Midsommar (2019): A Horror Twist in Time

I am a fan of psychological films since I came of age. This movie has just been introduced to me and I have no idea, really, on what do I need to expect. At first look of the movie poster, it is like a family drama. The poster’s colors are so light with flowers on it and a lady with tears. Is she crying in joy or worse? This movie has been intriguing so why not give it a shot?

Just what to expect, the movie started with a suicidal note and a successful suicide not just one but the family who live in there except for Dani played by Florence Pugh who lives in another state. I like this introduction. Even though suicides has been a big issue, it perfectly shifts the mood of the viewers on what to expect afterwards: gloomy, dark and chilling. So why not? The film continue to roll. There is no problem with scene transitions. The mood is still there, the grief and this sudden came up of heartbreak. Wait. I haven’t finished with mourning just yet and there it is. Dani and Christian played by Jack Reynor has a failing relationship. And this played a big role in the movie. How dare someone matched grief with heartache, right? This really intensifies the story and this is also where the true story began. Nice presentation of conflict.

I am a fan of David Lynch. I have watched some of his movies and one of this is Eraserhead.

Four friends including Christian and Dani went to Sweden to attand a Midsummer Festival in Pelle’s native land played by Vilhelm Blomgren. The abstract movements of the scenery, the things, and the unusual behavior of people seems familiar to me. The first time I seen flowers moving, Dani’s hallucinations are somewhat same with David Lynch’s Eraserhead. How the visuals make the viewer insane, how the sounds that keep you out of your mind, this gives big impact. No need to understand things, they are just there. I like how the traditions, rituals, and culture has been presented. Some traditions are written on walls, others are on cloth that just given glimpse by the camera. I like the rawness of every characters, the emotions, the feelings, and the reactions. How can someone totally react on persons who committed suicide because of old age? How should one really react? That mood setting that made the viewer shocked. But I dont think that it is necessarily need to show the dead bodies. Some artistic visualization, I think, can do the trick. I know that the thrill must stay but isn’t it a little bit too much for this to include? Heavy scenes after that has been disturbing yet not intimidating. This is how the story goes anyway. I really love the ending by the way.

I can’t complain with the artistry, this movie was really made of art from every ritual, the colors, the mood, the characters and the emotions. I don’t expect a happy ending or I don’t expect the surprise either. What can I say? I am in the middle of nowhere and waiting for what will happen next. Having no idea before whatching a movie is great and terrifying as the same time. People who loves watching movies like this will definitely will love this. Not all can make such good films. Who else misses movies like this one? We will surely wait for a long time to see another. So seat back and relax. Just enjoy the show.