Midsommar

Spoiler alert.

Extreme tragedy strikes, and a young student is torn asunder (Florence Pugh as Dani).

In her hour of need, her partner steps up (Jack Reynor as Christian), providing dependable loving care, even though things would have ended otherwise.

A trip.

A vacation.

A friend invites them and others to visit the Swedish community that reared him (Vilhelm Blomgren as Pelle), an anthropological opportunity adored and beckoning, a remote adventure which seems harmless enough.

They gather and set off, unsuspicious and unaware.

They're greeted with somnambulistic sustenance, and proceed in the interests of friendship.

Yet something's not quite right as they settle in to total isolation, and strange rituals harrowingly bewilder, with no explanations genuinely forthcoming.

Nausea.

Disappearances.

Pure utter terror.

Ari Aster's Midsommar cultivates occultist acculturation, as realistic as one two three.

It's the best horror film I've seen in years, in the same league as The Exorcist or The Omen.

Better even.

I don't even really watch horror films anymore, unless it's Halloween, and never thought it would impress so monstrously.

It maintains an innocent carefree aesthetic throughout, as it slowly matriculates ubiquitous discretion.

Alternative ideas guide the insulated community.

The magnitude of the shock is too severe for outsiders, and even though things don't make sense, nothing is done to countermand or break free.

Thus, rather than spending time and effort presenting a failed escape followed by woeful incarceration, Midsommar's characters incredulously stay put, awaiting what can't possibly be, in confused awestruck senseless immersion.

There's no heroes, no heroics.

No passion. No universal code.

An ancient offbeat strictly orthodox idiosyncrasy has wickedly endured, as manifold perspectives would likely view it, and it recruits new members with neither pretence nor precaution, convinced that once they arrive, they'll never be able to set themselves free.

Even if they aren't kept waiting long.

The realism haunts you afterward since it's difficult to quickly dismiss, it isn't improbable or ridiculous or insane, it's more like vibrant documentary fiction, highlighting novelty's dark side.

Proceed with caution.

Perhaps view with a friend.

Freedoms require limitations.

Through limitations, set yourself free.

😌