Review of Hereditary (2018) by Adrian S — 07 Jun 2018

A deeply-harrowing and unflinching modern horror masterpiece cum emotional rollercoaster ride! I was left shaken and stirred! Every frame is flawlessly composed, pulsates with terror and reeks of an ominous proceeding to come.

Hereditary takes its time to unravel its secrets but does so confidently and stylishly, under the skilful hands of debut director Ari Aster. The sound design is exceptional, bolstering every sinister scene, bringing them to a terrifying dimension. But a major force that drives this masterpiece is the incredible Toni Collette. She exhibits the entire gamut of emotions of a well-meaning but increasingly hysterical and manic matriarch who discovers her terrible family secret and will stop at nothing to protect her family from its perils.

Hereditary largely avoids the cliches and pitfalls of many forgettable horror films. Its jump scares propel the story forward and they don't feel contrived. It hearkens back to the formalist style of good old horror classics, preferring to focus on the psychological turmoil of its protagonists unwittingly thrown into supernatural mayhem. Hereditary is an extremely promising horror debut and has all the hallmarks of a distinctive auteur. I totally can't wait for Aster's next film!