As a genre, horror is perhaps one of the hardest to master. The control a director must have over the tone, pacing, cinematography, and the film’s deeper layers is heightened to a ridiculously high level, which is why the genre is home to so many mediocre entries where it’s easy to see what mistakes were made. Yet many directors, like Sam Raimi and James Gunn, have used horror as an early building block in their career, primarily because horror films can be made for cheap and the genre’s audience is always ready to show up for something new and original.
With all of that in mind, more recently, Ari Aster‘s Hereditary stands out as one of our great modern horror films, but what’s truly shocking about it is that it was also Aster’s debut feature film. It’s shocking because of Aster’s control over the film’s visual language and the nuanced approach to the themes he employs, both of which make Hereditary a thoroughly impressive masterpiece. Not only did the movie establish Aster as a first-class director, but it also framed A24 as the home of the best elevated horror in filmdom.
‘Hereditary’s Opening Scene Showcases Aster’s Masterful Directing
From the very first frame of Hereditary, it is clear to most audiences that this is about to be a chilling film that will go down as a modern classic. Hereditary opens in a cluttered workshop, and the camera slowly pans across to reveal, inch by inch, a doll house. The camera then pushes in closer to a single room, when the film seamlessly transitions from a model house to reality, as Steve (Gabriel Byrne) walks into his son’s room to wake him up. As an opening, it’s both creepy and unique. It doesn’t grab your attention with an opening bang, but rather lures you in hypnotically, as Aster shows patience in a way that reminds you of masters like Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick, directors who could afford to keep the audience waiting.
The opening of Hereditary is not only stylistically brave, but it also serves a crucial secondary importance. By following Steve around the house, Aster establishes the geographical landscape of the home, information that will be needed later as the Graham family is trying to survive their nightmare. Even seasoned directors can struggle with making the audience aware of the dimensions of an environment, yet Aster grounds us immediately in his world revolving around this dysfunctional family that is found in increasingly odd sleeping quarters, like the attic or a car.
The Best Male and Female Performances Of All Time, According to Ari Aster
The modern master of horror loves a bit of old school cinema.
Ari Aster Establishes Disturbing and Poignant Themes in ‘Hereditary’
Of course, when it comes to horror, it’s as much about the deeper themes of the film that frighten the audience as it is about the jump scares. A first-time director can be forgiven for not wanting to push things so far that it makes their audience too uncomfortable, but Aster commits to horrific but necessary themes. Ruminations on inherited guilt and trauma are punctuated by unflinching visuals, most notably the decapitated head of the innocent daughter, Charlie (Milly Shapiro). Because Aster does not hesitate to shock the audience and make them confront the consequences of trauma, he draws an unforgettable performance out of Toni Collette, as she embodies these consequences in the form of mania. Seeing a mother break down as Collette does when she screams at her son and husband could feel over the top if done improperly, but it is both frightening and grounded because of the firm grip Aster has on his narrative.
Hereditary didn’t just put Ari Aster on the map. It also set A24 down a path where they would become known for producing horror masterpieces. Prior to Hereditary, horror releases such as The Witch and Bodies Bodies Bodies felt lukewarm at best. But, following it, the studio gave us Midsommar (also from Aster), Robert Eggers‘ The Lighthouse, and the Hugh Grant-led Heretic, which all had huge momentum before release, not just because of the big names attached to them, but because audiences could trust A24 would deliver. Arguably, without Hereditary being the success it was, it could be tough to imagine a world where A24 takes such a big swing on odd but excellent films like Uncut Gems and Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.
There may never be another feature film debut on the level of Ari Aster’s Hereditary. It is meant to take years, if not decades, of experience to achieve what he did with this film, and it’s incredible to see a director arrive on the scene so fully formed. Yet Aster defied expectations with his feature debut, which has resulted in every film he’s put out since carrying with it not only expectations, but also the promise of unique artistry.
- Release Date
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June 8, 2018
- Runtime
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2h 7m
