Episode 109 - Midsommar (2019)

100 Horrors

When I first saw Midsommar, I was in a cinema with Paul, and as the film drew to its beautiful, horrifying and oddly joyous ending I knew I had just witnessed one of the best horror films that will ever be made. With Midsommar, Ari Aster takes a story that has been told before (it's basically The Wicker Man) and tells it so well that it becomes a beast all of its own.

I collected my things, walked toward the exit and the woman in front of me said "That was rubbish. What a load of shit". This woman had sat and shovelled popcorn into her mouth loudly throughout the film. She had laughed loudly as the sex scene had aired. She had loudly asked "What the fuck is happening" as the communes women had gathered around Dani and screamed in sadness with her, sharing her guilt.

She, was an idiot.

This film is not for everyone. I very rarely get on my high horse about movies (there's a time and a place for the Maniac Cops and Evil Deads of the world) but I genuinely think that this is the thinking man's horror. It rolls forward at a sinfully slow pace. It pulls no punches with its blatant foreshadowing and terrifying imagery. It toys with convention to such an extent that I'm not even sure its even a horror film anymore. All I am sure of, is that this absolutely deserves its spot waaay up at the top of the 100 Horrors list.