Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) goes to Sweden with her long-distance boyfriend Christian Hughes (Jack Reynor) and his friends to see a midsummer celebration that only happens once every 90 years.
However, as they spend more time with the commune, they realize that everything is not as it seems.
"Hereditary" is arguably one of the best horror films of 2018. And this 2019, Ari Aster proved that he's one of this generation's best visionaries with "Midsommar". The concept is simple, it's an experimental takes on cult movies. Aster's horror movies continue to push the boundaries of the horror genre. He has also topped himself in terms of direction and story.
Florence Pugh's performance as Dani proved how far Pugh can go in the entertainment industry. Her portrayal of a girl's slow progression to connection with herself and her relationship's regression to her boyfriend shows that portraying Dani is a tough job to do. Good for Aster, as Pugh showcased her talents and proved that she's a "star" in the making.
"Midsommar" is more ambitious in scale than "Hereditary", and despite having the same structure as the latter, it is more immersive thanks to its colorful environment.
However, where Hereditary excels in good pacing, "Midsommar" lacks. The first act is too long to get invested in, with much of it being about discussions of going to Sweden. The good thing, though, is that the second act picks up where the first left off and finishes in the most unsettling way possible.
Overall, the film's pace is slowed down by Aster's focus on a big ending. The bright spot is Aster's direction and the cast's performances are too good to ignore, and it would be wrong not to think of this movie as the modern horror standard.
5/5
