"Hereditary": The Real Horror Lies in the Reality Behind the Story!

The film made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States in January 2018 and was released in the country in June of the same year. While there are some negative reviews, including those that find the plot inexplicable, the majority of reviewers have given it positive feedback.

Director Ari Aster also wrote the screenplay for the film. "Hereditary" is his feature film debut and showcases his distinctive style in terms of cinematography, angles, and narrative approach.

Traditionally, people often say the most important aspect of a film is the "story." But how many truly fresh stories are there to tell? The real importance of a film lies in "how the story is told." "Hereditary" takes a rather conventional tale of a cult summoning a demon and tells it in a distinctive, fresh, and high-quality manner.

The film begins with a funeral then takes the audience on a terrifying journey through a family's horrifying experiences, culminating in a tragic ending. It poses the question, "Is it a tragedy or an even greater tragedy?"

Behind this spine-chilling and deeply unsettling story lies an even colder and harsher truth. "Hereditary" hints at the start that Annie's deceased mother suffered from dissociative identity disorder and dementia. Dissociative identity disorder is what used to be called "multiple personality disorder."

As the plot unfolds, we learn through Annie's accounts that her father starved to death due to mental illness, and her brother hanged himself.

As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that Annie's daughter, Charlie, may have some degree of autism. Annie herself exhibits symptoms of sleepwalking and, during one episode, nearly sets her son on fire by applying flammable paint to him while sleepwalking.

However, just as the film hints at a "greater tragedy" in the classroom scene, the entire story descends into an uncontrollable and dark direction, ultimately sinking into darkness.

On the surface, "Hereditary" tells the story of a cult's attempts to summon the demon Paimon by sacrificing Annie's family and finding a host for the demon. But beneath this tale lies a narrative that reveals the dual apathy stemming from both the family and society toward those suffering from mental illnesses.

Statistics about autism and mental illness rates in the United States provide context for understanding the themes and symbolism in "Hereditary."

In the film, the cult seeks to summon Paimon, the ninth demon of Hell. Paimon is described as having a female face but behaving in a masculine manner, often associated with the title "King of the Angels."

Paimon wears a crown, rides a one-humped camel, and has the ability to command both legions of demons and angels. He is not solely a "fallen angel"; he embodies a duality of good and evil, light and darkness. This is reflected in the film as Paimon's manifestation is accompanied by a rainbow-colored halo rather than the typical "black mist" often associated with depictions of demonic entities.

On one hand, as the film explicitly states, he is the "harbinger of doom," and on the other hand, he is in charge of "science, art, and mysticism," with the ability to fathom all secrets. If he is willing, he can instantly bestow these abilities upon humans.

Imagine if someone possessed such abilities, the world would have no more challenges. This person could become an exceptional figure among humans, holding absolute advantages in knowledge and skills, and could influence and control others through mental means, becoming the most prominent presence among humanity.

Therefore, in her letter, Annie's mother wrote, "Our sacrifices are nothing compared to the rewards we have gained."

In the film, the unsettling clucking sound is associated with Paimon's name, which means the "clicking" sound. The decapitation theme in the movie also relates to Paimon's preference for severed heads.

Looking at the summoning aspect of the story, it appears that Annie's mother and the cult members are lured by their desires to gain the ability to "fathom all secrets" and they use sacrificial rituals to summon Paimon.

What about a more human perspective?

The cult members who have a prominent presence in the film are portrayed as individuals who have experienced misfortune and severe psychological trauma.

Annie's mother may have turned to the cult and sought the power of Paimon as a way to cope with the traumatic loss of her husband, who died of starvation due to illness. She might have done this in the hope of bringing her husband back, as suggested by the photograph of her in a wedding dress, seemingly immersed in happiness.

In extreme psychological distress, the emergence of dissociative identity or multiple personalities can serve as a coping mechanism to escape from the most unbearable emotional pain.

The reason for Annie's brother's suicide may indeed be rooted in the lack of love and care he received from their mother from a very young age.

At 16, he would have been at a critical stage of psychological development, a time when children need more attention. He might have faced academic pressures, romantic confusions, or even bullying in school. However, he had no one to confide in. The genetic predisposition to mental illness eventually overwhelmed him.

Annie in the film clearly exhibits two distinct, "dissociated" states, as if she has different versions of herself. Her brother's tragedy left her filled with resentment and fear towards her mother, and being unable to trust the one remaining family member would have created profound loneliness and despair.

In the film, Annie and her mother have a distant and strained relationship. Perhaps it's because her mother had once tried to "host" Paimon within her, and under great fear and stimulation, she split into another version of herself.

However, considering her mother's condition, it can be inferred that she believed during her illness that only her bloodline could summon back her "loved one," which is why she only saw her children as targets.

Throughout the film, we can also see that Annie and her husband's relationship is not very intimate. There is very little physical affection between the couple – hardly any hugging or kissing. It's more like they are cohabiting under the same roof. And when Annie faces overwhelming distress, she has no one to confide in and ends up attending a "support group" to express her feelings to strangers.

Charlie, the daughter, has a facial deformity and is socially isolated. She has no friends and prefers to hide in her treehouse. When she doesn't come home one night, her brother Peter is unaware of her whereabouts. She also has a severe nut allergy, which her brother Peter overlooks when she eats a piece of chocolate cake.

Her main concern is who will take care of her in the future.

The grandmother, who orchestrates the whole plan and involves Annie, lost her son and grandson in a drowning accident. When Annie visits her, we see that there are no other people in her house. It's evident that she's an elderly woman who has lost all her family members and lives alone.

"Hereditary" indeed delves into themes of isolation, loneliness, indifference, and alienation, making these aspects more terrifying than any supernatural elements. It portrays a world where even your closest and most beloved family members fail to genuinely care about, accept, or understand you. All the stress and pain you endure have to be borne alone. When these feelings accumulate and ferment within, they can eventually consume you, leading you into a dark place.

The concept of Paimon in "Hereditary," although a creation by the director, represents the way society often views people with mental health issues as if they were "demon followers." When a person experiences extreme despair and helplessness, they may turn to a form of "self-help." However, this act of "self-help" can often appear as something malevolent or irrational to others.

The comparison between "Hereditary" and "The Shining" is apt, as both films share similar structures. They use horror and suspense to highlight the sense of isolation and coldness that people often experience in real-life society.

I wholeheartedly agree that a good horror film goes beyond merely providing jump scares; it makes you deeply contemplate while addressing real-world issues. "Hereditary" certainly achieves this!