Midsommar is a movie that has gained considerable attention in recent years and, despite it not being a personal favorite, I have to admit that it's the perfect psychological thriller to watch on Halloween, and here's why. Ari Aster's Midsommar is far from being a conventional horror film.

What kind of horror is Midsommar?

Midsommar is a 2019 folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster. It stars Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor as an American couple who are drawn into a violent cult in rural Sweden. Supporting actors include William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe and Will Poulter.

What was so traumatizing about Midsommar?

The depiction of the cult's rituals, such as the Maypole Dance and the Copulation Ritual, are disturbing and filled with sinister undertones, highlighting the unsettling nature of the story.

Why is Midsommar so disturbing?

Parents need to know that Midsommar is an extremely violent horror movie from the maker of Hereditary. It involves a sinister, ages-old ceremony that includes disturbing rituals. Characters are beaten and smashed, and bodies are cut up and burned (in some cases, alive). A character dies via suicide,…

What makes a psychological horror?

Psychological horror is a subgenre of horror and psychological fiction with a particular focus on mental, emotional, and psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle its audience.

The Horror of MIDSOMMAR Explained

Is Midsommar a psychological horror?

Despite my own reservations about Midsommar, I can't deny its unique approach to psychological horror. As Halloween approaches, it's a film that stands out for its disturbing visuals, complex characters, and unconventional storytelling.

What does psychological horror do to your brain?

Horror entertainment can trigger the fight-or-flight response, which comes with a boost in adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine. The brain can then process surroundings and conclude that the experience is not a genuine threat. This knowledge of personal safety is one reason horror fans habitually watch scary movies.

Is Hereditary or Midsommar scarier?

Both films are respected in the horror genre, but Hereditary was arguably the scarier and more entertaining movie. While Midsommar was somewhat repetitive, Hereditary had many unexpected twists and turns.

What are the trigger warnings for Midsommar?

Trigger warnings for discussions of alcoholism, addiction, overdose, child abuse, graphic scenes of violence (particularly violence against children), racism and racial stereotypes, suicide, and a brief mention of rape.

How intense is Midsommar?

Very disturbing and incredibly graphically violent. The many deaths throughout may be difficult for many viewers. The main character has a hallucination in a mirror of a woman with a gas mask. The sunny atmosphere in contrast with the frightening situations makes the whole movie even more disturbing.

What mental illness does Dani have in Midsommar?

A potentially traumatic event death of Dani's parents and sister drastically transforms Dani, leaving her psychologically traumatized. Later on, Dani develops posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder caused by this distressing event.

Is there a message behind Midsommar?

Midsommar is essentially a two-and-a-half-hour study of one woman's emotional journey towards emancipation from a toxic relationship. The film has a happy ending, more or less.

What is the scariest part of Midsommar?

Midsommar's most terrifying scene doesn't involve gore — it's the haunting murder-suicide scene at the beginning of the movie. Ari Aster skillfully exposes the horrors of depression in Midsommar, leaving audiences disturbed. Terri's suicide in Midsommar sets the stage for a dark journey of mental health struggles.

Is there a jumpscare in Midsommar?

Midsommar may not be truly terrifying, as there are no jump scares, but there are many kinds of horror. As you're watching this film, its terror sneaks up on you, crawls through your insides, and makes you shiver: a slow burn of dread.

Why does Dani smile at the end of Midsommar?

The Power of Manipulation Throughout Midsommar

In the end, Dani smiles at the memory of her past being set aflame, and we can't help but relate to the cathartic moment. Why? We shouldn't feel pressured to feel as if the perspectives presented are entirely right or wrong.

Why do people love Midsommar?

this encapsulates the mood of Ari Aster's Midsommar. Aster has delivered a psychedelic genre-defying horror fable that wins its audience by creeping into our darkest corners of angst, longing, and loneliness.

Why do all the girls cry together in Midsommar?

The members of this community value togetherness above all else, and when Dani anguishes over her discovery of Christian's unfaithfulness, the villagers literally share her pain.

Why is Midsommar flawed?

Midsommar's consistent urge to jazz up the visual style of the movie with digital effects, needlessly odd scene transitions, and cultural iconography that has no real influence on the story, overstuffs the movie for many and makes it appear like it can't identify what does and doesn't work about itself.

What weird stuff happens in Midsommar?

Mirrors Are A Metaphor In Midsommar

Viewers first learn of her parents' deaths by seeing their bodies reflected in a mirror. Also, the closest Midsommar gets to a traditional jump scare is when Dani sees the shadow of someone reflected in a mirror.

Is Midsommar a psychological horror movie?

I felt a cultivating, confusing, and haunting impression after finishing Midsommar that I had never felt before. Ari Aster really did perfectly execute one of the most unique, groundbreaking, and terrifying psychological thrillers of all time.

What demon is in Midsommar?

Type of Villain

Pelle is the main antagonist of the 2019 psychological horror film Midsommar. He is from Halsingland, Sweden and a member of The Hårga. He was portrayed by Vilhelm Blomgren.

Is Midsommar based off a true story?

Midsommar, the movie, is partially based on the real midsummer festival celebrated in Sweden, but includes violent and pagan cult activities not found in the actual tradition.

Do psychopaths get scared of horror movies?

The Dark Triad traits of psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism were hypothesized as having a positive correlation with horror movie enjoyment and a lower physiological response during the viewing of a horror movie because of past research showing that low empathy and high senastion seeking are consistently ...

What kind of people like psychological horror?

Not surprisingly, some research indicates that people with a higher sensation-seeking trait and those who are more open to new experiences tend to seek out and enjoy horror-related experiences more. Additionally, if you have more empathy, you tend to react more negatively to what happens in horror shows.

Can horror cause PTSD?

Dr. Scanlon elaborated, saying early exposure to graphic and gory content could be “potentially traumatic.” “When kids are exposed to excessively scary movies, images, or even haunted houses, they tend to have some of the symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Dr. Scanlon explained.