Hereditary. (2018)
I watched this film on Netflix, and I don’t know if it is available elsewhere.
***No spoilers***
You know that feeling when you are looking forward to a film? Everyone has given it great reviews, the cast is solid, and all over the Internet people are saying how good it is. You pick the right time, settle down uninterrupted, and concentrate on the film from start to finish.
You really want to like it. You want to reply to all those reviews saying you agree with them, and it’s a great film.
And then you don’t actually like it that much.
This American horror film follows the trials and tribulations of a family following the death of the elderly grandmother. She was a rather spooky lady, who we don’t get to know that much about at the start.
Things go badly wrong, and I mean badly. The pace picks up, there are some genuinely unsettling moments, and everyone involved lookes suitably distressed, scared, and anguished when they are supposed to.
But ultimately, it is an old-school devil worship/demon/occult film, with some aspects borrowed from other films, and the performances becoming overblown to the point of hysteria as we reach the (unsurprising) climax.
Toni Collette does her best as the distraught mother, though Gabriel Byrne looks half asleep through most of the film.
It’s not a bad film, but it didn’t impress me as much as it did everyone else.
I must be getting harder to please.
But you might like it.
Thank you for the recommendation, Pete! Sounds interesting. Will have a look. I am sure, somewhere the movie can be found :Michael
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Most people ike this film, Michael. But I didn’t enjoy it that much.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Lets have a look. Thank you for the review.
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Pete, have you sen his other film “Midsommar?” Same thing: polarizing for various reasons…we liked “Hereditary” but were a bit surprised by all the LOVE for it…oh well, we all have our own taste!
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I have yet to see Midsommar, John. I felt let down by the hype surrounding this film though.
Best wishes, Pete.
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When you see Midsommar it will be interesting to see what you think…it has also been hyped big time because of the Director’s “Hereditary”…
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It is a rather divisive film, you’re right about that. I really liked it but have seen that opinion is definitely split on it
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The ending was lame, and Gabriel was just taking the money. The film was all about Toni Collete.
Cheers, Pete.
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For me, Collette was the true standout and was giving it her all
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I’m not interested in that film. Right now, all the hype is for Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet.” It’s getting great reviews for the most part, but a few critics have said that it’s over-hyped, that it’s more devoted to imagery than to characterization, and that its plot is unnecessarily convoluted to the point of being totally incomprehensible.
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Yes, ‘Tenent’ is hyped to overload everywhere. A worrying sign, in my opinion.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I thought this was okay, but I was expecting more because of the hype.
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That’s the problem, Kim. So much hype, then it fails to deliver on the promise.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Not my cup of tea. As to your reaction, could it be the mood you have been in of late? Warmest regards, Theo
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That’s possible, Theo. But it was built up into something different and special. Sadly, it was neither.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well…isn’t that a coincidence? I saw this movie last thursday. My parents didn’t like it very much, but me being the lover of horror ignored them, and watched it anyways. While I agree with you for the most part, it was a bit of a letdown, there were also some genuinely disturbing and truly creepy scenes that gave me the chills. The ending was just plain weird, but overall as you it wasn’t a bad film. Just expected more of a film that got so many good reviews. On the other hand, when a movie is hyped it rarely meets expectations anyway.
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Thanks, Michel I think we are both on the same page with this one. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I haven’t watched it yet, but sometimes there are so many great reviews of something that the expectations become too hard for anything to live up to. I’ll know now to approach with a bit of caution. Thanks, Pete.
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It’s worth watching, Olga. I just didn’t get so overwhelmed by it as most of the reviewers.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sorry it was a disappointment. Life Fraggle I wouldn’t watch it anyway even if you raved about it. I don’t do horror.
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It had rave reviews, but didn’t even make me jump. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’ve read some good reviews about it but I wouldn’t see it anyway, horror movies really annoy me.
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I think this one would scare you, FR. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes probably, that’s what p’s me off about horror movies, scary yet ridiculous and completely implausible things happen to stupid people.
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I’ll argue the toss. You’re right about the hysteria, and there’s some lapses of logic to be sure. But there’s a couple of shocking scenes that soften you up, particularly the Casualty-lite car accident, and if you’re in the right mood, it’s super-serious approach is effective enough compared to most silly horrors.
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No argument from me. As I said, not a bad film at all, and I expect everyone to say they liked it. I had hoped for more, and I thought the ending was predictable, and rather lame. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Just watch out for King Priam sneaking into your elevated shed….
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