From the very start of Midsommar I found myself in a state of awe and shock as the events unfolded onscreen. The ever worrying and paranoid Dani (Florence Pugh) finds herself attempting to contact her mentally ill sister, who sent her a mysterious and yet ominous text as she talks with her boyfriend Christian Hughes (Jack Reynor) on the other line. After discovering that her parents were murdered by her sister who took her own life shortly after, Dani is in absolute hysterics as she’s cradled by Christian. This set-up, especially the long shots Ari Aster took to show off the crime scene of her parents’ murder and sister’s suicide, was incredible yet disturbing. This masterfully crafted opening showed off everything I and the audience needed to see about the main characters without wasting too much time: a chaotic scene of disturbed proportions that’s able to demonstrate the lead’s emotional instability and her boyfriend’s distance and detachment from her problems.

The film follows both Christian and Dani as they and their friends Josh (William Jackson Harper) and Mark (Will Poulter) are invited to their Swedish friend Pelle’s midsummer festival at Pelle’s ancestral ground. As it goes, though, not everything is as it seems but due to a heavy dose of drugs and psychedelics, the Pagan cult is able to have their way with the group. Fucked-up romances blossom, Dani’s and Christian’s relationship crumbles further, and Josh and Mark go through extreme turmoil throughout the film. 

The acting found within Midsommar was quite remarkable, specifically from lead actor Florence Pugh as Dani. Her constant worry and ability to show off the mental anarchy her character was going through with bouts of rage and sadness was fascinating. William Jackson Harper also had a wonderful role in the film as an anthropologist who also begins to fight with Christian; the rift begins when Christian decides to copy the student’s thesis and make it his own. This is not mentioning the acting from each and every single one of the surrounding cult members; whether it was when the college students first arrived on scene or when there are small bits going on, the way these almost background characters performed added to the sense of dread and realness Midsommar created. 

The directing from Ari Aster is perhaps the best part of Midsommar; one of my favorite scenes from the movie happens as the group drives to Pelle’s commune. The camera flips upside down at one point, signifying to me both a turning point for each of the characters within the vehicle; they’re about to go through life-changing events and this camera motion made sure the audience knew it. This moment also represented a warp from a standard norm into a new reality, one that none of our beloved cast members ever saw. The moment our crew also entered the gates of the commune was beautiful; it played out as a dream-like fantasy.

The soundtrack for the movie also deserves a mention. Experimental and dark ambient producer Bobby Krlic AKA The Haxan Cloak was the genius behind the soundtrack. Every note complimented the film beautifully – especially at the climax scene. The song ‘Fire Temple’ is a nine-and-a-half minute piece of music with heavenly attachment but wicked strings that tell a different, darker story. The combination of these two elements of the song expertly told the story of Midsommar through instrumental music.

Now, as far as complaints go, I have one major problem that needs to be addressed. At one point in the film the Elders of the commune are standing atop a huge cliff with a sole rock a hundred feet or more below. The cult as well as the outsiders are gathered around and, mind you, this is towards the end of the first act. Dani and friends watch as these two elders jump from the cliff and attempt to hit the rock in a suicide ritual. This scene brought me out of the movie if only because it was unbelievable that any of the college students would want to continue staying with Pelle and his commune. This suicide even brought out emotional trauma from Dani as she reflected it back to her sister’s suicide. Another couple who is visiting the commune decides to leave, for sure, but Mark, Josh, and Christian are just fine staying there. This made absolutely no sense to me. 

The only other minor complaint I have about the film is the involvement of what the cult considers to be an oracle; they are a disfigured person born of incest who paints runic symbols. The cult describes in one moment that they believe the person to be of pure thought as they are not hindered by normal thought. Following this event, though, the oracle is no longer mentioned nor is their story dug into. I would have liked to see this explained or followed-up more. Perhaps this was thrown into the film to showcase just how off this cult is supposed to be, but I am unsure.

Nonetheless, Midsommar is still a delightful film. It is a horror film that disturbed me the whole way through; the journey from start to end was troubling. I could feel for Dani and her woes in life, and as the rituals and drug abuse continued throughout the film, it was easy to see why any of the college students were unable to act on their own accord. The climax of the film was brilliantly put together in perhaps one of the best endings I’ve seen in a film to date. Give this one a shot; it’s a love-it-or-hate-it ordeal, but I find myself on the loving side.