Hereditary ★★★★☆
If your idea of family drama involves passive-aggressive holiday dinners and squabbles over whose turn it is to do the dishes, Hereditary will quickly disabuse you of such mundane notions. Instead, Ari Aster introduces us to a family whose inheritance involves demons, decapitation, and a healthy dose of generational trauma.
At its core, Hereditary begins as a family tragedy, mourning the death of their mysterious matriarch, Ellen. The Graham family—miniaturist Annie (Toni Collette), her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), and their two children, Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro)—attempt to cope with the loss, but strange and increasingly terrifying events soon reveal that Ellen’s legacy isn’t confined to old photos and cryptic family stories. There’s something darker at play, and soon the entire family is ensnared in a supernatural conspiracy that transcends the usual bounds of grief.
On the surface, Hereditary is about grief and loss. But dig a little deeper (and you’ll need to, because this film doesn’t just hand you its meaning), and it’s clear that Aster is playing with themes of familial inheritance—both emotional and, well, occult. The Grahams are trapped by their lineage, much as we all are to some degree, though most of us don’t have to contend with our grandmother secretly grooming us to host a demon king. Aster taps into a primal fear: that no matter how far we run, we can never escape the blood ties that bind us.
Ari Aster’s direction is nothing short of masterful. His deliberate pacing—reminiscent of classic ‘70s horror—ensures that the atmosphere of dread builds slowly, but never dissipates. The house itself becomes a character, its dollhouse-like construction reflecting the theme of characters as unwitting puppets of some malevolent force. The film’s visual motifs are haunting; you’re never quite sure if you’re looking at one of Annie’s miniatures or a real scene until it’s too late. Pawel Pogorzelski’s cinematography underscores the claustrophobic nightmare, with careful framing that makes even mundane settings feel sinister.
Toni Collette delivers a performance that defies the limitations of the horror genre (and should have earned her an Oscar nod). As Annie, she’s raw, unhinged, and at times, terrifyingly relatable as a woman unraveling under the weight of her family’s dark history. Alex Wolff’s portrayal of Peter is equally devastating, as he transitions from disaffected teen to traumatized victim with unnerving realism. Even young Milly Shapiro as Charlie manages to turn the “creepy kid” trope into something far more unsettling, her strange mannerisms and unnerving gaze making her presence in the film unforgettable.
If Hereditary feels slow at first, it’s intentional. Aster doesn’t rush the horror, instead letting it simmer until it boils over in the final act. The pacing is deliberate, giving the audience just enough time to become deeply invested in the Grahams’ misery before pulling the rug out from under them. Some might argue that the film’s climax goes off the rails (cult rituals! Beheadings!), but the madness is earned. Aster lays the groundwork throughout, so when the film’s descent into full-blown supernatural horror arrives, it feels like a natural, if horrifying, progression.
It’s impossible to watch Hereditary without reflecting on your own family and the baggage they might leave behind. Thankfully, most of us won’t have to contend with demon-worshipping cults, but the way the film depicts the cyclical nature of trauma—how it festers and infects future generations—feels disturbingly real. The suffocating grip of family obligations, secrets, and emotional scars are something we all grapple with, even if our ancestors didn’t sign us up for demonic possession.
Hereditary is not for the faint of heart or those looking for a simple jump-scare fest. This is horror for people who enjoy being unsettled, who appreciate films that make you think long after the credits roll. Aster’s film blends domestic tragedy with supernatural terror in a way that will leave you haunted, both by what happens on screen and by the deeper implications of its themes. If you enjoy meticulously crafted horror that explores the dark underbelly of family dynamics, this one’s for you.
