Review of Hereditary (2018) by Brandon L — 04 Aug 2018

If the standard structure of a horror film is one where an emotional zenith is reserved for the end, then "Hereditary" may well be considered unconventional in that regard. I know I was surprised when I realized that the most pivotal - or at least emotionally pivotal - scene (more accurately two consecutive scenes) was one that occurred in the early-ish moments of the film.

And this scene. Was perfect. Perfect in the sense that it impacts you, profoundly and without warning. Though the impact doesn't arise from some transient fear that ceases once the scene concludes.

It's a scene that disturbs you, in an intense and gruesome way. It's a scene of death, and of grief; a scene that rasps at your sanity with nothing but the sound of a mother's anguished shrieks.

It is. Very. Disturbing. The magnificence of such a scene is "Hereditary"s greatest merit, and, by consequence, its greatest fault. For no subsequent scene is as emotionally disconcerting. Or as crippling.

Though that isn't to say that the remainder of the film is some ultimately bland affair. There's development, and there's scars, and the palpable swell of curiosity that's drawn from the reappearance of unexplained symbols and devices.

Curiosity that is eventually quenched. Or at least somewhat - it provides the broad answers. But you'd better be the pensive type if you really want to make sense of this puzzled narrative.