Other reviews:
“ …Ari Aster’s dreadfully atmospheric feature debut, which, having been critically equated with a new generational Exorcist, entered theaters over the weekend with most insuperable of expectations. And yet, somehow, Aster’s blistering bow does not disappoint. In opinion, certain instances, namely Aster’s brazenly bravura steersmanship and Toni Collette’s towering tour-de-force, actually transcend all preconceived notions going in.” Arrow in the Head
“Amazingly confident for a debut feature, Hereditary is first-class genre filmmaking. It’s hard for me to imagine seeing a more frightening movie this year—especially after the full-bore climax, which features images that will stay lodged uncomfortably in my mind (and possibly my bad dreams) for who knows how long.” The A.V. Club
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“Viewers will get a thoughtful story of grief told through great performances, but what they’ll come for is the scares, and Hereditary shines in this department. Writer-director Ari Aster uses shadow and misdirection to great effect, providing many moments to rile audiences, while also offering moments of shocking, blunt violence as well.” Birth. Movies. Death.
“I didn’t think the film had scared me, but I was very, very wrong. Hereditary will stick with you long after you’ve left the theater. You will want to talk about it. You will want to see it again (I most certainly do). It is a film that will no doubt reward the viewer on repeat viewings, that is if you can stomach it.” Bloody Disgusting
“If you just want a smart, unpredictable, and unexpectedly austere horror story, there’s a lot to enjoy here. But taken also as a snapshot (or perhaps an indictment) of the ways in which a modern family is torn apart by lies, secrets, resentment, and their casual indifference to one another, Hereditary is one of the most powerful, memorable genre films of the past several years. And yes, one of the scariest.” Bloody Disgusting
“Wolff essentially loses his mind in real time onscreen; never before has a thousand-yard stare taken on so many different resonances. Shapiro, too, with her striking features and animal-like gait, offers a queasy new spin on the creepy kid archetype. What each actor navigates so well is the space in between control and possession, and some of the film’s most lingering horrors make us wonder who we’re actually watching onscreen.” Consequence of Sound
“Metaphors are in play, though not to the extent that Hereditary becomes ambiguously interpretive. It works as a straight dramatic thriller even with its patiently meditative exploration of mourning, debilitating trauma, and pitiable people whose fates are determined by outside actions.” Culture Crypt
” …takes hold and never truly lets up as more truths are revealed and the outcome grows more terrifyingly inevitable. Hereditary is a fantastic horror film that pairs its scares with real emotion, and that combination sees each aspect enhance the other. You’ll remember this one long after the credits end.” Film School Rejects
” …even as Aster soars into Grand Guignol territory, Hereditary keeps a tight hold on its story sense. What makes the movie so satisfying is that while it turns steadily into a batshit-crazy collision of the supernatural and the classically mythological, the family dynamic remains firmly in play.” The Hollywood Reporter
“It does some unflinching things with the process of grief and family dynamics and then inverts them in an almost perverse way. It’s a mean-spirited movie […] and it entirely worked on me. From where I’m sitting, there is no way that this film doesn’t end up on my top 5 list at the end of the year.” iHorror
“Hereditary does offer less of the clean-cut metaphoric flair that a film like The Babadook chases after, since its ghosts don’t exactly function as walking metaphors for depression, grief, or alienation – or a combination of all three. Really, the ghosts are just ghosts; it’s in the characters’ interaction with them that the film’s sense of deep subtext arises.” The Independent
“Before it becomes an ultra-creepy haunted house movie, Hereditary is an almost-unbearable study of the grieving process […] Then something far more terrifying happens. Despite some occasional clichéd jump scares, Hereditary excels at permeating a convincing environment of despair with first-rate horror.” IndieWire
” …this remarkable directorial debut from Ari Aster builds on classical horror tropes — the occult, possession, mental illness— to craft its own unique spin on terror […] All you need to know is you’re in good hands, and that this is the kind of deeply primal, psychological horror that gives the genre a good name.” New York Post
” …Hereditary seeks to confound by swinging between moments of controlled Kubrick-ian terror and unhinged emotional hysteria. There were walkouts. There were people complaining when they marched through the snow to the bus. Even Aster appeared uncomfortable answering questions about the film, which so clearly comes from a place of real pain.” Thrillist
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