Unpacking Hereditary | A Masterclass in Horror 

Happy Halloween everyone! 🎃 Edit: I wanted to check myself here. Upon watching the vid, I realize that all of my recommendations were for nearly all-white films, so I want to rectify that. A few great PoC-led horror Films: - Get out (a bit obvious, maybe, but only because it's so good) - Nope (see previous) - Candyman [remake] - Lovecraft Country [Series] RU-vid keeps claiming this video. Tried editing/re-uploading 10 times now and no luck, so I'm just leaving it. Since it can't be monetized, if you have the means to become a Patron www.patreon.com/meromorphic, it would be massively appreciated. If not, I still appreciate you beautiful people. Thank you as always and enjoy all that candy!

Little fun fact: Initially, the cult was supposed to wear red robes (that's what it says in the script), but in the final cut they all ended up being nude. But that doesn't mean the colour red is absent. Joan is ALWAYS wearing prominent red colours. Charlie- who is always possessed by a literal demon- wears orange-ish red. Annie, in whom and whose family the cult has their hooks in through and through, often wears a dark red in her colour palette. Some random-ass lady sitting right next to her in the support group wears a red top, representing just how CLOSE this cult is in her life. It's like they have infiltrated even her most personal and vulnerable self. And they HAVE!

I don't know why but the scene where peters in the attic and Anne is banging her head against the door and she just won't stop it's so uncanny it's gets me everytime

The whole "Paimon gets irritated when stuck in a girl's body" thing is probably also why Charlie is so quiet until she dies.

Ari Aster is so good at disturbing films. When I was in middle school I saw one of his early short films, The Strange Thing About The Johnsons, and it still lingers in my mind with how horrific it was even without a lot of gore or even that much violence or supernatural stuff. It seems like Ari Aster’s biggest inspiration are fraught family dynamics and cults

“I just want to die” and the scene it’s in is, by far, the most disturbed I’ve ever been watching a movie. Nothing has made me feel the way that scene did. Ever. Just pure dread

Toni Collette acted her ass off in this movie. Never have I so truly believed an actor was another person. Her portrayal of grief in this film hit me so hard I had to watch it over multiple viewings

When I saw this movie for the first time, I ended up crying and nearly throwing up at that final scene. I think it was triggered by seeing Annie's headless body silently float up into the treehouse. No idea why it messed me up so hard, but it got to me. I really love Hereditary. It became my favorite movie until Everything Everywhere All At Once recently dethroned it. I ended up crying at that movie as well, though not out of fear.

Was Charlie always Paimon? What about the seance with Peter, was that Paimon 'pretending' to be Charlie? Where does Paimon begin and Charlie end? Is it supposed to be an expression of DID, and one of the reasons Charlie is so quiet is that she's talking to Paimon in her head?

Another important factor playing into the significance of Charlie's death: She was presented as a major character. She is featured FREQUENTLY in the trailer, plastered on every poster, given a ton of screentime. . . until she dies so very early into the film. All the complex emotions of terror and fear presented in the film get a heavy layer of shock. It is a plot twist in its own right, further sinking its claws into the audience. A similar trick was pulled in the very first Scream film, when the already famous Drew Barrymore (featured as top billing cast member on the forefront of every poster) was killed off within the first ten minutes of the film, which created the impression that the film would not pull any punches and that no one was safe. The difference there being that Scream is a comedy. I have never seen it with the full intent of just horrifying the audience on such a personal level. Losing a loved one, either due to a horrific accident or being at fault for it, is such a deep-rooted fear that anyone- especially people like the "responsible older sibling"- are deathly afraid of.

I know the exact video you’re talking about with the brick flying through the window. That stuck with me as well, and I also compared the two occurrences. I literally gasped when you brought that up. The scene where Annie is crying in despair in her bedroom comes to me often in moments of sadness. It’s such a perfect encapsulation of an ugly, raw, and overwhelming emotion that I hadn’t seen done realistically before. I haven’t had the guts to watch this movie again because my first viewing effected me for a week or so, but I really should.

Thanks for this! I absolutely can't watch proper horror films but have herd so many good things about this one so this is as close as it gets for me haha

Excellent breakdown! I heavily related to when you described how you felt while watching the scene where Annie discover’s Charlie’s beheaded corpse in her car and the subsequent scene where she sobs in anguish on the floor of her bedroom. The acting was incredible, it’s almost like I felt the same anguish Annie was feeling at the moment. Also, something that stood out to me when I watched it (earlier in the night btw. Thanks for the awesome recommendation!) was how Annie mentioned that she sleepwalked abs how she felt like that’s why Peter resented her. The one where she was covered in paint thinner and struck a match as she stood over Peter and Charlie as they slept. Do you think the cult/Paimon was behind these sleepwalking episodes too? You don’t mention the sleepwalking in the video and I’m wondering about it. Also, the nightmare sequence where she “sleepwalks” into Peter’s room and reveals to him that she didn’t want him and tried to hand a miscarriage to avoid having him also hit me hard. Like Peter’s sobbing and saying “Why did you try to kill me?!” Really touched me on an emotional level. The way it was delivered felt so raw. But I’m bringing this up because the nightmare ends in a fiery blaze. And I need to rewatch it, but I swear I heard a match being lit when the flames started to appear. So yeah, I wonder if the cult/Paimon had anything to do with the sleepwalking episodes Annie had.

Rewatch the final scene where it flips to night. Look in the backround of the outside of the house

Find the Ars Goetia: Lesser Key of Solomon pretty cool. Paimon is a king demon in that book, who can teach arts and sciences, and other secret things when you summon him. That book goes back to the 17th century and has 72 demons with different characters and qualities.

"Supremely fucking upsetting" is definitely how I'd describe the movie too

Excellent video! I love how you didnt simply reiterate what’s already been analyzed about the movie but really elaborated on how all the small details intertwined to illustrate this tragically fated story of family trauma. Keep it up!!

I remember watching this movie with friends by chance at the Cinema at 3pm... I was scared the rest of the day

Pube pot pie is an acquired taste.

16:00 Thank you for giving him credit!! Everyone raves about Toni but Alex was just as good if not better

something i find interesting about Steve's death is halfway through the movie, it is revealed at one point or another Annie tried to set Peter and Charlie a blaze with gasoline and match, so Peter is terrified of being burtn alive by his mother. Steve dies by Annie throwing the book into the fire, sending him in flame since his soul was linked. So i guess in the end Peter was right to be scared.

Hereditary is in my like top 5 best horror movies of all time. But I wouldn't say its in with my most favorite horror movies of all time. Honestly, when Pie-man was ressurrected and that little celebratory jingle came on it just made me feel so relieved. I was through it! I really enjoy horror movies but Hereditary was just too close to home. I probably will rewatch it at some point but its not like some of my favorite horror movies, like Hellraiser, The Witch, The House that Jack Built, and Possum, any of which I would gladly rewatch a hundred times (I have to actively stop myself from rewatching Possum bc I don't want to ruin the spell that film casts over me) but Hereditary just does not make me feel that way. It's like how no one watches the Poughkeepsie Tapes twice. Absolutely awesome review, you have great taste in horror movies (and in claymation adult swim shows!)

I still think Toni Colette should’ve won an award for this movie

Man I can’t wait to watch this! Spooky season is my favorite time and horror movie are some of the most miss understood parts of media out there. keep up the good fight my guy and have great rest of your life🎃💀💀🧟‍♂️🧛🏽‍♂️

You absolutely did the best breakdown subscribing

I want the 3 hour edition. Let’s move on? Nah, let’s get lost in all the minutia

Hey mero, just wanted to lyk that this isn’t ari’s first movie His first movie is a short film It’s actually on RU-vid The Strange Thing About The Johnsons It’s arguably more “horrific” then hereditary and midsommar combined It’s about 30 minutes I’d love to see you dissect that one It wouldn’t be fun though Gruesome film

Everyone always raved about this movie I tried so many times to watch it and I just couldn’t get into it - maybe due to not understanding anything I was watching - after watching your video I decided to give it another try and Bec of your video I understood wtf was happening and I really did enjoy this movie so much - thank you for taking the time to explain it SO eloquently for my adhd brain 😍😍

Loved your channel! please keep going.

I watched this movie when it came out and I thought it was fucked up and then I watched it after almost losing a child and I couldn't finish it.

O M G...I loved your last video, BUT this one is scary as hell! I will be watching this movie today. Perfect "drop" timing 🧡🖤

You forgot to blur the second clip of charlie's head 😢 Awesome video

Saw that your latest video got token down :/ which is a shame because I came back to finish it😖 I wish you luck on getting it back internet dudester!!

Finally got a chance to finish the video. Had to go watch the movie first because you told me to. Glad I did lol. Good job bud keep up the good work.

Ugh i loved this movie sooooo much, my parents were afraid of it and I instantly watched it and this is one of those really good movies that in the end you go whaaaaaaaat?!

We have such a similar taste in movies, so if anyone else in this comments section needs endorsement by a 2nd perspective, yes watch all those recommendations

Great video! keep this stuff up!! (this is claire's boyfriend)

19:55 I'm so glad I'm not the only person who heard that same clip in my head when Steve said that LMFAO

Love the review, you might want to rethink blurring the decapitated head part. That's pretty graphic for youtube. Idk if they can flag you or whatever, but I don't want you going away.

glad you liked it

Ari did short movies before Hereditary. I recommend checking them out.

Idk man I would have went to more high school parties if they were making chocolate cake there

Let me say this definitively, I’m not planning to ever watch this movie. What I’ve done since 2018 is use my empathy to experience it through several reviewers. Your review is one of the best giving horror film knowledge and comparisons. Great job! The music. The final scene anthem is amazing. For a music lover trauma with music is a devastating sensation.💛

I have never watched a horror movie that terrified and confused me more than Hereditary.

Finally some body has made m want to stop the video and watch this movie

I already got a couple different reson to thank your mother

17:58 You made me find it, it was pretty mid on the gore scale for me

Agree to disagree on American Horror Story, but this is an excellent video on an amazing film!

Loving the video essays! I do want to point out that while your recs are for good movies, Jordan Peele is unfortunately a zionist, and now more than ever I think it's important not to uplift the work of zionists.

You might not care, but you used the world 'liturgical' so I'll take a chance. Gabriel Byrne's name is pronounced like "Burn" and also it's "et cetera" not "eck cetera.' If I missed the mark and you don't care, I apologize. I love Ari Aster's films and enjoy watching videos like this one. The best one I've ever seen is from a RU-vidr named Nyx Fears. Given how much you liked the film, I encourage you to watch her video. I'm a 50yr old cis white male and am not prone to seeing every single thing through the eyes of identity politics. I only mention this because there are those people who want everything to be about this topic. I was blown away by the case she makes for Hereditary being a film about a mother's perspective on finding out her daughter is a trans man. If you're at all intrigued, I encourage you to check it out because it completely changed my view of the film even moreso than learning of the interpretation that Midsommar is(/can be) about fascism did. Anyway, thanks for the video. I subscribed.

Oh, midsommar is GREAT. Hereditary is overated 🤷‍♀ it was extremely predictable to me, but then again, just my opinion. (maybe i've seen too many movies on this genre, and being an art major raises the bar on what is truly groundbreaking to me; my subjective opinion)

the thing in the road was a deer the dog at the end of the movie was there dog.