Released in 2018, Hereditary quickly cemented itself as one of the most disturbing and impactful horror films of the modern era. The film follows a family unraveling after the death of their grandmother, with a series of increasingly nightmarish events that leave viewers stunned and shaken. By the end of the film, many are left simply asking: what did I just watch?
Toni Collette leads the cast with a brutally raw performance. She portrays a grieving mother overwhelmed by pain and isolation. Her character is often difficult to sympathize with; but that’s the point. As Collette has explained, the role demanded confronting the darkest sides of grief, and it shows in every scene. She noted how the family members are all coping in isolation, unable to support each other, which only amplifies the emotional horror.
The young actors, Milly Shapiro and Alex Wolff, also carried heavy emotional weight. According to director Ari Aster, both were total professionals. Despite the incredibly disturbing scenes they were asked to perform, they approached the work with maturity and focus, needing little direction to deliver gut-wrenching performances.
What makes all this even more impressive is the fact that Hereditary was Aster’s very first full-length feature. Collette was hesitant to take on another emotionally draining role. She’d specifically asked her agent to find her lighter, comedic work, but the strength of the script changed her mind. She felt compelled by its originality and emotional honesty, calling it an opportunity no serious actor could turn down.
Despite his lack of experience in features, Aster directed with remarkable clarity and control. Collette revealed that Aster had mentally edited and shot the film two years before cameras even rolled. His preparation included watching classic horror films to understand what truly worked; not just relying on scares, but on building an unshakable mood. He drew inspiration from the likes of Rosemary’s Baby, Don’t Look Now, and The Innocents, as well as even older silent horror films.
Atmosphere is where Hereditary shines. It doesn’t rely on cheap tricks or gore. Instead, it creates a slow, escalating dread that’s impossible to shake. Every scene feels tense and off-balance, with emotionally raw moments that force the audience to sit with discomfort. There’s rarely a moment of relief, and Collette noted that the emotional demands never let up throughout the entire shoot.
Ultimately, Hereditary became a critical and commercial success, a rare feat for such an emotionally brutal horror film. It launched Aster’s career and paved the way for his next equally disturbing hit, Midsommar. His arrival marked the emergence of a new master of horror; one who trades in grief, discomfort, and psychological terror rather than jump scares.
