Peter did not see Paimon's essence until Charlie died and he was beginning to be primed as Paimon's new vessel. The cult can finally approach and speak to Paimon when he inhabits a suitable vessel. I think Melanie mentioned the grandmother having a wedding because of the dress; YES that was the cult's wedding between Ellen Leigh and Paimon, making Ellen Paimon's new "Queen Leigh". That makes the whole situation with feeding Charlie even more... interesting. She is intent on feeding Charlie because they're actually Paimon. I love how, for most of the movie, everything can be approached through the view of possible mental illness or trauma, then it becomes unequivocally a spiritual possession story. But all of that trauma is then re-contextualized, because you understand that all of the mental illness running in the family was not the only thing that was hereditary; everything they continued to suffer was because of the cult. Remember Annie mentioned her father had psychotic depression, and how Annie's brother Charles apparently had schizophrenia and hanged himself? It was also mentioned that Charles left a note behind about how their mother, Ellen, was "putting people inside of him" obviously in reference to their attempting to use him as a vessel for Paimon. The cult absolutely manipulated Charlie's death with the telephone pole being marked with Paimon's sigil. And just insane acting from everyone in this movie, incredible direction. So gratifying to watch this level of performance even if it's freaky as hell LOL. The approach of this movie really reminds me of The Haunting of Hill House, which Melanie and Aaron have seen, with the characters' families dealing with trauma and eventually understanding the involvement of the supernatural.
Yes the telephone pole was marked and they left the dead animal in the road so he would have to swerve off the road into the pole, this movie is an absolute MASTERPIECE on every level, the rewatch is even better
Just going to add that what we know at the end explains Annie's behavior regarding Peter when he was unborn/young. Either Annie was getting subconscious vibes from Ellen, or she was being influenced by some entity(s) opposed to Paimon. That's why Annie tried to miscarry and later had the paint thinner episode. Something was trying to prevent Paimon from entering the world by destroying the intended vessel.
I never got the chance to see this in the theatre (so mad at myself for not going) but that was the first and only time a movie has made me completely speechless and frozen. Literally gawked at the screen like an idiot for the next several minutes with my hand over my mouth. Even knowing what happens it still makes me hold my breath every time.
@@Richie___Rich The girl I was with at the time had to tell me to relax because I was squeezing her hand too hard. It's such a wild scene. Then you're waiting for the other shoe to drop for like an hour.
They hid her death so well. Absolutely no spoilers in the trailer And yet, the whole movie is still about her.😂 Well, Paimon. She was probably never Charlie. But still. Lol
U take her performance and put it in an indie drama about grief and she’d have won everything. It’s a shame the academy doesn’t appreciate this genre. Though they did love Get Out so they’re not entirely oblivious
People talk about Toni Collette, but she is just doing her Toni Collette thing; thats how she acts in every single thing she is in. She is really, really good at losing her shit; screaming, wailing, crying, she does this in SO many movies. The guy who plays Peter deserves a lot more credit.
"I trust Joanie." famous last words. This movie is basically us witnessing the sacrifice of the lamb (the family). Excellent direction by Ari Aster, Toni Collette is OUTSTANDING and you can't help but question every interaction even as far to the party - whose idea was it to add nuts to the cake, knowing now that is the catalyst. My favorite contemporary horror movie and excellent reaction as always BW - please react to more Ari :)
3 beheadings were required to complete the ritual that's why Charlie loses her head, the mom cuts her own head off, and the grandmother's head was cut off posthumously.
Eric never talks this much, that's how i know he just kept talking to lighten up the mood for Melanie, especially when that pole scene happened 😂 good job Eric
I think Grandma’s plan was “I’m gonna put Paimon in my husband” and the husband starved himself to death. Then Grandma’s plan was “I’m gonna put Paimon in my son”. He hung himself. Then Grandmas plan, 3rd time lucky right, was “I’m gonna put Paimon in my grandson” but Annie said “no way Mom, you’re weird, get away from my boy!” Then Grandmas plan was “Fine, I’ll put Paimon onto my next grandson” but she got a granddaughter instead. So Paimon was in Charlie until he could get out following the incident with the telegraph pole. Then Grandmas next plan was to get Paimon into Peter after all but she was dead by then. So best mate Joannie had to do a reverse exorcism to get Peter out of his body so Paimon can get in. Then Paimon was all like “If you need a job doing properly, you have to do it yourself” so he possessed Annie and traumatised Peter so that he could finally get into him *ahem* so to speak…
@@gandhialwaysleavesanonion679 After her husband burns to death. Immense trauma gives Paimon the ability to take over someone. Then Paimon has to get out to get into Peter. It’s why Annie uses the wire to remover her own head. It’s not her, it’s Paimon needing to get out to get to Peter
@@crouchingotter so relatable, i regularly have to google a music genre, because i can't recall the name of my favourite band, which has been my favourite band since the 90's... (Portishead)
I think the grandma has been trying to get a male family possessed for a long time. Remember Annie’s father killed himself and so did her brother who even left a note saying “she tried to put people inside me”
I have seen heaps of horrors and disturbing stuff, and this movie is the worst for me. It's because it's so real. Any of us could loose a child and Tony Collette's grief is so gut wrenching. I've always loved Tony Collette but man she was amazing in this.
Aster controlled the lighting in the Annie on the ceiling scene such that in the theater, you couldn't see it right away. Then you had a packed house crowd, where people were randomly noticing her and screaming at different times.
@@ryuhitsuya21 same. It came off as Toni Collette channeling something that was extremely tragic in her own life into her performance. Her acting was so visceral and real in this film.
Why does everyone in the comments section of these reactions say the same thing? You guys need to move on with life. Those award shows have no credibility any more anyway, obviously. Especially for the horror genre. Just say something more original. I watch most of the reactions for this movie (yes, I'm a bit twisted but the movie is impeccable) and its always the same thing about Toni Collette. I agree but dang...
It's important to remember that everyone all the time is in the cult everyone is manipulating them the family was well and truly screwed from the start.
The mother becoming possessed and floating around/banging her head on the attic door is maybe the single most horrifying thing in a movie to me. Idk why, it just GOT me
It scared me so bad in the theater, one of the few times I audibly gasped in a theater and could feel my skin crawl and my heartbeat skyrocket. It really does get to you on a visceral level
I've seen this movie countless times, I'm now only grossed out by the beheading, but EVERY time I see the head banging the being, I feel sick in my throat, and to my absolute core
It reminded me a bit of the "Let Me In" scene in The Babadook (both scenes creeped me out tbh because they were so unrelenting) but what's scarier about the scene in Hereditary was the mom said nothing throughout the scene. You knew the moment Paimon took over at 41:53, that there was nothing left of his mom. Poor Peter, imagine seeing all of that, seeing his dad's burnt remains, seeing his mom sawing her head off while staring at him & that's after losing his sister. just the way he slowly loses his whole family throughout the film is heartbreaking. So many great performances in this film, Collette, Byrne & Wolff were magnificent.
I'm always very appreciative of how willing to engage with a movie's themes and ideas Eric is. Reminds me of when he figured out the main theme of NOPE 5 minutes in
Important to note that @ 9:16, mom talks about her brother hanging himself because their mom (grandmom) tried to put “people” inside him. So it wasn’t always about Peter, he was just next in line.
Omg this is a hard enough reaction to watch in general, but poor sweetheart Melanie made it almost unbearable as a sympathetic crier 😭 I had to keep taking breaks! From one mother to another, I see how big your heart is and I honor you for it 💕
Fun fact: the actor that plays Peter really broke his nose in that actual take they used , the scenes after with his nose bandaged was his real bandaging/bridging and he stated later he had to go to therapy for some time after filming becasue he got so deep into the role that it affected his psyche in a bad way that had him “seeing and hearing things and in a severely depressive state.” The outdoor shots , the exterior of house /tree house, cemetery etc were down the street from my home in Park City Utah and there is a lot of rural area with no homes around as seen in the movie , beautiful area though. I’d suggest watching hidden Easter eggs explanations of this movie you’ll be surprised at how much you missed , people standing in the shadows and around the house in the night shots , the blue bottle of paint knocking over by itself , not her hand , the key to it all is in the couple pages about king Paemon , the blue light, the tricks of the mind and the clicking of the tongue is all explained in the text and imagery in those couple pages she looks at. It’s wild. Midsommar was his and A24’s next film and identical but opposite at the same time it’s great too!
That line always gets a gasp in just about every reaction I've seen for this movie too. I think it's the scene where some feel the most sympathy for Peter, so many reactors start to feel alot of sympathy for Peter from that scene all the way to the end.
I feel like Melanie handled it a lot better than I thought when I realized she was in the reaction movie. Glad Eric and Aaron were there the offering to provide comfort was heartwarming.
They happened to talk over one of the best most subtle jumpscares in horror cinema, but at least Aaron got Eric with the same sound effect right afterwards XD
13:58 every time there is a new reaction, this is the first moment I am STOKED for. Because every reaction is so so so different. Also- Alex Wolff’s portrayal of shock is utterly haunting. It’s why you can see on his face when Annie is screaming that he realizes what happened actually happened.
This is one of those movies you have to rewatch to catch everything, as there are so many little details to pick up on and fully understand. I myself had to watch a special “in-depth look” video about it all (I think Netflix did one). Like, the picture of King Paimon in the book near the end has a bag containing three heads (hence the various decapitations) and is holding a staff with a hand pointed awkwardly (exactly how Peter holds his hand up in the classroom).
I didn't realize until the second watch that the naked guy in the closet smiling was at the funeral smiling at Charlie. So Annie's mother had cult members basically following Annie's family everywhere
This movie scared the shit out of me first time I watched. Probably the most disturbed I've felt after watching a movie. So happy you guys are watching this.
"Batman does this" Gives you an idea of how scary Batman would to the goons of Gotham. Some shadowy figure crawling around the walls, perched up in corners, ready to ambush you when you least expect it.
Scale model making, particularly of “normal” rooms like that is often a way for a person to express control over a life they otherwise feel they have no control over. In the scale room they have absolute control.
Watching 3 people with poor sight not being able to recognize anyone was a bit of a trip. "OH yeah, that's Annie" (turns out it's someone else), "I think that's Charlie on the wall" (actually the possessed mom), "Oh yeah, that's the grandma" (naked guy in doorway who was at the funeral).
I love the acting in the moment where hone comes up to the car asking if she's alright ostensibly because of the mother's death but we know she knows the daughters dead obviously. But the moment she say no my daughter was KILLED and then this shock comes across her face like shes tasting the words for the first time and silently mouths for a second it's incredible.
I think that the sleepwalking was the part of her that wasn't influenced by the cult trying to unconsciously save Peter from his fate. She even said "I thought I was trying to save you." Also a part you cut out "liftoach pandemonium" on the walls. Liftoach is Hebrew for 'to open', so a lot of hidden things here and there that are great for a second watch if you can actually watch it a second time.
That car scene and her screams... This whole movie is pure nighmare fuel! It should have won a pile of Oscars for Toni Collette's performance alone! Brilliant and terrific actors like her are so rare and amazing to watch.
Love the fact that the sleepwalking episode when Annie try to burn herself and Peter was her really trying to save Peter form Paimon to take over his body.
Oh my gosh, someone hug Melanie! Lol Melanie your feelings are soooo real, because I was a mess right when the accident happened, all the way to end! 😭😭
The moms screams are so accurate brings back too many memories, if you know someone in healthcare please tell them how special they are I’ve heard those screams more times than I can count
21:24 it is very likely that the mother actually saw Peter smiling at the dinner table, much like he (and the viewer) get to see in his reflection later in the movie. Very creepy and cool foreshadowing.
Ikr? I thought, Toni, Alex Wolff & Gabriel Byrne should've gotten something for this, all 3 were outstanding in this movie. I agree, that scene was so eerie, it reminded me of that scene in The Babadook, though without giving away too much, it wasn't the head. I hope they check that one out too. Much like Toni, Essie Davis deserved an Oscar for that performance. I think if they enjoyed this, they will enjoy The Babadook.
This is easily one of my top 3 horror movies of all time and I FUCKING LOVE horror movies. So incredible and you notice something new every time you watch it. I hope Melanie never feels bad about showing emotion. Some people in the comments are trying hard to sound like tough guys … being sensitive and empathetic are beautiful traits to have. I’m a man and I was right there with you during “that” part. Her wails are so so haunting. But that’s the mark of a great movie, it makes you feel things.
I love all the little details you notice on rewatch. Like how most of the people at the funeral and the grief counseling session Show up at the end, meaning they were all apart of the cult, and were manipulating everything from the start. One of peters friends is also in the treehouse at the end. When the family gets home from the funeral early in the movie, you can hear someone running around in the Attic and A door close. I would honestly say that this movie can be scairer and more depressing on rewatch, just because you know how doomed the family is. Also big lol on Eric trusting Joan, when in actuality shes like the most evil old lady ever
The regression of the son Peter, when he becomes child-like and starts crying and wailing “Mommy!” For some reason that is just as disturbing as anything else in this film.
Annie's husband was the one who caught fire because Paimon is the god of mischief. He was basically toying with them, and in that moment of shock Annie became vulnerable to possession.
This is one of those movies where rewatching shows how much thought is put into the little details. There are so many things I've picked up on since that I didn't notice in my first watch. But still, there's nothing quite like that first experience: what happens to Charlie is one of the most shocking moments I've ever experienced in a movie period. And of course the acting is amazing all around: so many good horror movies have *incredible* performances, and they don't get the kind of attention or recognition that they deserve.
This is the first reaction I actually wanted to fast forward through the messed up parts even though I loved the movie. I felt so bad Melanie had to go through this 😭
@@manoelerse7058 I totally get that but I prefer Midsommar. I think its such an interesting analysis of the thing its about (I don't wanna spoil it for anyone)
@@jessegonzalez926 Hereditary is my fav just because it captures a sense of disorienting grief that felt indescribable to me. But I also totally get why people would prefer Midsommar for different reasons! Both are honestly horror masterclasses imo
Uhhhh it's getting close to midnight for me, this better not give me nightmare 😢 Yaaaay another video with Melanie! I always appreciate when she's in videos, she usually has a great take on scenes. 😊
The mother said Charlie never cried as a baby so I think the demon was always in her, that’s also why she made the clucking noise which is a reference to the demon who has some kind of bird features, which also explains why she liked hanging out in the treehouse that looked like a birdhouse.
1:03 “I don’t think it’s scary” I’m sorry guys this one is one of the more disturbing and hunting movies probably because is very realistic and tragic. Also extremely well acted 🫠 it became a favorite of mine to watch on Halloween but after that I need to watch something more light hearted Nightmare e before Christmas or the Conjuring
I was so captivated by all the aspects of filmmaking I didn’t even think it was scary the first time. Truly terrifying tho. What’s more terrifying is that Toni was not nominated for an Oscar.
This movie portrays grief so uncomfortably well. She she finds Charlie’s body her screams are haunting. I don’t know how she pulls that emotion out to use but it’s incredible.
According to Ari Aster, Charlie has in a sense been Dead All Along, the "real" Charlie having essentially been displaced since birth and her body used as a vessel for Paimon the entire time. The film hints at this, including how out-of-character and bewildered she seems to be when Annie channels her during the seance.
I'm so glad the crew finally reacted to this masterpiece of horror! :) This type of atmospheric, psychological horror is eerily reminiscent of movies like The Shining and The Babadook. The tension constantly builds up, as dread seems to fill the air more and more. Also, for a horror movie, it is incredibly well acted. Toni Collette is often acclaimed, but I think Alex Wolff (Peter) deserves a lot of credit too. I had never seen the actor before, but he really made me feel for his character. It's not easy to emote real, believable fear, but he succeeded over and over. The themes in this movie run deep. Family, trauma, guilt, mental health, free will, etc. The writers used the supernatural to enhance already-dark and difficult subjects. For a long time throughout the movie, it was not even clear if Annie was suffering from mental illness or if there were indeed supernatural elements at play. Having lived with someone who was in and out of reality for many years, I know how terrifying and stressful that can be. I recognized a lot of those patterns in Toni Collette's character. The story felt even more real to me because of that, and thus a lot scarier. I'm ok with it being supernatural in the end, but still I appreciate that Ari Aster put that uncertainty in the film. Despite being classified as horror, Hereditary is also incredibly sad. It could be qualified as a family drama. The relationships Annie has with her husband and her son are at the core of the story. You only find out about the sleepwalking incident around the middle point of the movie, but it makes so much sense then, as you realize why there seemed to be a wedge between them and why Annie wouldn't talk to her husband. She felt guilty and thought both her son and her husband could never fully trust her again. That they would not listen to her or understand her. Also, the cinematography in this movie is amazing. I know Eric pointed it out a few times, but no! It needed to be said more often! Some of the shots were insane. Even the decisions they made sometimes, like the choice to only let us hear Annie's screams when she finds Charlie's body. Truly more horrifying that way, as we get to see Peter's reaction. This is also a movie that is quite fun to rewatch, as you can piece together a lot of clues from the beginning. I noticed that none of them saw the naked people outside the house earlier in the movie, that they didn't connect the smiling man at the funeral to the one in the house, and so on. This film is multi-layered in more than one way. I hope they do rewatch it on their own and enjoy it without having to react. Well, except Melanie. I don't want her to be traumatized anew. 🤣 Speaking of, the only problem with this movie in the context of a reaction is that 75% of it is about the atmosphere, the cinematography, and the subtle clues/mysteries that you have to catch. A reaction format is obviously not the most conductive to enjoying those elements. You have to speak often, meaning you take yourself out of the atmosphere constantly and you miss clues. It's also a film that best works when you are fully immersed, which is why a lot of people don't like it. If you tend to be distracted or have trouble focusing on anything for long, this movie won't work well on you.
yeah this is the scariest movie i’ve ever seen. i’ve got a younger sister and this movie makes me so angry and sad and also like damn this is a good movie HAHAH LOVE YALLS REACTION THO
My favorite detail I learned after watching was the clues that the cult members have been in the house since Ellens funeral… when the family comes home from the funeral you can here steps in the house before Steve opens the door.
BEYOND members and Raw Rider Patrons can watch the Full Length Reaction HERE: blindwave.com/video/hereditary-movie-full/
The fact this movie didn’t even get any nomination for an Oscar is INSANE. Watching this cemented Toni Collette as one of my favorite actresses, she’s amazing.
2018 was a tuff year, lots of good movies. Losing its nominations to dunkirk, get out, and shape of water makes sense to me
@@Mrs.Garrison69 I've seen all of those movies. Hereditary is above them all. 😉
@@RestlessTome well good to know we found the official arbiter of all things movie, clearly everyone else in your illustrious cabinet of academy members disagreed, because the academy of cinematic arts looked at hereditary and said it’s not as good as everything else they gave awards too. It’s a good movie, if you think it’s better than every other movie, good for you 👍, but what the academy said still stands, those are the movies it lost its nominations to. Sorry for spitting facts😉
@@Mrs.Garrison69 The academy has been biased against horror for decades! The fact that Get Out even got a nomination was amazing.
I was not disparaging the other movies you mentioned, simply stating my opinion that Hereditary was more deserving. 🙂
@@RestlessTome I agree with you about the Academy being biased against horror. It has mostly been a genre that will get nominations for technical awards but that's about it. Until recently, science fiction was in the same boat. At the very least Toni Collette should have been recognized more for her role. She legit gave one of the best acting performances from an actress the year Hereditary came out.
Sees the video in my subscription feed: "Aw sweet they are doing Hereditary!"
Sees sweet Melanie in the thumbnail: "Aw no they are doing Hereditary!"
Exactly I was like nooooo you didn’t 😢
Yeah, that realization hit me a little slow cause it took a few minutes before it happened to go, “Oh no. She’s gonna be a mess after THAT scene.”
@@p0laris74yt8 The issue with this film is "THAT scene" could be about 10 scenes😂
@@YesterdaysDeadTodayOnlyExists I then also realised Eric isn't the best with horror too and then I got REALLY concerned!
@@jordanmallen a little after Peter and Charlie leave the party for more context.
Dude... Y'all are so mean for putting Melanie through this 😂😂😂
You lot voted for it.
Who the hell is Melanie?
@@williammccormick984 Aaron's wife
that poor woman was goin through it lol
@@ASLLover666 Shouldn't be on the channel. Some rando.
I've always felt so bad for the dad.
One of the only times I've seen the father in a scary movie not act irrational and insane. He's just trying to hold things together and keep his family happy and healthy.
him breaking down in the car is what got me.
he married one of his patients which is bad enough and instead of doing anything proactive (especially for his son) he completely checks out by taking pills. definitely not his fault but he could’ve done more.
@@ibuprofriendsi didn’t know annie was his patient. that’s cool
@@attmd actually not cool
@@ArthurKnight1899he meant it as a cool plot detail lol, not the action itself
I always thought he was apart of the cult. He seemed way too calm about the grave desecration.
Loved how Eric spent the first quarter just talking about how he could beat up an elderly woman lol
I could beat 2 at the same time
@@TheRealBillixthe real question is how many could you fight before you lose
@@roku6722 the real question is how much can your knuckles take
this only tells me that they should watch legion soon. lol
@@morgan3714 i mean , when your knuckles get to injured you can switch to your elbows and knees
Another cool detail: in the beginning the dad is complaining about all the footprint on the floor and thinks they are from the kids, but actually the footprints are from the cult members.
They are constantly breaking into the family’s house.
Also Joan probably never had a grandson. She tolld the Mom that her grandson’s favorite toy was the chalkboard they performed the seance with.
But at the parking lot where Joan tells the mom about the open seance, you can see a bunch of chalkboard in her trunk. She just used a random board from the supermarket for the seance.
Yeah it was actually the demon pretending to be her grandson
freakin' cultists
The cult members probably didn't have to break into the house. Grandma probably gave them a key before she died.
28:38 Melanie’s confusion as she’s genuinely having a rough time and then not knowing what to do with Eric’s presentation of a small blue ball in a glass is hilarious lol
Everyone needs an Eric
I think that the mother’s sleepwalking/trying to kill her kids is her subconscious understanding that both her kids were cursed. That is why when Peter says in the sleepwalking scene, “you tried to kill me,” his mother says back, “I was trying to save you!” Subconsciously she must have known her family was cursed/doomed (recall the classroom conversation in the beginning of the movie about literary characters tragically not having any choice, and just being pawns in a hopeless machine). She tried to “save” her kids from their inevitable family fate by killing them in their sleep.
It was Paimon controlling her that's one of his abilities, Puppetry.
@@Zegin17 no, I don’t think it was. Paimon wouldn’t have wanted her to kill her son and daughter (his vessels).
@@martinezgerard Wether their dead or alive he can still use them, He has Law Manipulation and Conceptual Manipulation, plus Soul Manipulation, plus he can manipulate the dead, I looked up everything about him, I'm planning to use him for my fanfiction. I know every ability he has, he has type 09 immortality, so he can easily possess a dead body.
@@Zegin17 where are you going to publish your fan fiction? 🙂
@@Zegin17 I'd also be interested to know when and where.
For a friend ofc
This movie has an avalanche of Easter eggs but the one I’ll point out is in the famous family dinner fight scene Annie says that Peter is always sneering and having that “face on your face.”
Later in the movie Peter sees a reflection of himself at school and the face is sneering back at him. So one of the ways that Paimon could have been messing with the family is making Peter’s face look different to Annie then what Peter was actually looking like. Just another example of the trickster demon messing with the family
Oh wow 🤯 great catch!
Good one!
That's cool I never thought of that
Proof this movie is fucking amazing, I’ve watched it 100 times at this point and people are still mentioning things I never thought of.
'sneering, full of disdain and always so annoyed' is a very accurate description of a teenager though
I like the doll house zoom in, shows that the family really had no control being played like dolls
A lot of the shots inside their house are framed as though they're filming a miniature, too-- I'm not sure exactly how, maybe a specific kind of lens, but I constantly found myself wondering if the set is even real and why the camera was positioned in certain ways that would show the entirety of the room rather than focusing on the characters... There's so many subtle and intentional details in the way this movie was shot and it is truly a work of art.
SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR THE MOVIE: Paimon was summoned into the body of the unborn Charlie, which is partly why she has the unsettling quirks that we see throughout. Charlie/Paimon was unaware of themself while inhabiting that body, likely unable to exist as TRUE PAIMON inside of a female body. That is why the cult refers to Paimon in Peter's body as Charlie at the end, because Paimon WAS Charlie (and Charlie was Paimon) their entire life. Peter did not see Paimon's essence until Charlie died and he was beginning to be primed as Paimon's new vessel. The cult can finally approach and speak to Paimon when he inhabits a suitable vessel. I think Melanie mentioned the grandmother having a wedding because of the dress; YES that was the cult's wedding between Ellen Leigh and Paimon, making Ellen Paimon's new "Queen Leigh". That makes the whole situation with feeding Charlie even more... interesting. She is intent on feeding Charlie because they're actually Paimon. I love how, for most of the movie, everything can be approached through the view of possible mental illness or trauma, then it becomes unequivocally a spiritual possession story. But all of that trauma is then re-contextualized, because you understand that all of the mental illness running in the family was not the only thing that was hereditary; everything they continued to suffer was because of the cult. Remember Annie mentioned her father had psychotic depression, and how Annie's brother Charles apparently had schizophrenia and hanged himself? It was also mentioned that Charles left a note behind about how their mother, Ellen, was "putting people inside of him" obviously in reference to their attempting to use him as a vessel for Paimon. The cult absolutely manipulated Charlie's death with the telephone pole being marked with Paimon's sigil.
And just insane acting from everyone in this movie, incredible direction. So gratifying to watch this level of performance even if it's freaky as hell LOL. The approach of this movie really reminds me of The Haunting of Hill House, which Melanie and Aaron have seen, with the characters' families dealing with trauma and eventually understanding the involvement of the supernatural.
Yes.
Yes the telephone pole was marked and they left the dead animal in the road so he would have to swerve off the road into the pole, this movie is an absolute MASTERPIECE on every level, the rewatch is even better
Perfect!
So Paimon/Peter in the final scene looked confused because he was just simply so used to being Charlie that he had no idea what to do in Peter’s body?
Just going to add that what we know at the end explains Annie's behavior regarding Peter when he was unborn/young. Either Annie was getting subconscious vibes from Ellen, or she was being influenced by some entity(s) opposed to Paimon. That's why Annie tried to miscarry and later had the paint thinner episode. Something was trying to prevent Paimon from entering the world by destroying the intended vessel.
The scene where Charlie dies is easily the quietest movie theater moment I've ever had.
THIS. I've never been in a more silent theater at that moment. Everyone was collectively in shock along with Peter.
I never got the chance to see this in the theatre (so mad at myself for not going) but that was the first and only time a movie has made me completely speechless and frozen. Literally gawked at the screen like an idiot for the next several minutes with my hand over my mouth. Even knowing what happens it still makes me hold my breath every time.
@@Richie___Rich The girl I was with at the time had to tell me to relax because I was squeezing her hand too hard. It's such a wild scene. Then you're waiting for the other shoe to drop for like an hour.
They hid her death so well. Absolutely no spoilers in the trailer
And yet, the whole movie is still about her.😂 Well, Paimon. She was probably never Charlie. But still. Lol
Melanie watching this is insane. 😮
Poor thing REALLY struggled through this one 😭
someone shouldve warned her lol
she needs a hug :(
@@WatermelonIsBetterThanRice Ikr? 15:12, 39:39, 43:06, 44:56, 45:21, I love that Aaron was checking in on her at 43:17.
Why?
Its insane Toni Collette didnt win any awards for this. She absolutely killed it
U take her performance and put it in an indie drama about grief and she’d have won everything. It’s a shame the academy doesn’t appreciate this genre. Though they did love Get Out so they’re not entirely oblivious
@@Knightowl1980it's sad that you're right. Academy has so many biases its impossible to ignore.
People talk about Toni Collette, but she is just doing her Toni Collette thing; thats how she acts in every single thing she is in. She is really, really good at losing her shit; screaming, wailing, crying, she does this in SO many movies. The guy who plays Peter deserves a lot more credit.
Eric offering the stress-ball gave off some serious Frank offering an egg during this trying time energy.
I thought the same thing 😂😂😂
Pretty sure they're past the skin handbag episode considering Eric's "Think of the smell!" comment.
@@cctomcat321hearing Eric quote that scene makes me excited to watch it again
Can I offer you a stress-ball in this trying time?
@@wavehellhole I hope they get to the outtakes, too. One of the best ones.
"I trust Joanie."
famous last words.
This movie is basically us witnessing the sacrifice of the lamb (the family). Excellent direction by Ari Aster, Toni Collette is OUTSTANDING and you can't help but question every interaction even as far to the party - whose idea was it to add nuts to the cake, knowing now that is the catalyst. My favorite contemporary horror movie and excellent reaction as always BW - please react to more Ari :)
Some of the cult members at the end are classmates of Peter so probably one of them was at the party making nut cake
3 beheadings were required to complete the ritual that's why Charlie loses her head, the mom cuts her own head off, and the grandmother's head was cut off posthumously.
Yeah and it was all foreshadowed with the pigeon
I hope you guys give poor Melanie 100% of the ad revenue from these videos 🤣
Eric never talks this much, that's how i know he just kept talking to lighten up the mood for Melanie, especially when that pole scene happened 😂 good job Eric
you've never seen their game of thrones reactions? the guy is a chatterbox. 😄
nah, that was definitely too much talking, quickest way to miss half of what the movie is trying to give you..
I think Grandma’s plan was “I’m gonna put Paimon in my husband” and the husband starved himself to death.
Then Grandma’s plan was “I’m gonna put Paimon in my son”. He hung himself.
Then Grandmas plan, 3rd time lucky right, was “I’m gonna put Paimon in my grandson” but Annie said “no way Mom, you’re weird, get away from my boy!”
Then Grandmas plan was “Fine, I’ll put Paimon onto my next grandson” but she got a granddaughter instead. So Paimon was in Charlie until he could get out following the incident with the telegraph pole.
Then Grandmas next plan was to get Paimon into Peter after all but she was dead by then. So best mate Joannie had to do a reverse exorcism to get Peter out of his body so Paimon can get in.
Then Paimon was all like “If you need a job doing properly, you have to do it yourself” so he possessed Annie and traumatised Peter so that he could finally get into him *ahem* so to speak…
He possessed Annie?? When
@@gandhialwaysleavesanonion679 After her husband burns to death. Immense trauma gives Paimon the ability to take over someone.
Then Paimon has to get out to get into Peter. It’s why Annie uses the wire to remover her own head. It’s not her, it’s Paimon needing to get out to get to Peter
@@crouchingotter Bruh im so dumb I got Annie and Joan confused somehow lmao my bad
@@gandhialwaysleavesanonion679 Don’t worry. I love this film and had to google Annie’s name 😂
@@crouchingotter so relatable, i regularly have to google a music genre, because i can't recall the name of my favourite band, which has been my favourite band since the 90's... (Portishead)
I think the grandma has been trying to get a male family possessed for a long time. Remember Annie’s father killed himself and so did her brother who even left a note saying “she tried to put people inside me”
And Peter did it too, jumping from the window from the attic
Man I felt SO bad once I saw Melanie was going to be reacting to this. I just knew how distressing this movie is for mothers.
I literally thought “ oh yall are freaks for having Melanie do this one” lol.
I have seen heaps of horrors and disturbing stuff, and this movie is the worst for me. It's because it's so real. Any of us could loose a child and Tony Collette's grief is so gut wrenching. I've always loved Tony Collette but man she was amazing in this.
It also seems like one of their kids has a nut allergy, so the lead-up to Charlie's death must have been extra terrifying for her :(
Aster controlled the lighting in the Annie on the ceiling scene such that in the theater, you couldn't see it right away. Then you had a packed house crowd, where people were randomly noticing her and screaming at different times.
Toni Collette definitely got robbed not winning anything for this movie
She won the memories of so many people cause those screams will haunt me for decades to come
I don't think she even got nominated for an Oscar which is just crazy.
@@ryuhitsuya21 same. It came off as Toni Collette channeling something that was extremely tragic in her own life into her performance. Her acting was so visceral and real in this film.
Why does everyone in the comments section of these reactions say the same thing? You guys need to move on with life. Those award shows have no credibility any more anyway, obviously. Especially for the horror genre. Just say something more original. I watch most of the reactions for this movie (yes, I'm a bit twisted but the movie is impeccable) and its always the same thing about Toni Collette. I agree but dang...
@@Sab_MJsMama or you could just move on with your life and not care what others are discussing.
What a silly comment.
The tongue clicking noise is how you call to camels, which Paimon is seen riding in the illustration
It's important to remember that everyone all the time is in the cult everyone is manipulating them the family was well and truly screwed from the start.
Much like the lecture the teacher was giving, about the protagonist of some Classical legend not having any control or choice
The mother becoming possessed and floating around/banging her head on the attic door is maybe the single most horrifying thing in a movie to me. Idk why, it just GOT me
It scared me so bad in the theater, one of the few times I audibly gasped in a theater and could feel my skin crawl and my heartbeat skyrocket. It really does get to you on a visceral level
@@codyt821 exactly this… it’s just so unnatural
I've seen this movie countless times, I'm now only grossed out by the beheading, but EVERY time I see the head banging the being, I feel sick in my throat, and to my absolute core
So disturbing! And the sound of her beheading herself... 😱
It reminded me a bit of the "Let Me In" scene in The Babadook (both scenes creeped me out tbh because they were so unrelenting) but what's scarier about the scene in Hereditary was the mom said nothing throughout the scene. You knew the moment Paimon took over at 41:53, that there was nothing left of his mom.
Poor Peter, imagine seeing all of that, seeing his dad's burnt remains, seeing his mom sawing her head off while staring at him & that's after losing his sister. just the way he slowly loses his whole family throughout the film is heartbreaking. So many great performances in this film, Collette, Byrne & Wolff were magnificent.
"That thin white outfit will offer no protection from my fist"... phrasing, Eric.
😂😂😂😂
“Everyone needs a Joan”
Eh you sure about that?
I'm always very appreciative of how willing to engage with a movie's themes and ideas Eric is. Reminds me of when he figured out the main theme of NOPE 5 minutes in
Important to note that @ 9:16, mom talks about her brother hanging himself because their mom (grandmom) tried to put “people” inside him. So it wasn’t always about Peter, he was just next in line.
Omg this is a hard enough reaction to watch in general, but poor sweetheart Melanie made it almost unbearable as a sympathetic crier 😭 I had to keep taking breaks! From one mother to another, I see how big your heart is and I honor you for it 💕
Fun fact: the actor that plays Peter really broke his nose in that actual take they used , the scenes after with his nose bandaged was his real bandaging/bridging and he stated later he had to go to therapy for some time after filming becasue he got so deep into the role that it affected his psyche in a bad way that had him “seeing and hearing things and in a severely depressive state.” The outdoor shots , the exterior of house /tree house, cemetery etc were down the street from my home in Park City Utah and there is a lot of rural area with no homes around as seen in the movie , beautiful area though.
I’d suggest watching hidden Easter eggs explanations of this movie you’ll be surprised at how much you missed , people standing in the shadows and around the house in the night shots , the blue bottle of paint knocking over by itself , not her hand , the key to it all is in the couple pages about king Paemon , the blue light, the tricks of the mind and the clicking of the tongue is all explained in the text and imagery in those couple pages she looks at. It’s wild.
Midsommar was his and A24’s next film and identical but opposite at the same time it’s great too!
love how dude on the left was liking and trusting Joan the whole time lol
I saw this in theaters and when Annie said "I never wanted to be your mother" there was an audible gasp in the theater.
That line always gets a gasp in just about every reaction I've seen for this movie too. I think it's the scene where some feel the most sympathy for Peter, so many reactors start to feel alot of sympathy for Peter from that scene all the way to the end.
I feel like Melanie handled it a lot better than I thought when I realized she was in the reaction movie. Glad Eric and Aaron were there the offering to provide comfort was heartwarming.
i can't get over their faces while annie was telling the sleepwalking story LMFAOOOOOOO
42:15
Eric: Batman does this.
(Melanie, in the middle of a mental breakdown)
Aaron: Spiderman...
Eric: Yeah
They happened to talk over one of the best most subtle jumpscares in horror cinema, but at least Aaron got Eric with the same sound effect right afterwards XD
YES! That was unfortunate. Scared the shit out of everyone in the theater I was in on my first watch. 🤣
Which one is that ? The grandma ? Sorry
@@ΔημήτρηςΔεληγεωργίου I imagine it's the tick the mother hears from the backseat of her car while driving. 26:04
@@the_crypter Yep.
@@ΔημήτρηςΔεληγεωργίου The mouth-click in the car
13:58 every time there is a new reaction, this is the first moment I am STOKED for. Because every reaction is so so so different.
Also- Alex Wolff’s portrayal of shock is utterly haunting. It’s why you can see on his face when Annie is screaming that he realizes what happened actually happened.
Saw this pop up and immediately thought " Oh what an unfortunate turn of events for them"😂
That dinner scene is one of the best in any genre of movie!
Toni Colette should have gotten an Academy Award for this, and it is a damned disgrace that she wasn't even nominated. She's MAGNIFICENT.
“Head ants, that’s worse than bed bugs” lmao never change
This is one of those movies you have to rewatch to catch everything, as there are so many little details to pick up on and fully understand. I myself had to watch a special “in-depth look” video about it all (I think Netflix did one). Like, the picture of King Paimon in the book near the end has a bag containing three heads (hence the various decapitations) and is holding a staff with a hand pointed awkwardly (exactly how Peter holds his hand up in the classroom).
I didn't realize until the second watch that the naked guy in the closet smiling was at the funeral smiling at Charlie. So Annie's mother had cult members basically following Annie's family everywhere
This movie scared the shit out of me first time I watched. Probably the most disturbed I've felt after watching a movie. So happy you guys are watching this.
I CANT BELIEVE Melanie’s in this panel. I suddenly have hope for SINISTER lmao one of my fav creepy horror movies!
Sinister is a top movie
"Batman does this"
Gives you an idea of how scary Batman would to the goons of Gotham. Some shadowy figure crawling around the walls, perched up in corners, ready to ambush you when you least expect it.
Scale model making, particularly of “normal” rooms like that is often a way for a person to express control over a life they otherwise feel they have no control over. In the scale room they have absolute control.
Watching 3 people with poor sight not being able to recognize anyone was a bit of a trip. "OH yeah, that's Annie" (turns out it's someone else), "I think that's Charlie on the wall" (actually the possessed mom), "Oh yeah, that's the grandma" (naked guy in doorway who was at the funeral).
I love the acting in the moment where hone comes up to the car asking if she's alright ostensibly because of the mother's death but we know she knows the daughters dead obviously. But the moment she say no my daughter was KILLED and then this shock comes across her face like shes tasting the words for the first time and silently mouths for a second it's incredible.
For a first viewing you all did remarkably well in analyzing and catching many details. Well done!
This is both a cruel movie to show them all, and an amazing one. Because it will get reactions and it will be painful
I think that the sleepwalking was the part of her that wasn't influenced by the cult trying to unconsciously save Peter from his fate. She even said "I thought I was trying to save you."
Also a part you cut out "liftoach pandemonium" on the walls. Liftoach is Hebrew for 'to open', so a lot of hidden things here and there that are great for a second watch if you can actually watch it a second time.
I saw melanie in the thumbnail and I audibly went “oh NO..” 😂
the fact that Toni Collette didn't get an oscar for this movie is a literal crime. her acting was incredible
That car scene and her screams... This whole movie is pure nighmare fuel! It should have won a pile of Oscars for Toni Collette's performance alone! Brilliant and terrific actors like her are so rare and amazing to watch.
Love the fact that the sleepwalking episode when Annie try to burn herself and Peter was her really trying to save Peter form Paimon to take over his body.
Love their faces at the end of the movie (48:56)
Melanie and Aaron completely stunned
Eric just vibing to the music
Oh my gosh, someone hug Melanie! Lol Melanie your feelings are soooo real, because I was a mess right when the accident happened, all the way to end! 😭😭
This Hereditary reaction is everything I’ve ever hoped for.
Eric's face went through the spectrum of expression.
The moms screams are so accurate brings back too many memories, if you know someone in healthcare please tell them how special they are I’ve heard those screams more times than I can count
I let out an audible “Oh no” when I saw they were watching this one.
“I still trust Joan”. 😂
Horror has always been my favorite genre and at 45 years old, I think Hereditary might be the best Horror film ever made
21:24 it is very likely that the mother actually saw Peter smiling at the dinner table, much like he (and the viewer) get to see in his reflection later in the movie. Very creepy and cool foreshadowing.
toni collette deserved an oscar for this movie. the scene of her banging her head repeatedly will forever live in my nightmares
Ikr? I thought, Toni, Alex Wolff & Gabriel Byrne should've gotten something for this, all 3 were outstanding in this movie. I agree, that scene was so eerie, it reminded me of that scene in The Babadook, though without giving away too much, it wasn't the head.
I hope they check that one out too. Much like Toni, Essie Davis deserved an Oscar for that performance. I think if they enjoyed this, they will enjoy The Babadook.
I’m having like some weird blind wave Mandela effect. I remember watching a reaction of this from them 🫨😂
When I saw it was uploaded an hour ago I had the same feeling, though I don't actually have memory of watching it 😐
You must have been sleepwalking 🙂 *tongue click*
@@OwlEye-kj5sjwell I never wanted to be your mother.
Guys, please stop spooking me
😳😱
This is easily one of my top 3 horror movies of all time and I FUCKING LOVE horror movies. So incredible and you notice something new every time you watch it.
I hope Melanie never feels bad about showing emotion. Some people in the comments are trying hard to sound like tough guys … being sensitive and empathetic are beautiful traits to have. I’m a man and I was right there with you during “that” part. Her wails are so so haunting. But that’s the mark of a great movie, it makes you feel things.
I love all the little details you notice on rewatch. Like how most of the people at the funeral and the grief counseling session Show up at the end, meaning they were all apart of the cult, and were manipulating everything from the start. One of peters friends is also in the treehouse at the end. When the family gets home from the funeral early in the movie, you can hear someone running around in the Attic and A door close.
I would honestly say that this movie can be scairer and more depressing on rewatch, just because you know how doomed the family is.
Also big lol on Eric trusting Joan, when in actuality shes like the most evil old lady ever
The regression of the son Peter, when he becomes child-like and starts crying and wailing “Mommy!”
For some reason that is just as disturbing as anything else in this film.
This is why we love Melanie she hates anything to do with scary but yet she makes the content for us!!! What a trooper. Love you Blind Wave
Annie's husband was the one who caught fire because Paimon is the god of mischief. He was basically toying with them, and in that moment of shock Annie became vulnerable to possession.
Melanie’s exhaled “fuckkk” at the end sums it up really
Charlie was never Charlie, she was always the king of h3ll
This is one of those movies where rewatching shows how much thought is put into the little details. There are so many things I've picked up on since that I didn't notice in my first watch. But still, there's nothing quite like that first experience: what happens to Charlie is one of the most shocking moments I've ever experienced in a movie period. And of course the acting is amazing all around: so many good horror movies have *incredible* performances, and they don't get the kind of attention or recognition that they deserve.
I’m here for the trauma
Melanie's breathy 'Oh Fuuuu...' at the end gave me true joy. Dear god, her face XD
Man when I saw this movie in the theater 8 years ago, I don't think I breathed for like 4 minutes after.... it happened.
12:50 “That thin white outfit won’t offer her no protection from my fists” 😂😂
God man Toni Collette👏👏👏👏👏. One of the best horror performances ever and it is a fucking crime that she wasn’t even nominated for an oscar
This is the first reaction I actually wanted to fast forward through the messed up parts even though I loved the movie. I felt so bad Melanie had to go through this 😭
MIDSOMMAR has entered the chat.
not near as good as this movie tho
@@manoelerse7058 I totally get that but I prefer Midsommar. I think its such an interesting analysis of the thing its about (I don't wanna spoil it for anyone)
@@jessegonzalez926 suure, the visuals are great too
@@manoelerse7058I think it’s better
@@jessegonzalez926 Hereditary is my fav just because it captures a sense of disorienting grief that felt indescribable to me. But I also totally get why people would prefer Midsommar for different reasons! Both are honestly horror masterclasses imo
Uhhhh it's getting close to midnight for me, this better not give me nightmare 😢
Yaaaay another video with Melanie! I always appreciate when she's in videos, she usually has a great take on scenes. 😊
"She looks like Aunt Lydia." That's because she is - same actress!
The mother said Charlie never cried as a baby so I think the demon was always in her, that’s also why she made the clucking noise which is a reference to the demon who has some kind of bird features, which also explains why she liked hanging out in the treehouse that looked like a birdhouse.
1:03 “I don’t think it’s scary” I’m sorry guys this one is one of the more disturbing and hunting movies probably because is very realistic and tragic. Also extremely well acted 🫠 it became a favorite of mine to watch on Halloween but after that I need to watch something more light hearted Nightmare e before Christmas or the Conjuring
26:12 - Aaron doing that clicking sound absolutely sent me 🤣🤣🤣
39:39 straight up thought that was a bottle of Jack Daniels 😂
Martin Scorsese called the dinner table scene one of the greatest film moments of the last century..or something like that
I was so captivated by all the aspects of filmmaking I didn’t even think it was scary the first time. Truly terrifying tho. What’s more terrifying is that Toni was not nominated for an Oscar.
the score is great - the triumphant swell of horns at the end. yeah, i've had a lot of sleepless nights from this film
This movie portrays grief so uncomfortably well. She she finds Charlie’s body her screams are haunting. I don’t know how she pulls that emotion out to use but it’s incredible.
"Everybody needs a Joan!"
Oh please, no.
According to Ari Aster, Charlie has in a sense been Dead All Along, the "real" Charlie having essentially been displaced since birth and her body used as a vessel for Paimon the entire time. The film hints at this, including how out-of-character and bewildered she seems to be when Annie channels her during the seance.
I'm so glad the crew finally reacted to this masterpiece of horror! :) This type of atmospheric, psychological horror is eerily reminiscent of movies like The Shining and The Babadook. The tension constantly builds up, as dread seems to fill the air more and more. Also, for a horror movie, it is incredibly well acted. Toni Collette is often acclaimed, but I think Alex Wolff (Peter) deserves a lot of credit too. I had never seen the actor before, but he really made me feel for his character. It's not easy to emote real, believable fear, but he succeeded over and over.
The themes in this movie run deep. Family, trauma, guilt, mental health, free will, etc. The writers used the supernatural to enhance already-dark and difficult subjects. For a long time throughout the movie, it was not even clear if Annie was suffering from mental illness or if there were indeed supernatural elements at play. Having lived with someone who was in and out of reality for many years, I know how terrifying and stressful that can be. I recognized a lot of those patterns in Toni Collette's character. The story felt even more real to me because of that, and thus a lot scarier. I'm ok with it being supernatural in the end, but still I appreciate that Ari Aster put that uncertainty in the film.
Despite being classified as horror, Hereditary is also incredibly sad. It could be qualified as a family drama. The relationships Annie has with her husband and her son are at the core of the story. You only find out about the sleepwalking incident around the middle point of the movie, but it makes so much sense then, as you realize why there seemed to be a wedge between them and why Annie wouldn't talk to her husband. She felt guilty and thought both her son and her husband could never fully trust her again. That they would not listen to her or understand her.
Also, the cinematography in this movie is amazing. I know Eric pointed it out a few times, but no! It needed to be said more often! Some of the shots were insane. Even the decisions they made sometimes, like the choice to only let us hear Annie's screams when she finds Charlie's body. Truly more horrifying that way, as we get to see Peter's reaction.
This is also a movie that is quite fun to rewatch, as you can piece together a lot of clues from the beginning. I noticed that none of them saw the naked people outside the house earlier in the movie, that they didn't connect the smiling man at the funeral to the one in the house, and so on. This film is multi-layered in more than one way. I hope they do rewatch it on their own and enjoy it without having to react. Well, except Melanie. I don't want her to be traumatized anew. 🤣
Speaking of, the only problem with this movie in the context of a reaction is that 75% of it is about the atmosphere, the cinematography, and the subtle clues/mysteries that you have to catch. A reaction format is obviously not the most conductive to enjoying those elements. You have to speak often, meaning you take yourself out of the atmosphere constantly and you miss clues. It's also a film that best works when you are fully immersed, which is why a lot of people don't like it. If you tend to be distracted or have trouble focusing on anything for long, this movie won't work well on you.
yeah this is the scariest movie i’ve ever seen. i’ve got a younger sister and this movie makes me so angry and sad and also like damn this is a good movie HAHAH LOVE YALLS REACTION THO
My favorite detail I learned after watching was the clues that the cult members have been in the house since Ellens funeral… when the family comes home from the funeral you can here steps in the house before Steve opens the door.
Oh dear, I knew this will bring Melanie to tears.