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Saturday, October 12, 2019

30-Day Horror Movie Challenge: Favorite Occult Horror...Midsommar


Tagline: Let the festivities begin

Synopsis: A couple travel to Sweden to visit their friend's rural hometown for its fabled midsummer festival, but what begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult. (Google)
I've talked about this before in recent posts. I'm really fascinated by folk horror and I guess I always have been. I can remember when I first saw The Wicker Man film from the 70s, and the Harvest Home TV mini series (The Dark Secret of Harvest Home) based on the excellent book by Thomas Tryon. I was immediately intrigued and it became a lifelong fascination. With the release in recent years of movies like The Witch and Hereditary, the subgenre is having a revival and I'm loving it. When Midsommar dropped over the summer, I was so excited to see it, and I wasn't disappointed. Admittedly, it's a slow burner, but that just adds to the increasing menace as the film progresses.

Occult means hidden, and the sect in Sweden these friends travel to for Midsommar has definitely stayed hidden...and for good reason. I don't think what they're getting up to would be smiled upon. All I can say is, I know me, and I can spot a cult from a mile away. I would have left way before getting to the actual "village." Of course, then there wouldn't be a movie.

I like the direction Ari Aster is going with his film making. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.



What is your favorite occult horror movie?

P.S. I'm hosting a Midsommar watch-along in conjunction with my Something Wicked Fall event. The watch-along will be Saturday, October 19 at 10:00 pm Eastern/9:00 pm Central.

We will be using Slack for discussion while we watch (It's free!). Click the Invite link below to join/signup: https://join.slack.com/t/seasonsofreading/shared_invite/enQtNzU2Njc0MTkyOTEzLWEwMWE2NzdjOGMzYjAwNmZjMjk2MmUwODRmNTRhYzIwZjBkODVkY2U3ZTMwZGIxNmI0ZWU1NmE4MjcwNDI5YmI

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5 comments:

  1. Leah @ Unleash the Flying Monkeys!October 12, 2019 at 1:37 PM

    After my experience with Hereditary, I'm hesitant to give this one a go... but I'm sure I will at some point.

    On the folk horror note, have you watched Wake Wood yet? I think it's another great example of folk horror from last 10-ish years. Also, more recently, Apostle and The Ritual were both surprisingly good.

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    Replies
    1. Michelle Stockard MillerOctober 12, 2019 at 2:13 PM

      You should give it a go. It has a very different vibe than Hereditary.

      I don't think I've seen Wake Wood. I need to look it up. Apostle and The Ritual were both really good. Regarding the latter, Adam Nevill's book was really good too.

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    2. Leah @ Unleash the Flying Monkeys!October 13, 2019 at 1:55 PM

      Since they dominate the genre, I'm kinda off horror written by white cishet men. So that's why I haven't read The Ritual or Annihilation. :-)

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    3. Heather G.October 19, 2019 at 4:20 PM

      The Ritual and Annihilation are very good. I'd still give them a go. Also I enjoyed Midsommar so much more than Hereditary. Hereditary was too dark for me but Midsommar hit the right notes and that ending! Whew!

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    4. Heather G.October 19, 2019 at 4:20 PM

      A Dark Song before I saw Midsommar was my favorite. Looking forward to rewatching tonight with everyone!

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