Midsommar - Review

"Take from the yew tree. Feel no pain. Take from the yew tree. Feel no fear" – A review of Midsommar. 

I've been to both Finland and Sweden, and I know what it's like to experience midsummer. I spent two perfect weeks in Finland when the sun never completely set and it was still bright out at midnight, I swam in a lake, stayed in a cabin, used a sauna and went on long, beautiful walks through forests to viewing platforms where the lakes and the trees seemed to go on forever. This was truly the best trip of my life – how on earth could anyone make midsummer creepy?

Released in 2019 and directed by Ari Aster, Midsommar attempts to do just that, as traditional horror tropes such as dark, stormy nights and gloomy rooms are swapped for bright sunshine and broad daylight. The film follows Dani (Florence Pugh) and her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) who have travelled to Sweden with a group of friends to witness a once-every-90-years midsummer festival. Whilst everything feels wholesome and beautiful at first, the trip soon takes a surreal turn as the group realises that the rural, rustic commune's traditions aren't as innocent as they may first appear…

This isn't just a surface level folk horror plot. Midsommar explores grief, co-dependency and the search for belonging alongside Dani's emotional, tragic journey. The cult like community is completely menacing but at times strangely comforting, which is a good description of this film; brutality meets beauty, with graphic violence occurring amongst pretty pastel flowers.

Florence Pugh is brilliant as Dani, her portrayal being raw and vulnerable, and she genuinely carries much of the film's emotional weight. Jack Reynor plays an apathetic boyfriend with just the right amount of awkwardness, whilst Will Poulter and William Jackson Harper add a believable mix of scepticism and naivety. The Swedish ensemble cast are equally convincing; their authenticity is unsettling and makes the cult rituals feel terrifyingly real.

This is a truly beautiful film; full of bright, blinding sunshine, pretty sweeping meadows and gorgeous floral garlands, the setting feels idyllic yet remote. The sound design is perfect, eerily atmospheric and full of haunting chants and unsettling silences which creates a true sense of dread throughout.

Midsommar isn't your typical folk horror film. It's deeply disturbing yet beautifully presented, thought provoking yet genuinely frightening, and it possesses the ability to truly get under your skin. Sure, it's made me look at my own midsummer holiday pictures in a slightly different way – but I truly loved this film, and I think any fans of horror will too.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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