Hereditary

Hereditary follows the grief-stricken Leigh family as they attempt to cope with the sudden loss of their beloved matriarch, Ellen. Annie, the mother, is an emotionally fragile and anxious individual, harboring deep feelings of inadequacy and often feeling overwhelmed by her family responsibilities. Her children, Peter, a brooding and troubled teenager, and Charlie, a mentally challenged young boy, are both grappling with their own personal struggles. As the initial grief settles, the family starts to unravel peculiar and unsettling episodes. Annie's mother, Ellen, was known for her abrasive and dominating personality, but her death sparks an unsettling revelation. The film gradually peels away the layers of a deeply fractured family legacy, revealing the darker secrets hidden beneath the façade of their seemingly ordinary lives. Ellen's untimely passing prompts a family reunion, where Annie's siblings, Steve and Claire, return home to pay their respects. This is their first significant appearance in the film, and their ominous presence sets the tone for the impending doom that awaits the Leigh family. Through a series of introspective flashbacks, Ellen's seemingly oppressive influence over her family is etched into the viewers' perspective, encapsulating a tale of complicated relationships, hidden resentments, and the looming shadow of maternal trauma. Steve and Claire inject their share of conflicting emotions, each carrying their own troubled personal issues. The dysfunctional and emotionally charged atmosphere between the siblings imbues a sense of impending chaos, as their interactions heighten the tension within the family dynamic. They bring forward long-repressed memories and repressed emotions that slowly begin to unravel Annie's troubled psyche, threatening to destabilize her grip on reality. As the narrative progresses, the disturbing factors hidden within the Leigh family inheritance rise to the surface. Ellen's legacy becomes entangled in a chilling web of dark rituals and strange, taboo superstitions. Her obsessive and often grotesque craftings such as intricate furniture designs adorned with twisted objects set the tone for an unsettling atmosphere, which descends further into the realm of horror as the family's emotional fragility falters. Ellen's mysterious artwork, symbolizing an underlying narrative within the haunted house's twisted decor, serves as a haunting illustration of her grasp on the family and its deep, emotional roots. Annie starts experiencing ominous visions, hinting at an eerie reality connecting them to their family history. A series of disquieting incidents expose the emotional wreckage of Ellen's clutches, casting the family into an unfathomable world of dread. The cinematography shifts ominously between normality and chaos, building an unnerving sense of unease. Director Ari Aster uses long shot scenes and foreboding lighting to amplify the feelings of dread. Aster's meticulous direction guides the observer through an atmospheric setup that masterfully stirs an ominous feeling within their psyche. Their household has a life of its own, bringing uneasy memories that reverberate in their subconscious. Grotesque house decorations manifest by Charlie uncover his aunt's dark history hidden within those ornaments. Charlie begins evoking clues and instances buried within the past about their mothers unspoken part in all this mystery. Annie, through her inner despair, will try to force open the veil of secrets that lie beneath their family dynamics and its tragic fate. Ari Aster masterfully handles pacing, letting it grow increasingly dread-filled and uncomfortable. This masterful dread intermingles within each climactic moment, giving viewers little chance to catch their breath. As each minute creeps by in 'Hereditary', a peculiar enervated feeling fuses within viewers. Thus, slowly revealing the horrific reason that shapes this tangled family legacy. Ultimately, the characters at the heart of this dark story must unflinchingly confront the calamity brought about by the family's destructive legacy. They grapple with their tormented existence bound to Ellen's repressive will. Her wrath seeks to dominate the family's spiritual lives now.