"Midsommar": Movie Review
After a devastating and shocking loss, Dani (Florence Pugh) is a shell of herself. As her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) gets prepared for his trip to a Swedish festival, Dani tags along, trying to avoid her current reality.
"Midsommar" is a cruel and unrelenting movie that will drag you through the mud, until you understand its true spiritual meaning. It's main performance by Pugh kept me glued to the screen, and her transformation is, at times, remarkable. Others such as Will Poulter, playing the drug fueled, party animal friend that includes a welcome air of humor, in such harrowing times.
Also, the visuals of "Midsommar" are something to behold. This sun dripped horror film is completely outrageous, and the visual style highlights its gratuitous sex and violence with almost a sick/twisted, pure joy.But this overwhelming positivity doesn't ultimately last. It's reliance on Asters template for his prior films, and obvious influences such as "Wicker Man" is so blatant, it becomes comically noticeable, especially towards it's climactic end. The last 40 minutes of "Midsommar" is an exercise of futility, that manages to demean the male gender, exploit mental health, and drag us through a never ending orgy.
"Midsommar" has it's moments, much like "Hereditary" that are special. Florence Pugh's acting is off the charts, the visuals are stunning and it's concept begins with a bang. But Aster's new A24 production fails to convince anyone that its characters are as bad as he thinks they are. What starts as a masterpiece, ends up as a dud.
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