Hereditary (2018) – A Masterclass in Psychological Horror and Despair
Hereditary, directed by Ari Aster in his unforgettable feature debut, is not just a horror film — it is a descent into grief, madness, and something far more sinister. With its slow burn pacing and unsettling atmosphere, the movie trades cheap jump scares for deeply rooted psychological terror that lingers long after the credits roll.
The story follows Annie Graham, a miniatures artist and mother, who is dealing with the recent death of her secretive and mentally ill mother. As her family begins to unravel emotionally, strange events and disturbing truths begin to emerge. Her son Peter, daughter Charlie, and husband Steve all become wrapped in a spiral of trauma that reveals a terrifying legacy passed down through blood.
Toni Collette delivers a powerhouse performance as Annie, capturing a raw and fractured portrait of grief and guilt that feels too real. Her breakdowns are both horrifying and heartbreaking, and her performance became an instant icon in modern horror. Milly Shapiro as Charlie also leaves a chilling impression, and Alex Wolff gives a shockingly vulnerable portrayal of a teenage boy crumbling under unseen forces.
What sets Hereditary apart is its command of tone. Every frame feels heavy with dread. The sound design crawls under your skin. The cinematography is meticulous, using stillness and symmetry to create discomfort. And the final act? It veers into the kind of supernatural horror that flips the entire film on its head, tying every strange thread into a single, disturbing truth.
Hereditary is about more than demons or cults. It is about how trauma passes from one generation to the next. It is about the horror of being trapped in a fate you never chose. Cold, methodical, and merciless — this is horror at its most emotionally brutal.
