Review of Hereditary (2018) by John W — 11 Nov 2018

From a story perspective, it's as bizarre as it is captivating, leaving it unclear as to what exactly is going until the final minutes - even then, there are a few things that aren't entirely explained.

But 'Hereditary's' story plays second fiddle to the way it's executed. Not since 2015's 'The Witch' has an atmosphere been so well-crafted, so all-consuming that it seems to pervade every element of the film.

It's masterfully done with Ari Aster making great use of cinematography, camera shots, and score to make you feel incredibly uneasy and tense for almost the entirety of the 2 hour running time. A powerhouse performance from Toni Collete - and it really is her show here - makes sure you don't get bored with the characters.

It's a pretty unconventional film and doesn't really fit into the traditional horror category - for some, that will be off-putting and for others it will be a huge reason why it works so well.

For me, it was just one helluva memorable experience and left me deeply unsettled and disturbed which, as far as I'm concerned, means it did its job and did it bloody well. Even if it's not your cup of tea, it has to deserve some sort of credit for trying something different and original.