In 2018, Ari Aster took our breath away with his directorial debut, Hereditary. A horror film centered around a dark family tragedy, Hereditary permanently seared the images of decapitated siblings and levitating corpses into our memories. While we’re still recovering from the trauma of seeing his first movie, Ari Aster has already dropped a new trailer for his upcoming film, Midsommar. Though Midsommar couldn’t be more different than Hereditary, it promises to deliver a terrifying and unique storyline, proving that Aster is a rising master of horror to look out for.
Midsommar trades in Hereditary’s dark suburban setting for the sunshine and wilderness of Sweden. A young couple visits a remote Swedish village to attend a nine-day midsummer festival that only occurs once every 90 years. The trailer is saturated with gorgeous, idyllic visuals that would ordinarily be innocent: a sunny meadow, a maypole decorated with flowers, and smiling villagers.
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However, there’s definitely something more bizarre and sinister going on. Masked figures brandish torches and a village leader promises a heightened experience. A blood-stained stone with strange markings hints at a ritual sacrifice. And is it just me, or do the hoops of the maypole look suspiciously like nooses? As the trailer unwinds, it appears that the protagonists have accidentally stumbled upon a violent pagan cult, and are in way over their heads.
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With its juxtaposition of beauty and dread, Ari Aster’s latest project looks like it’ll be a unique and chilling horror film experience. Midsommar hits theaters on July 3rd. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:
Featured still from "Midsommar" via B-Reel Films
