If you are looking for your run-of-the-mill horror, I advise you continue your search. This movie is more psychological thriller with horrible elements, but in short, everything is too beautiful and "artsy" to be scary in the general sense. That is not to say it does not have frightening subject matter. It handles several severe topics in a tasteful manner, mainly revolving around our leading lady Pugh.
Pugh is in a stalemate relationship with an egotistical, longtime boyfriend (played by Reynor) when she is struck by horrible loss. To deal with her grief, she decides to join Reynor and three of his friends to a remote community. One of his friends (Blomgren) is actually from this community and has invited the group to attend to the 9-days-long Midsommar festival. Once there, everything seems idyllic, but slowly and surely events/rituals turn stranger and stranger...
One thing that bugged me was that the two other friends (Polter and Harper) remained very flat characters and seemed almost caricatural. Also, there was little attention to the villagers of the small community and gives the viewer little sense of who they are, other than very strange folk. However, Pugh's performance alone is enough to support the entire length of the film, which is almost 2,5 hours, plus Reynor and Blomgren definitely add to the cast quality.
The story is told in what I would call "arthouse" manner, which automatically means this movie is not for everyone. Even though I liked the music/sound and looks of the beautiful scenery, I felt at times it was too over the top and subtracted from the goal of the movie, instead of adding to it. E.g. Costume design going a little overboard with a flowery dress that is shaped like a pyramid (and is almost as huge as one).
Another flaw is that the happenings are so incredulous and strange, that it is hard to relate to the characters. In a positive sense, the topics are there. It makes you think about the flexibility of the human mind. How much could you change your 'normal' way of thinking if you were in a different environment? Would you call it bending or breaking if you go beyond a certain point? How far would you go to have the hole in you fullfilled? In my view, super interesting subject matter. Unfortunately, the bizarness of the rituals and the lack of knowing how the villagers view their festival, create a distance between the viewer and Pugh; understanding her emotions, but not fully able to agree with her not running the other way screaming for help. The same goes for the rest of the "guest" group.
All in all, I would recommend the watch if you can handle longer and strange films. It did keep me interested throughout and it is wellmade even though it goes overboard sometimes.
Pugh is in a stalemate relationship with an egotistical, longtime boyfriend (played by Reynor) when she is struck by horrible loss. To deal with her grief, she decides to join Reynor and three of his friends to a remote community. One of his friends (Blomgren) is actually from this community and has invited the group to attend to the 9-days-long Midsommar festival. Once there, everything seems idyllic, but slowly and surely events/rituals turn stranger and stranger...
One thing that bugged me was that the two other friends (Polter and Harper) remained very flat characters and seemed almost caricatural. Also, there was little attention to the villagers of the small community and gives the viewer little sense of who they are, other than very strange folk. However, Pugh's performance alone is enough to support the entire length of the film, which is almost 2,5 hours, plus Reynor and Blomgren definitely add to the cast quality.
The story is told in what I would call "arthouse" manner, which automatically means this movie is not for everyone. Even though I liked the music/sound and looks of the beautiful scenery, I felt at times it was too over the top and subtracted from the goal of the movie, instead of adding to it. E.g. Costume design going a little overboard with a flowery dress that is shaped like a pyramid (and is almost as huge as one).
Another flaw is that the happenings are so incredulous and strange, that it is hard to relate to the characters. In a positive sense, the topics are there. It makes you think about the flexibility of the human mind. How much could you change your 'normal' way of thinking if you were in a different environment? Would you call it bending or breaking if you go beyond a certain point? How far would you go to have the hole in you fullfilled? In my view, super interesting subject matter. Unfortunately, the bizarness of the rituals and the lack of knowing how the villagers view their festival, create a distance between the viewer and Pugh; understanding her emotions, but not fully able to agree with her not running the other way screaming for help. The same goes for the rest of the "guest" group.
All in all, I would recommend the watch if you can handle longer and strange films. It did keep me interested throughout and it is wellmade even though it goes overboard sometimes.