the fresh films reviews

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Midsommar (2019)

Directed by:
Ari Aster

COUNTRY
USA/Sweden

Genre
Folk horror

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Midsommar

RUNNING TIME
148 minutes

Produced by:
Patrik Andersson
Lars Knudsen

Written by:
Ari Aster


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Dani Florence Pugh ½
Christian Jack Reynor
Mark Will Poulter ½
Josh William Jackson Harper
Pelle Vilhelm Blomgren ½
Simon Archie Madekwe -
Connie Ellora Torchia -
Siv Gunnel Fred -
Maja Isabelle Grill -

Sten

Lars Väringer -

Ulf

Henrik Norlén -

 

Review

Ari Aster returns with his second feature after his remarkably successful debut Hereditary, and yet again he ventures into a chilling hidden world of cultism – only this time, we’re going to sunny Sweden for a midsummer festival where everything feels breezy and sunny… for a while. Midsummar’s delightful mixture of green fields, warm light and cheerful traditions on the one side, and what turns out to be rather sinister religious practices on the other is what sets this film apart and makes it such a refreshing horror experience. Although Aster borrows bits and pieces from a host of previous entries in the genre, he combines them expertly and builds-up his story to a eerie, gut-wrenching climax which hits its mark regardless of whether you saw it coming or not. Along the way you must brace yourself for some gore and wickedness which make Midsommar simultaneously compelling and repugnant. The talented British actress Florence Pugh (Lady Macbeth, Little Women) gives a courageous, committed performance in the lead as Dani. The wonderful photo is by Aster's regular cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski.

Copyright © 31.01.2023 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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