HEREDITARY

Hereditary is a tale of a dysfunctional family with family drama and grief with horror trappings to great results. There are themes and ideas of bondage, free will, assimilation, grief, and generational trauma strung up with a bleak and somber tone designed to be uncomfortable. Its harrowing tone leads to powerful and dark imagery complementing organic and well-written drama.

There's clever dialogue, nuanced and flawed characters, setup/payoff, and great acting performances. The complex character development sells the horror to the viewer and the acting maximizes the roles through tension, range, vulnerability, shock, terror, and guilt. Overall Hereditary is a well-written family drama with horror trappings.

Technically Hereditary is artistic in its horror roots. It pursues a somber tone with a darker aesthetic. The dark-lit imagery utilizes framing, lighting, composition, angles, depth, and range. The practical production design enhances the meaning, tone, characterization, and themes. The music is trumpet-like enhancing the uncomfortable and creepy aspect of the demonic cult by utilizing the existential dread of our protagonists.

It relies on existential terror and dread through its slow burn pace instead of contrived jumpscares. The effects are minor but are used potently for violent and disturbing imagery. Overall Hereditary is an artful, scary, and potent horror with artful cinematography to great results.

Writing: 10/10

Direction:10/10

Cinematography:10/10

Acting: 10/10

Editing: 8/10

Score/Soundtrack: 9/10

Sound:9/10

Production design: 9/10

Casting: 8/10

Effects:7/10

Overall Score: 9.0/10