By Robert Yaniz Jr.

Wringing terror out of the elemental theme of family, Hereditary feels like a classic horror film in the making.

THE HYPE

In the past few years, horror has been fortunate enough to receive several impactful new voices. This emerging crop of genre filmmakers has already brought us such films as Get Out, The Witch and The Babadook, all films which apply tried-and-true horror elements to accentuate universal themes and unearth social and/or emotional truths. So the best case scenario for Ari Aster’s directorial debut, Hereditary, is that the film would approach the dynamics of a seemingly average family and use this misleading banality to dovetail into something truly horrifying. In the process, perhaps Aster and his cast might even send audiences out of the theater more than a little shell-shocked at how the questions the film raises.

THE STORY

In this case, moviegoers are in luck. More than just a series of jump scares or disturbing images (as the MPAA would say), the film offers a deeper story about the fallout that tragedy can have on a household and the emotional turmoil it can unearth as a result. Hereditary opens with an obituary — talk about tone-setting! — for the Graham family matriarch, and we follow Annie (Toni Collette) as she discovers her mother’s long-held secrets. To say much more would spoil the many surprises in the film. And make no mistake, Hereditary is certainly a film to see completely devoid of foreknowledge. Even the trailer gives away some key moments. But the themes at play here — grief, guilt, legacy, etc. — center much more on psychological terror than on pleasing gorehounds with buckets of blood.

THE CAST

Befitting the intimate story it tells, Hereditary‘s main cast really only extends to five people. Yet, despite the quiet intensity of Gabriel Byrne, the silent isolation of Milly Shapiro or the inner crumbling conveyed by Alex Wolff, this film 100% belongs to Collette. The actress has been great for a long time and actually earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in The Sixth Sense. However, her role here runs the gamut from maniacal rage to hopeless sorrow. Whether the scene calls for her to go big or remain more understated, Collette brings such raw power to every second she’s onscreen. Ahead of the film’s release, the marketing campaign is championing her performance as Oscar-worthy, and honestly, she very well could be a contender. After all, the Academy is showing signs of acknowledging the art of horror. With any luck, Collette will at least be in the conversation when awards season rolls around.

THE PRODUCTION

In the very first shot of Hereditary, the camera pans across a model of the Graham’s home before zooming in and transitioning to the family’s daily life. Not only is this a thematic fit since it is Annie’s job to build these models, but the many scenes in which we see her working on them is a microcosm of the film itself. From the editing to the lighting, the attention to detail in Hereditary is meticulous and flawless. Although the film at times feels like a slow burn, its pacing allows the intricate plot to ratchet up ever so slightly, sustaining an uneasy (and, intermittently, overwhelming) sense of dread throughout it all. Aster’s filmmaking has the deft touch of a seasoned pro, and the end result is a film wherein every frame feels carefully considered.

THE VERDICT

A24 — the production company behind Hereditary — has routinely been a source of interesting, if not brilliant, storytelling. Aster’s film therefore follows suit. Its story is one certain to haunt audiences for days after it’s over. Its performances — most notably, the tour-de-force turned in by Collette — are outstanding. And the production design is virtually immaculate from top to bottom. Horror fans looking for something the true blue scares they expect will walk out satisfied, and moviegoers thirsty for artistic merit will find plenty to love as well. Although it’s not necessarily a crowdpleaser like some of the big blockbusters currently playing, Hereditary manages to say something unsettling about the nature of family in the context of a stirring horror story. Sure, it’s only June, but Hereditary is an early contender for horror film of the year. At least we know we’ll still be thinking about it for the next few months. Not like we have a choice.

RATING: 4.5/5

Hereditary stars Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro and Ann Dowd. It is directed by Ari Aster and is now playing in theaters.