A year ago, Ari Aster was still a relatively obscure name in film circles. Sure, Hereditary, his crackerjack of a debut feature, had already premiered at Sundance to rave reviews, earning a great deal of anticipation from horror fans and A24 devotees alike. People knew there was a buzzy horror movie with Toni Collette and a terrifying young kid arriving in theaters soon, but I distinctly remember forgetting many times the name of the director in the lead-up to the film's release. Until King Paimon and company arrived on multiplex screens in the heat of the summer, Aster was far from an indie household name.
That has all completely changed.
After the runaway success of Hereditary (which was my personal favorite film of 2018), Aster's sophomore feature, a Scandinavian folk horror film titled Midsommar, is being eagerly awaited like few other horror films this year. One film has given him the reputation of a bona fide horror auteut, and Midsommar looks to build on that reputation in striking new ways. Yesterday, A24 released the first trailer for the new chiller- watch it below!
I already said this on Twitter, but this is basically a perfect teaser? I remember being actively confused by the teasers released by A24 for Hereditary- it was nearly impossible to tell what kind of movie we were in for. Maybe it's just because I understand Aster's aesthetic now, but I feel like I already have a very good grasp of what this will look like, even if the trailer is wonderfully free of many spoilers.
First, the cast is stellar right off the bat- Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, and Will Poulter is one hell of a trio. But this is unquestionably an Aster film, which means that his directorial style is front and center. Even in a movie like Hereditary, one that managed to score career-best performances from Toni Collette and Alex Wolff, Aster's eye for visual symmetry and meticulous frames superseded everything else. Midsommar looks accomplished beyond compare, a complex mix of disturbing imagery and an atmosphere of profound unease. People are already throwing out comparisons to The Wicker Man (I'll throw in Gareth Evans' Apostle for good measure), but this truly does appear to be a creation of bold originality and intense creativity. Plus, I think the musical backdrop in the teaser deserves special mention- it's like the score from the docking scene in Interstellar was made extra creepy.
Midsommar opens in theaters on August 9. Considering Aster's reputation and the buzz surrounding this film (rumblings around Twitter indicate that it's as creepy and messed up as it looks), I have a feeling we could see this one at Cannes in May. Question is- will we see it with giant white bars surrounding the frame? Again, Twitter says it's a possibility! I guess we'll have to wait to find out.
Either way, I'm beyond excited.
That has all completely changed.
After the runaway success of Hereditary (which was my personal favorite film of 2018), Aster's sophomore feature, a Scandinavian folk horror film titled Midsommar, is being eagerly awaited like few other horror films this year. One film has given him the reputation of a bona fide horror auteut, and Midsommar looks to build on that reputation in striking new ways. Yesterday, A24 released the first trailer for the new chiller- watch it below!
I already said this on Twitter, but this is basically a perfect teaser? I remember being actively confused by the teasers released by A24 for Hereditary- it was nearly impossible to tell what kind of movie we were in for. Maybe it's just because I understand Aster's aesthetic now, but I feel like I already have a very good grasp of what this will look like, even if the trailer is wonderfully free of many spoilers.
First, the cast is stellar right off the bat- Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, and Will Poulter is one hell of a trio. But this is unquestionably an Aster film, which means that his directorial style is front and center. Even in a movie like Hereditary, one that managed to score career-best performances from Toni Collette and Alex Wolff, Aster's eye for visual symmetry and meticulous frames superseded everything else. Midsommar looks accomplished beyond compare, a complex mix of disturbing imagery and an atmosphere of profound unease. People are already throwing out comparisons to The Wicker Man (I'll throw in Gareth Evans' Apostle for good measure), but this truly does appear to be a creation of bold originality and intense creativity. Plus, I think the musical backdrop in the teaser deserves special mention- it's like the score from the docking scene in Interstellar was made extra creepy.
Midsommar opens in theaters on August 9. Considering Aster's reputation and the buzz surrounding this film (rumblings around Twitter indicate that it's as creepy and messed up as it looks), I have a feeling we could see this one at Cannes in May. Question is- will we see it with giant white bars surrounding the frame? Again, Twitter says it's a possibility! I guess we'll have to wait to find out.
Either way, I'm beyond excited.
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