A bleak, meticulously built horror film that turns family grief into full-on dread. It’s as much a psychological tragedy as a supernatural nightmare, with extraordinary performances and a finale that lingers long after the credits.
Hereditary
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Horror · Mystery
Thu · 2h 8m
Director: Ari Aster
Starring: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Gabriel Byrne
Overview
Following the death of the Leigh family matriarch, Annie and her children uncover disturbing secrets about their heritage. Their daily lives are not only impacted, but they also become entangled in a chilling fate from which they cannot escape, driving them to the brink of madness.
Director
Ari Aster
Cast
Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Gabriel Byrne
Curator Review
Verdict
A bleak, meticulously built horror film that turns family grief into full-on dread. It’s as much a psychological tragedy as a supernatural nightmare, with extraordinary performances and a finale that lingers long after the credits.
Best for
Viewers who like slow-burn horror with a devastating payoff
Fans of family-dysfunction dramas turned nightmarish
People who appreciate strong lead performances in genre films
Audiences looking for unsettling, artful horror rather than jump-scare-heavy thrills
Skip if
You want fast pacing or constant action
You prefer horror with a reassuring ending
You’re sensitive to intense grief, self-harm imagery, or disturbing family trauma
You dislike ambiguity and symbolic, occult-inflected storytelling
Overview
Hereditary is one of those horror films that feels engineered to get under your skin and stay there. It starts as a family drama about loss, guilt, and inherited damage, then slowly reveals itself as something far more malignant. Ari Aster’s control of tone is remarkable: every room feels airless, every conversation feels like a warning, and every silence seems to carry a threat.
Worth noting
Toni Collette gives the kind of performance that can anchor an entire genre’s reputation by itself, but the whole ensemble sells the escalating collapse of this family. What makes the film so effective is that it never treats the supernatural as a shortcut; the horror grows out of emotional fracture, then becomes cosmic and ritualistic in a way that feels both absurd and horrifying.
Bottom line
It’s not an easy watch, and it’s not meant to be. But for viewers who want horror that is patient, precise, and genuinely upsetting, it’s a standout modern entry. The last act is divisive for some, but the film’s craft is undeniable, and its images are hard to shake.
Top Letterboxd reviews
beck (4★) · 29908 likes
if anyone ever clicks their tongue around me again i’m calling the police
Mari (4.5★) · 20837 likes
my friend's mom: none of this would have happened if the son hadn't smoked weed
•lily• (5★) · 14762 likes
When your circle small but y’all crazy
sree (4★) · 13329 likes
STORYTIME: MY SISTER IS ACTUALLY THE KING OF HELL *NOT CLICKBAIT*
lauren (4.5★) · 10095 likes
anyway...a movie AND .a two hour reminder to take your birth control