The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Film Review: ‘Midsommar’ is a Horror Film Perfect for Summer

by Liam Haber June 28, 2019
by Liam Haber June 28, 2019 0 comments
4K

With Midsommar, the director of Hereditary delivers his second fantastic horror film in two years

As Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh, Lady Macbeth) deals with a possible incident with her bipolar sister, her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor, Kin) sits around a table with his three friends, debating when and how he will break up with her. Dani calls her boyfriend to ask for comfort but, instead, is treated to his usual casual behavior. We only watch her face as we hear him tell her to stop worrying and that she is being dramatic. Tears and anger and horror cross Pugh’s face in an unbroken shot, one of many long and sweeping moments in the film that capture Dani’s fragile state and Pugh’s immense talents. Yet at the end of this brief prologue and the reveal of a family tragedy, I realized I had been holding my breath for minutes. Midsommar enchants you like that. Petty domestic squabbles and attempts to find a family in the middle of nowhere wind up becoming a backdrop for a nightmarish fable, one with an incredible amount of scares and themes that need to be seen to be believed.

Ari Aster’s second feature film following the extraordinary Hereditary from last year, Midsommar is a brilliant sophomore effort, with Aster’s script and direction again living up to the hype. The music and cinematography are hypnotic, and there are some sound design choices that are viscerally upsetting. The score from Bobby Krlic is incredible, and a reunion with Hereditary cinematographer  Pawel Pogorzelski is mystifying, capturing both the brutal horror of the film and the gorgeous landscapes of Sweden in equal measures, and occasionally overlapping the two in a number of mushroom-induced hallucinations.

Florence Pugh in Midsommar

Florence Pugh (Dani) in Midsommar

The story of the film follows Dani and Christian as they accompany his three friends to a remote village of Hårga in Sweden for an annual custom called “Midsommar,” a nine-day festival during which the sun does not set on the village at all, resulting in scary scenes in broad daylight. Hårgan resident Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren) has been studying anthropology at an American university and invites Christian, along with the academically minded Josh (William Jackson Harper, “The Good Place”) and the freewheeling Mark (Will Poulter, Detroit). When guilty Christian invites Dani along, his friends are angry, having hoped they had been rid of Dani by now.

The poster for the film Midsommar

Midsommar, in theaters July

These four gentlemen are, without turning to profanity, terrible people. All of them treat Dani like innocent trash, guilting her into a drug trip more than once. They arrive in Hårga and instantly start to ruin the pristine nature of the village. Introduced in bright and verdant colors, the three American men enter and ruin things immediately, with Josh too obsessed with turning this culture into a doctoral thesis to pay attention to the needs of the village. Mark, meanwhile, treats this vacation like spring break, resulting in scenes of him vaping in the face of village elders and urinating on an ancestral tree. All the while, Dani attempts to make the most out of a bad time by embracing the culture and people of Hårga as Christian instead considers embracing some female Hårgans who catch his eye. 

Yet all the while, the Midsommar ceremonies begin to become more and more sinister. Disappearances, people being where they shouldn’t be, secrets and more build over the 140-minute runtime, approaching a fever pitch by the film’s end that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and left me equally terror-struck and giddy. It is just that kind of a nightmare.

Walking out of this film at 8:30 pm to sunlight was one of the scariest additional aspects of this film that Ari Aster couldn’t have predicted. But it led my mind to consider the deeper themes of the film as well. Climate change is a constant undercurrent, the destruction of nature and the environment for the purposes of others being equated with a global form of self-harm. And the finger is pointed constantly at America (and England) for how they are culpable for both creating the environmental problems we face, as well as pointing at the history of how both enter the cultures of others and attempt to change it. The cultural tourism of our four American characters is what results in their eventual downfall, with the cultural neglect by Mark and the intense interrogation by Josh treated equally. 

Yet at the center of this film will always be the relationship between Dani and Christian. Both speak a similar line at different points in the movie, referring to taking mushrooms: “I’m worried I’ll have a bad trip.” And this bad trip to Hårga is what makes for such a great film. Florence Pugh, an actress that will certainly be at the center of Oscar discussion this year and will soon be seen in both Little Women and Black Widow, is absolutely extraordinary. She can convey emotions with a single glance, and she delivers each line beautifully. 

If Hereditary is a family drama that looks like a horror movie, then Midsommar is a romantic drama inspired by Pan’s Labyrinth. And it’s amazing. Fans of Hereditary will likely adore this film, and I can safely call Ari Aster one of the best filmmakers working right now after making two movies this excellent in a row.

Midsommar will be in theaters starting July 3rd. From writer/director Ari Aster. Starring Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, and Will Poulter. Rated R for… a lot of things.

Ari AsterFilm ReviewFlorence PughHereditaryJack ReynorMidsommarVilhelm BlomgrenWill PoulterWilliam Jackson Harper
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Liam Haber

previous post
Iconic lawyer and Civil Rights Activist Bryan Stevenson Spotlighted in HBO’s Powerful New Documentary ‘True Justice’
next post
Film Review: ‘Annabelle Comes Home’

Related Posts

Janelle Monáe and BACARDÍ Rum Haunt Santa Monica...

October 31, 2025

Bun B on 20 Years of Trill, Working...

October 31, 2025

Meet GOOD JUJU, the label that could redefine...

October 31, 2025

Mango Cart Mas is Stronger Than Yesterday

October 31, 2025

Port Sa’id: Restaurant Review

October 30, 2025

Unruly Agency Held 6th Annual Halloween Party Hosted...

October 30, 2025

Earn Your Leisure Talks Foundation Forward & Financial...

October 29, 2025

Hedda Is The Truth

October 29, 2025

Hello Sunshine’s Third Annual Shine Away

October 29, 2025

The Pink Agenda’s Annual Gala at Tribeca Rooftop

October 28, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

theknockturnal

Lifestyle. Music. Entertainment.
Info@theknockturnal.com
New Cover Out Now ⬇️

We spoke with @truewhitaker last night at the prem We spoke with @truewhitaker last night at the premiere of @hbomax’s I Love LA!
We spoke with @holtlauren last night at the premie We spoke with @holtlauren last night at the premiere of @hbomax’s I Love LA!
We attended @hellosunshine’s 3rd annual Shine Aw We attended @hellosunshine’s 3rd annual Shine Away event, held at @universalstudioslot in Los Angeles! 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/hello-sunshines-third-annual-shine-away/

✍️: Katherine Wright

-
#HelloSunshine #Universal #LosAngeles
We spoke with @treaclychild last night at the prem We spoke with @treaclychild last night at the premiere of her brand-new show, I Love LA!
Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company, where office life meets absurd comedy. 🪑 
Stream it now on @HBO. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/la-premiere-hbos-the-chair-company/

✍️: Katherine Wright
-
#TheChairCompany #HBO #HBOOriginal #HBOShow #BingeWorthy #MustWatch #StreamingNow
@justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The @justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The Leag, one of LA’s most talked-about underground sports events. With celebrities, athletes, and creators filling the sidelines, the night captured the energy of competition and culture colliding under the lights. 🏀

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/justin-bieber-leads-skylrk-to-victory-at-las-underground-sports-phenomenon-the-league/

✍️: Parris Rose

-
#JustinBieber #SKYLRK #TheLeag #LosAngeles #SportsCulture #Basketball #UndergroundSports
@nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about t @nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about their journey as six members, a long, inspiring adventure that’s led them to a major milestone: their first-ever full-length album, Blue Valentine. 💙

The project dives deep into the complexity of human emotions, wrapped in NMIXX’s signature MIXX-pop sound. 🎶

“The story of NMIXX is still unfolding.” 

Full Article 🔗 https://theknockturnal.com/nmixx-blue-valentine/

By @EmmaSalehi 

#NMIXX #BlueValentine #NMIXXBlueValentine #MIXXPOP #NMIXXComeback #KpopInterview #TheKnockturnal #Kpop #KpopNews #KpopGirlGroup #NMIXX_BlueValentine #HAEWON #LILY #BAE #JIWOO #KYUJIN #SULLYOON #엔믹스
Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of @beetlejuicebway? Now you can! From now until Halloween, @tempotimessquare hosting an unforgettable Beetlejuice Suite experience where every corner is bursting with spooky charm, strange surprises, and a whole lot of Netherworld flair. 💀✨ 

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a little strange and unusual, this is your chance to step into the world of the ghost with the most. 👻 #BeetlejuiceBroadway #TempoTimesSquare #BeetlejuiceSuite
#ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when y #ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when you least expect it — and flinch when you do. 👀💥

Full review out now.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/park-chan-wooks-no-other-choice-is-dark-gripping-and-bitingly-funny/

✍️: Ishan Wankavala 

-
#NoOtherChoice #KoreanCinema #Cinephile #FilmReview #NewRelease #MustWatch
📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining 📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining boundaries with each track, image, and evolution. Dive into our exclusive to uncover the artistry behind the name. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/woodz/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#Woodz #Kpop #ArtistSpotlight #Editorial
EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to elect EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to electrifying new heights, bringing “I WANT IT” to life with unmatched energy, confidence, and flair. Every beat, every move, every note is a reminder that STAYC don’t just perform—they command the stage. 🌈💥

From their glowing visuals to powerhouse vocals, @stayc_highup deliver a night that’s equal parts spectacle and soul.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/stayc/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#STAYC #StayTunedTour #IWANTIT #STAYCgirls #STAYChighup #Kpop #ConcertHighlights #ExclusiveFeature
Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new film, exploring its unique darkness. 🌟

#ParkChanWook #NoOtherChoice #TheAx #KoreanFilm #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook tea Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook teases his probable upcoming project Genocidal Organ! 

#ParkChanWook #GenocidalOrgan #NYFF #NYFF26
Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in his latest film @nootherchoicefilm. 🖤🎬

#LeeByungHun #NoOtherChoice #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun refl Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun reflects on 20 years of film, from South Korea to Hollywood! 

#LeeByungHun #Hollywood #KoreanCinema #Film #NoOtherChoice #NYFF26 #NYFF
Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what it means to move forward together in their latest comeback. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/cix/

✍️: Emma Salehi

Photo Credits: C9 Entertainment 
-
#CIX #GOChapter1 #GOTogether #TheKnockturnal #KpopInterview #KpopNews #CIXComeback #CIX2025 #KpopFeature #CIXFans
It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North Ameri It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North America on their ‘Stay Tuned’ tour! 💖

Watch their energetic and fun filled show near you 👀🌟

#stayc #kpop #kpopconcert #iwantit #staycstaytuned #staytuned
Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷 We had the most a Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷

We had the most amazing day of inspiring panels, activations and networking at @femalefounderworld, with @eyebuydirect! 👓
Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joa Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joachim Trier for their sixth cinematic journey, co-writing Sentimental Value, a poignant exploration of family, memory, and reconciliation. 

-
#Screenwriting #Storytelling #WritingForFilm #FilmWriting #NYFF2025 #NewYorkFilmFestival #IndieFilm
At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to l At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to life in Sentimental Value, portraying a character whose journey through family complexities and personal discovery resonates deeply. 

-
#RenateReinsve #NYFF #SentimentalValue #NoraBorg #FilmFestival #Actress
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch