Before I start this review, I’d like to apologize for not writing a lot lately. There were some behind the scenes technical difficulties for a month or so with this blog, that needed to be fixed before I could continue on with it. I also started working full time during the week, so I haven’t had a lot of time to watch much or go to the theatre to catch a flick lately, but that will have hopefully changed by today. I’m going to try to get a least one or two reviews up a week now, if thats possible. So bare with me, I have not gone anywhere yet.
As always, I am keeping this review spoiler free, but I will also say that I think this movie succeeds more when you go in blind. So if you love the horror genre and are looking forward to a different and fresh take on the horror genre, go see this movie and then read this review. But if you’re still with me, lets get this going.
Release Date: June 8, 2018
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Length: 2 Hours, 7 Minutes.
MPAA: 14A
Hereditary is a movie I’ve been looking forward too for a long time. The trailer grabbed me hook, line and sinker, and when I learned that it was going to be produced by A24, that was the seal of approval for me. I also love horror movies, so it was a no brainer to me to jump in and get excited for it. Also this is easily one of my most anticipated movies of the year, so lets see if it succeeds shall we?
Hereditary is a Drama, Horror and Mystery movie about the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.
Hereditary is directed by a first time writer and director Ari Aster. He has done a couple of short films in the past, but I have not heard his name until the writing of this review. This was this guys first movie… I’m shocked because holy crap, this movie had style, uniqueness, and the creepy factor turned up to eleven. This is one of the most gripping and unique horror movies I have seen in my 26 years of life, and leave it to A24 to bring us such a fantastic piece of film. If this is Aster’s first movie… I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Hereditary stars Toni Collette as Annie, Milly Shaprio as Charlie, Gabriel Byrne as Steve, and Alex Wolff as Peter.
Toni Collette’s filmography consists of The Sixth Sense (1999), Shaft (2000), About A Boy (2002), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Fright Night (2011), Hitchcock (2012), The Way Way Back (2013), Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014), Krampus (2015), Imperium and (2016). Toni Collette is a freaking chameleon she can do absolutely anything, and do it very well. I think this was one of the best roles i’ve seen her in, she was unpredictable. I thought I had her character pegged from the movie, but turns out I was wrong.
Milly Shaprio is actually a newcomer to the acting game, this is her first film on her filmography. I was impressed by this first time actor, she had a genuinely creepy vibe about her and she played her role very well.
Gabriel Byrne’s filmography consists of The Usual Suspects (1995), Enemy Of The State (1998), End Of Days (1999), and Ghost Ship (2002). Gabriel Byrne isn’t a name that comes up often, and I think thats a good thing because I think he chooses his projects wisely. I thought he did a great job in this movie.
Alex Wolff’s filmography consists of Patriots Day (2016). I didn’t really get the full effect of his acting from Patriots Day, he played a good role, but I was a little annoyed by his character in that movie. He is definitely an interesting actor, and I think he too was unpredictable in this movie, and he did a great job in doing so.
I think all the acting in this movie is really fantastic. I have no gripes with any of that.
I would like to really point out the art department and general production design of this movie. This movie was super unique to look at, I have not seen anything quite like it in film making. Everything looked genuinely creepy, almost all of it looked almost hand made, like someone meticulously sculpted every detail and every shadow.
I also want to point out to the cinematography and camera work in this movie. There were some scenes and transitions that were extremely unique, I really don’t want to give away any thing, but pay close attention to the opening scene and how they move the camera and how it transitions, it is, in this reviewers mind, mind-boggling.
If you’re a horror fan, you owe it to yourself to check out this movie.
however this is a slow burn, so if you’re not into that avoid. Also if you didn’t like The VVitch(2016) I don’t think this movie is for you.
Let me know what you think.
Hereditary gets a 5/5 from me, and it was well worth the wait.
this will be a film I will add to my collection whenever it comes out on home video.
Until next time,
-Andrew.