Midsommar's Audiovisual Tricks

There's a reason for every shot, and every sound.
Just take a look at Midsommar's opening.
You find them...by overanalyzing and stretching the hell out of everything. But it's realllly fun, so take it easy and enjoy.
Also, what is NOT a nightmare - my merch:
www.bonfire.com/store/spikima/
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Extra Credits:
Equinox by Purrple Cat | purrplecat.com
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Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Ambience: sound from www.freesound.org/people/klank...
Timestamp
0:00 Introduction
1:02 The Insert
2:11 i. Audio
4:50 Gassed
6:08 ii. Visual
8:12 Psychedelics
9:29 Unusual Effects
10:05 Conclusion
10:45 Thank you
#Movie
#Horror
#Midsommar

[@Strega_del_Corvo]

Florence Pugh really should have won an award for her performance. I’ve never seen someone display grief so well.

[@AriDrag]

It was superb. I think the only person who rivals her is Toni Collette in Hereditary. I lost a pregnancy once, and her grieving on the bedroom floor after her daughter was killed was a almost identical to what happened to me.

[@Lilbuckets2]

It was breathtaking to watch

[@canyounot4706]

I think another actor who displays grief well is Ewan McGregor. The man can shatter your heart when the director calls for him to cry

[@Alyzvettema]

I swear tho every time she cried, i was in tears. I just believed everything she was putting out

[@brainglow_lightbright]

Yeah for sure. But if Collette wasn’t even nominated for her performance in hereditary then Pugh didn’t have a shot unfortunately

[@KenzieBenzieee]

The tube in Terri’s mouth felt so aggressive. And taking her parents with her had this possessiveness, it made me so uncomfortable.

[@bellapaton7512]

That part was terrifying

[@adaharrisonn]

Well it wasnt really her that killed them or herself. It was Pelle.

[@TheWelchProductions]

@@adaharrisonn Where did you get that idea? Terri committed a murder-suicide, gassing her parents and herself while they were asleep.

[@adaharrisonn]

@@TheWelchProductions because it was part of pelle's orchestration, at the end you realized he was the one who lured them up there all along and had been planning on doing so from the beginning and had to get rid of people who would stand in the way, as well as the mural at the beginning shows that that event was going to happen. There's of course not proof in the film that it was him but it was highly hypothesized because he had to do something to begin to break Dani down emotionally to get her to agree to going on the trip.

[@skyandclouds5625]

@@adaharrisonn that's what I think too. Dani even said the message was weird and didn't sounds like her sister.

[@leo_vfx_jpeg]

Terri's gas mask shot is an absolutely terrifying piece of imagery that still haunts me to this day.

[@themcmexchange2938]

the opening of midsommar made me contemplate leaving the cinema I had never felt that level of dread watching a movie for the first time ever I questioned "what have I got myself into", ari aster films just hit different, a master of psychological horror.

[@johnrobinson2228]

Yes after that visual I turned off the film and didn’t come back to it for maybe a week or more. It disturbed me in a way no other piece of art ever had before.

[@danielaardila5081]

By the time I watched this movie my older sister had tried to commit suicide, watching this scene reminded me a lot of that died, fortunately the way she did it wasn't enough to kill her and I have no idea how Dany was alive after that point, seeing or hearing that someone you love might be death or tried to die is something that I don't wish on anyone. I'm not terrified of that image, I'm saddened by it.

[@leo_vfx_jpeg]

@@danielaardila5081 I'm sorry to hear that. Yeah it's a disturbing scene, and with the additional baggage of familial homicide I can imagine it can be triggering to those who've experience something along those lines...

[@leo_vfx_jpeg]

@@themcmexchange2938 He knows what gets under our skin and I love him for that.

[@katdroidd]

Interestingly, Dani's cries are blended in to the music at the beginning of the film, while Christian's cries at the end are masked by the music. We know this because someone removed the music layer of the end scene to reveal the actors sounds.

[@spacepulse836]

oh God those sounds...

[@4to5MouseHive]

which videos show this?

[@4to5MouseHive]

@@katdroidd jesus that's haunting. Is there a video that describes how Dani's cries are blended in the music at the beginning?

[@missbluesea]

The cleverness/intertextuality/intersection of this movie and its elements is endlessly impressive! ❤️👌

[@efoxkitsune9493]

That is so impressive... I don't think I have the stomach to listen to it, but wow.

[@fatuousinnovatorofsadness4640]

Dani's trauma is also represented by yellow. You see it become more prominent as the film goes on and even in the opening shot; from the color surrounding her parents and sister to being the thing she puts he boyfriend inside of and burns into pieces, covered in a flower dress that is itself half yellow. Burning the trauma she hates. Wearing the trauma she needs. And it conveys this message to us only through color throughout the film.

[@flux.aeterna]

Well spotted! Yellow is also very fitting for this film, since it typically represents sunlight, joy, flowers, and at the same time also is the color of warning signs, caution tape, and some poisonous animals. It’s a perfect and fitting device to use in a film that dresses horror in the warm light of day.

[@Crazymota]

One of the flowers in the film in the beginning, the part where they are walking through the forest, the little yellow flowers are apparently St. John's wort which has antidepressant properties to it... Dani suffers from anxiety for sure and likely depression.

[@Jay-qh6uv]

Her sister is also wearing a yellow shirt and uses a yellow hose to commit the murder/suicide. Her parents are sleeping in yellow sheets.

[@lubby9438]

The sun entrance to Hårga is also yellow, adding to the warning theme of the color.

[@Crazymota]

@@lubby9438 yes!!!

[@Minam0]

The gas mask shot still upsets me when I think about it and the face in the trees. That reveal just felt so purely evil in a way that's hard to explain.

[@Shiny0285]

I literally never noticed the face in the trees until just now.

[@daltonhilton5870]

Time?

[@elilass8410]

@@daltonhilton5870 6:27

[@Kateiswriting]

What's really unsettling is when the film makes you feel safe, even though you know it shouldn't. There's something so seductive about it and that's part of the horror.

[@FekraaToy]

@@Shiny0285 عبدالله

[@lorenatorquato5047]

Dani's/Florence's cry is never, ever leaving my brain. It moved me in a way I cannot describe.

[@kaija9035]

its because it isnt pretty. just pure pain in her voice. what an amazing actress she is

[@theknack]

Same, in the cinema it was so loud/powerful.

[@blipflipped6680]

First time she wailed, I felt overwhelmingly distressed, and so sorry for Dani. Like, the film's barely started, and I already wanted to hug her cuz' that's something NOONE deserves to go through. But the second time she wailed, after seeing what her boyfriend was doing, I literally cried. By that point, I've followed her story the whole time, invested in her, sympathized with her, rooted for her, saw how terrible Christian is to her, so I cry with her and it was so powerful seeing her purge and let out all of her pain, anxiety, heartbreak and grief she repressed for so long. Florence was so phenomenal, but her crying was so damn authentic and emotional. Crying is the soul's cleansing, it's not meant to look "pretty", and she let LOOSE - which is 100% realistic. She's amazing.

[@Crazymota]

@@blipflipped6680 god yes, 💯 to all of this. Her crying made me cry, her anxiety gave me anxiety (I do already have anxiety). I felt like a mirror to her. I have yet to watch this movie and not ugly cry and I've seen it at least 6 times.

[@MisterWub]

Just as painful as Toni Collete’s cry in Hereditary. I’m not sure which one is worse.

[@ckotcher1]

Once again Ari uses daytime and brightness 🔆 and proves its more terrifying than darkness because there’s nowhere to hide. And of course he incapsulates grief perfectly. Unlike most movies where someone cries and then you never see them grieve again, Dani’s grief haunts her and the audience the whole movie.

[@heysatan8]

Just like in Hereditary. *spoiler alert* The way the brother reacts to accidentally killing his sister. How he cant look back at her body and just goes to bed, completely numb and in shock, and then the mothers reaction upon discovering the body.... it was the most realistic and disturbing depiction of s traumatic event i have ever seen! It blew me away and i still cant believe both actors didnt win an academy award for it

[@ckotcher1]

@@heysatan8 Excellent point! I found that one of the most realistic and therefore unsettling portrayals of shock and grief as well. People don’t burst into tears right away, they go into shock and freeze or let out an almost inhuman wail. Granted, everyone has a different reaction. But most movies are written to make grief so fake and over the top. And I think both actors in Hereditary (Toni and the son) were robbed at the Oscars as well.

[@ZarrysLux]

*and Florence Pugh's acting is fucking good*

[@Zatoka.]

More than good. She's next level.

[@brodypenn]

Terri's corpse and then Dani's crying was some of the most intense and depressing movie scenes ever. The way it was done with the music and cause of death and long shots makes it my favorite scene, but so terrifying.

[@heysatan8]

I know what you mean, i feel exactly the same way about the death in Hereditary and the reaction to it. Deeeeply disturbing in how realistic it felt. Best acting and directing ive ever see

[@Harmonic_Divergence]

that scene with Dani crying made my dog howl when i watched it with him it was so powerful

[@katiejacobson543]

little detail i just noticed now: Dani’s last name is ardor stemming from the latin ardere meaning to burn. how cool!

[@Agus_Tinax]

Yes. Ardor in spanish means burning.

[@alissarmoussa947]

in portuguese 'ardor' refers to a burning feeling

[@sharknado623]

In Italian "ardore" means a burning feeling or passion, even a burning flame.

[@jaycook6639]

This is cool, thanks!

[@pudu666]

@@Agus_Tinax nope...

[@TinyLifeboat123]

I just realised the yellow burning triangular house looks like terris mask ... and the smoke comes out the door, where the pipe would be

[@naan000]

omg... you're right...

[@sarahl701]

OMG

[@miramuchachito296]

Omg. This film has so many hidden details. So much for onr pair of eyes. Masterpiece!

[@foolishlord192]

Including her past inside, all burned away.

[@johanaklaudyova8764]

A triangle is also a magical symbol for fire. So many clues in this movie fr

[@mischr13]

I saw the images she's seeing of her sister as something haunting her. It's fucked up, but my brother died by suicide and even though I never saw him, I would wonder what he looked like. I don't know why I would imagine such a thing, I'm glad I never saw him like that but it doesn't stop my brain from going there...

[@rentacop7038]

That's terrible I am sorry for your loss but I think that its better that you didn't see him when that happened that type of visual can be very traumatic same thing happened to my uncles my uncle knew he was dying and went to bed and passed away in his sleep and my other uncle found him dead in his bed and it destroyed him completely

[@cristinagibson3157]

Sending you light and love💖🌌 I had a friend that committed suicide...my mom knew the funeral director and I heard all the details. She had a closed casket. I'm still haunted by her and wondering about that night when she was alone.

[@workchannel8053]

I'm so sorry for you loss. I don't think it says anything bad about you that it's something you wonder about, though. Our brains seek to understand the things that hurt us, and while it can give us some unpleasant thoughts it's completely natural. I hope you're doing ok ❤️

[@joogullae3456]

Goddamn

[@rotroom]

I never noticed her sisters face in the trees before that shit is terrifying

[@cassinipanini]

I didn't notice half of these things like the undulating mountains, WOW

[@Tina_95]

Same here! This is one of my favorite "horror" movies and I've watched it so many times and never even noticed how much the background is just moving around during the May Queen part. Wild stuff!

[@GlennDavey]

The mountains and the flowers I'm thinking "oh so it's like acid, got it." Probably the best representation of psychedelics I've seen for a while.

[@heysatan8]

One of my favorite things about this movie are the psychedelic effects bc of how incredibly accurate they are. As someone who’s done lsd and mushrooms, these effects are the most realistic depiction ive ever seen in film. The undulating mountains and trees, the pulsating flowers... incredible.

[@GlennDavey]

Same here, but gotta add I also thought the undulating mountains served double duty to also represent GAS in the atmosphere...

[@shaylarobinson3934]

@@GlennDavey GAS? i’m a little confused

[@GlennDavey]

@@shaylarobinson3934 remember how the sister and parents died. The movie is about her grief and guilt.

[@ShatteredWindowpane]

@@GlennDavey That's a cool detail I never noticed. Thanks for that

[@WobblesandBean]

Yuuuuuup. The subtle undulating of the hills, pulsating, even the air seeming to wave and roll like water was very accurate.

[@schrodinger1374]

The image of Terri’s gas mask feels personally terrifying to me. I’ve never lost someone to suicide, but have struggled with it myself. I can usually handle cliche depictions of suicide (hangings, shootings), but this just felt so real. It was like looking at your own corpse. Had to turn off the movie and come back to it later.

[@Goldlucky13]

same. i had gnarly ideas for myself in my head. seeing something that isn't as dramatic/romanticized/cheap gore really rocked me. hope you're doing well these days :)

[@ilonakonradsheim3988]

In a weird way… it felt like a deja vu for me… I didn’t even get the scene in that moment but it felt like … I knew it in some way. And at the same time so far away and alienated.

[@RockandRollsince1992]

Watching movies like that when you are close to the same mindset or already in it is extremely terrifying. I felt the same when I watched Joker.

[@michaelj1729]

I love Ari Aster's way of directing and every little details he incorporates in every scene specially that bear painting in the beginning while Dani sleeps under it. Midsommar might not be as horrifying as Hereditary but damn it sticks with you after you watch it. Deeply unsettling.

[@ChanelROETV]

Yeah it definitely sticks with you, I couldn’t sleep right for like three days

[@mothsforeyes]

Rewatching both Hereditary and MidSommar after I lost both my parents last year (mum a week before Christmas) has reinforced MidSommar as my favourite of his feature length films. The way he captures grief throughout both is astounding, but MidSommar really captures the ubiquitous, seemingly banal sting of grief in such a painfully accurate way. At least for me.

[@GlennDavey]

Hereditary was meh for me. Didn't quite hold together. But Midsommar I haven't seen because it already terrifies me on an intellectual and emotional level. So there's that.

[@abigaileldritch]

This movie is exactly what it feels like when you live with trauma. It lingers in every single nook and cranny in your brain.

[@stantwitter1016]

This is why I don’t understand how Midsommar receives Zero nomination from the Oscar

[@SteelyDanzig]

Because the Academy doesn't like genre movies unless there's a big star attached to it

[@TheWelchProductions]

I’ve lost all faith in the Academy a long time ago.

[@shatteredscry]

@@SteelyDanzig and that right there is the bias to nominations 🤦‍♀️ it’s a shame when people don’t get credit where it’s due.

[@dylanroemmele906]

Award shows are just elites jacking other elites off.

[@jbvader721]

The Academy always has and always will hold an unfair bias against horror.

[@pearhouse6350]

I experienced several back-to-back traumas right before seeing this movie in the theater with close friends (they thought I should get out of the house etc). Maybe it was the timing, but I found this movie weirdly and deeply comforting. I tried to watch it again recently, and only then did I actually start to get a sense of any discomfort. I was confused - I didn't remember the movie being this unsettling. The world just flows differently when you're grieving. There's a disconnect. When you're in it, Dani is a comforting lens of solidarity. When you're out of it or were never in it at all, Dani is a constant reminder of deep discomfort that we either find unfamiliar or all too familiar. The fact that the film works so succinctly and objectively with the concept of grief is a marvel of its own. The arguments you brought up about how the sound design and visuals work in tandem with the portrayed emotions of Dani is something I never noticed before, and probably one of the most prominent roots of the visceral success of this film. Thank you for your analysis!

[@dude5336]

I experienced the same thing! When I saw this movie in theaters I had just experienced some horrible stuff (having to do with exactly how danis family died) so when I was watching I thought the ending was so comforting and I found myself wishing I had experienced a support system like she did in the end.I recently rewatched and now that I’m older and a little more healed I was in shock that I ever thought the ending was positive. So weird!

[@mjodrbirnavalkyrie5830]

Ditto. I watched this movie soon after my dad died by suicide, and found myself happy for Dani who found a support system in her grief where mine was mid-Pandemic. Now a few years healed and I can recognize the cult's love bombing and manipulation of Dani. Which seems obvious now, but to someone who's grieving it could feel like home. Which is one of the reasons I love this movie, that was the horror of it for me. I could have been Dani.

[@nahleighodriscoll9226]

Absolutely agreed. Dani's isolation in her grief gave me some peace of mind because I'd always have to remove myself when I was struggling to keep it together, so not only did I feel the disconnect caused by the grief itself, but a disconnect from my loved ones. The deranged peace she found at the end made me feel hopeful lol. I remember watching this with friends and they'd joke about certain scenes or found it massively disturbing - and it is! - but I remember feeling very irritated with them and further distanced because I'd connected with this film emotionally. Grief is one of the most surreal experiences of anyone's life, and I feel like Midsommar depicted this so amazingly.

[@cats1900]

I am so glad to see this comment. I also have experienced this strange comfort.

[@sydposting]

There's an unattributed saying: "Art should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed," or something along those lines. Films like Midsommar completely embody that spirit. Some days, you watch it and you notice new details that disturb you in how much was going on in the background. Other days, you wish you were in Dani's position, invited to this impossibly bright and happy place and made into the Most Important Person. It's a rare story that gives you this feeling, and I love it.

[@mooni0724]

despite Dani never really seeing terry's corpse, it makes sense how it would follow her. she never saw her family when they died, and even if she were given a description it wouldn't be enough to fill in all the gaps. so in response she makes her own reality, she *imagines* what they felt, what they looked like, and how it all went down. it's a natural thing to do during grief i've discovered. i know my grandmother died in her sleep, and everyone says it was peaceful and painless-but i wasn't there, i didn't see it, i don't know all she might've felt in that moment. so somedays i still catch myself doubting, and imagine a reality that's way worse than it actually was

[@sal7355]

the way Midsommar deals with grief, but also cults is just astonishing. Before going to the cult, all of the visuals are mundane and gray. After, the imagery is bright and comforting. It tricks the viewer into comfort. Horror films are dark, but happier films are light in color. it makes the viewer subconsciously think “this place can’t be so bad,” like the way someone being tricked into joining a cult may think. it’s just so cool.

[@TaylorLee]

One of the strongest scenes to me was after she saw her boyfriend cheating on her and she cried with the group of girls. The way they cried in sync and displayed empathy was just so strong and moving. It’s truly a feeling that cannot be described. The deepest form of empathy.

[@Fyctiongal]

I felt like that horrifying imagery of the family’s death was Dani’s own picture in her mind of it. I assumed that they would have told her on the phone what they found and she then conjured up the image of her sister and parents. Which is horrifying of course. Brilliantly sharing Dani’s trauma with the visual language of cinema 🎬 just subbed to you I love your insights

[@SingingWolf98]

"Anxiety is a subjective nightmare that is impossible to fully communicate and share" that's.... beautiful in its accuracy

[@elsakristina2689]

I love horror movies, I love Sweden and so far I've only been able to watch this movie in full ONCE. It made me that uncomfortable. Hearing Dani crying and screaming is the most heartbreaking sound I've ever heard in a film. It completely overwhelms you, it makes you hope and pray you'll never have any reason at all to cry like that. When it shows her sister dead, I can't even look at her. It's the most horrifying movie opening I've ever seen. Ari Aster is a GENIUS. He's definitely one of my favourite filmmakers. He understands anxiety, despair, trauma, how it manifests and its impacts so deeply.

[@heysatan8]

Have you seen Hereditary? There is a very similar scene in that with toni collete scream crying that shakes you to your very core. Deeply disturbing and realistic and heartbreaking. Ari Aster is a genius, agreed

[@michelleang9870]

It's because Ari was going through a breakup/divorce when he made his movies. He knows what grief is.

[@elsakristina2689]

@@heysatan8 I saw it a couple months after I first watched Midsommar. Wasn’t able to rewatch that for a year either.

[@IVISMiLESIVI]

This guy needs to analyze Annihilation if he hasn't already. That movie is beautiful and terrifying. The soundtrack is equally so.

[@OttoSomething]

That movie is one of the few movies I have ever seen that I immediately re-watched after my first viewing. It was an experience.

[@patthomas2013]

The books are really great too! Highly recommend if you're into sci-fi

[@IVISMiLESIVI]

@@patthomas2013 I'm not one for books but I might make an exception for this.

[@AAFinkle]

@@IVISMiLESIVI I got sucked into the books just to understand the world more, I rarely do that, and it was enthralling

[@KayMarieD]

@@IVISMiLESIVI they are short if that helps. I'm slow at reading and I finish in a day. That and I couldn't put it down

[@personperson4708]

I almost sense a jealousy in Dani from the dream sequences. Terri took her parents to be with her - they are together in death as a family. Terri looks over at her from the bed, possessively near their parents

[@ThomasFlight]

Absolutely love this breakdown! Midsommar is one of the most unsettling movies I've seen and I've avoided examining it because I don't want to have to watch it that much, so I appreciate you doing the dirty work.

[@SpikimaMovies]

Much appreciated Thomas. It was definitely painful to be in 'Midsommar mode' for a few weeks. Not to mention listening to that song repeatedly. Phew, that was a dark time.

[@malako777A]

I just want to hold Dani and just tell her that she is not alone...

[@kaija9035]

but that is part of the horror... she is alone and so are you. which makes this movie so genius

[@jayreese8522]

That's exactly what got her into Harga - them embracing her and saying that she wasn't alone.

[@WhiteChocolate74]

She's a sweetheart

[@deburrito6882]

The pulsating flower literally just sent chills down my arms, that is so trippy

[@mollytaylor8122]

5:40 "The line between noise and music becomes clouded." Honestly, I feel like that sentence perfectly sums up the entire plot of the movie. At the start of the movie, Dani's life has been nothing but dissonant noise - a sister to constantly watch out for, a boyfriend who is distant and somewhat emotionally abusive, etc. The cult takes advantage of this by placing her in the middle of the Midsommar festival. The place is an absolute dream, where reality is mixed up and the impossible becomes truth...but Dani is constantly at war with herself, questioning whether it's a good dream or a nightmare. By the end, she has gone through so much trauma and confusion that she loses the ability to tell the difference between heaven and hell - music and dissonant noise - entirely. So, in a way, I suppose the entire movie was foreshadowed in the first 12 minutes by the "music" score alone.

[@metamorphoseis_]

I'm convinced that this director has a thing for the horror in breathing bc in hereditary there was something similar in the mother crying after, well, you know (don't wanna spoil the movie)

[@mehya3266]

Right? Hearing Dani cry and scream made me think of that scene too!!

[@GettinSpooky]

omg I have seen this movie so many times and I never noticed the flowers or the mountains. HOLY. SHIT

[@Guerrillablackdog]

Same! My mind was blown! 🤯

[@Crazymota]

I just noticed the mountains but noticed the other stuff.

[@gena9731]

same!!! wow

[@GlennDavey]

The mountains also look like there's a gas leak somewhere... so many layers

[@bunnywavyxx9524]

same I remember the flowers/plants growing and moving but somehow not the pulsating flower? or the moving mountains or blooming flowers. It becomes normal to us just like it does for Dani. Woah.

[@ellaboehme6748]

Midsommar is the only film that’s ever emotionally terrified and impacted me in a way I can’t explain. It’s the only movie that’s ever really scared me. As a filmmaker, I’m obsessed with the art of the film and how creative and genius it is that it scared me so much, but yeah. Still extremely traumatic.

[@isabella4672]

Daylight horror is so hard to achieve, but ari did it so well this is why he is my favourite director, I've seen so many horror movies but this is the one that has really stuck with me.

[@SmConnally1984]

Exactly. It's a flawless masterpiece and one of the rare examples of art (be it music, film, painting, sculpture, etc) being so closely connected to the source of the feelings depicted, that it is truly unsettling... because it is TRUE tapped into the Source...of... whatever it is that's being mined..

[@cruisingscenesandtakingbea4197]

"as a filmmaker" Yeah, im one of those too, everyone is apparently.

[@ellaboehme6748]

@@cruisingscenesandtakingbea4197 it’s almost like the large majority of people who’d watch a video essay on analyzing a films audio visuals are filmmakers 🫠

[@cruisingscenesandtakingbea4197]

@@ellaboehme6748 You arent a filmmaker and neither is the large majority of people who'd watch a video essay. I dont know what youve done to convince yourself that youre a filmmaker but whatever it is, i doubt its enough to call yourself one.

[@harrietalice7783]

I've always loved the use of minimal sound in Asian horror, it's so effective compared to the typically over-wrought scores of American films. So it was really a refreshing change to watch a film like Midsommar that used silence so elegantly and effectively.

[@porkeywings]

I watched this movie high asf expecting a normal horror movie. Didn't sleep well that night I kept seeing the images of the death scenes every time I closed my eyes. I've never had a film disturb me that much before. What a masterpiece of terror, Ari Aster is a genius.

[@shatteredscry]

It seems more effective that we didn’t even hear the phone call between Dani and the police, because getting news like that can’t be fathomed.

[@SethHMG]

I’ve made a few notifications like that and takes everything out of everyone. Made my hands shake.

[@shatteredscry]

@@SethHMGNow, unfortunately, I know what that’s like

[@pyametra]

Aster really nailed the feeling of hallucinating better than any movie I've ever seen. They usually make it goofy and cartoon like but its very subtle in reality. Breathing trees and exaggerated lighting.

[@Valeirra]

god, I love this movie. movies that mess with you psychologically are some of the most impressive out there. if i'm gonna take the time to watch a "scary" movie, I want to be legitimately scared. no jump scares, no tricks, no gore, just straight up mental fuckery. just like he said in the video, I truly felt like dani by the end, just like you're supposed to. so amazing, thank god for ari aster

[@NickJJU]

I agree, but there was definitely gore in Midsommar

[@goldbirdcages]

Hearing Dani's screaming flowing into the violins at the start of the movie still blows my mind!

[@PeterPeh]

Not only "Gassed" is a brilliant soundtrack by Bobby Krlic, but also "Fire Temple" which plays at the end, as Dani watches the temple with Christian inside slowly burn down. To me, this track is emblematic of Dani's emotional state at the end of the film. It is such a beautiful, but at the same time so terrifying and ambivalent Adagio! It is the soft and slow flowing string movements that are always accompanied by a subtle and glistening "fear", a foreboding just waiting to erupt. Especially at the end, when the melody at its climax slowly collapses into an atonal, shrieking and buzzing violin chaos, like the burning temple with the people inside itself. I have personally never heard anything so hauntingly beautiful and so horrific at the same time. Especially the last part of "fire temple" accompanied by Dani's smile in the final scene gave me the chills! Midsommar is an audio-visual masterpiece!

[@SmConnally1984]

I couldn't agree more. And also the delicate fairytale vibe to the introduction, Prophesy, and also (mainly) in The House that Hårga Built... something about the soft little notes that are plucked, it churned up so many emotions and thoughts in me. The soundtrack is incredible. I actually listen to it for pleasure.

[@Soph-bg1vo]

I've never even noticed some of these effects, especially the breathing flower. Super unsettling and impactful when you notice

[@hareypujols9059]

Also, I watched this very high and I’ve never gotten such bad anxiety from a movie, but like I loved it cause it wasn’t just some jumpscare stuff

[@Crazymota]

Omg! Right! I already have anxiety and watched it high and it made me fucking wail and gave me so much anxiety the first time.

[@kurtyking6424]

I watched on edibles with a friend and they made me pause the movie at the cliff scene so they could have a lie down. We’d bother seen it multiple times before

[@Crazymota]

@@kurtyking6424 I watched it on edibles too!

[@SpikimaMovies]

What's your favourite moment from Midsommar? *Also, in the Director's Cut, before Christian gets put into the bear, the man exposes Christian's legs and unravels a razor floss before cutting to the next scene. He may have cut Christian's legs off to fit him in the bear :D Have a wonderful day. (Was making my booklet and just thought I'd share this with everyone. Cheers)

[@Zeburakeki]

The ending!

[@TheLazyReviewer]

That fucking opening scene!!! Holy shit one hell of a way for the film to start. But also the scene where Dani breaks down and the cult mimics her crying that was unsettling and somehow endearing

[@braydongreen9943]

Cliff scene lives in my mind rent free always

[@rjrentie1107]

The cult's mirroring of Dani's heartbreak scene. That scene always freezes my blood every time i see it

[@DiinoZenny]

The cliff scene. The beautiful blue of the clothes, the white of the rocks, and the red. That music too.

[@songbird6414]

I’ve been told about seven times to watch this movie, and I finally put it on, going “oh it can’t be that bad”. I was not prepared in the slightest.

[@SEAsnake22]

I wouldn’t consider myself a sensitive person but during that scene with Dani crying I almost had to leave the theater. Absolutely amazing work

[@madeofmeats]

I really really love this movie and how much it jerks you around and surprises you, so imagine my disdain when I watched it with my mom and she managed to call out basically every twist haha

[@andrewstephens5885]

it is very predictable if you’re paying attention and thinking lol

[@4to5MouseHive]

what twist lmao

[@madeofmeats]

@@andrewstephens5885 well she predicted the sister killing the parents like a minute in and then she also predicted Christian being sanctioned to mate with Maya before he even spoke to the elder. This is the same woman who falls asleep during every movie she watches, it took me by surprise

[@markec123]

I think this movie will be way more appreciated in a few years than it is now. Hereditary was just too hard to follow up and people thought something similar has to follow and rated the movie comparing it to Hereditary. I thought it was incredible and harrowing and Aster directed this movie perfectly. Could become the new The Shining level of appreciation after few years. Can't wait to see more from Aster.

[@Crazymota]

I saw Hereditary before Midsommar but I still prefer Midsommar. I identified with Dani so much, Florence's depiction of anxiety feels so real. When she has anxiety and cries I felt it and cried too.

[@gabriellebueche3643]

I thought your take was pretty unique compared to others, really focusing on the technical details that shape the narrative. I thought you really illuminated the abstract narrative (when things are for us, when they are for Dani, what aster was saying about specific experiences, how we're made anxious) by pointing out the concrete means thru which they are implied (the framing, background images, the breathing flower). Awesome job!

[@charlesandhisworld]

holy shit i didn't even notice the moving mountains

[@patthomas2013]

Really great additional analysis. It's important to really understand Dani's trauma and lonliness in order to fully understand how someone as vulnerable as her can be manipulated into an utterly evil cult of people (who have mastered the guise of a sweet, pious town). She is so empty of love and so full of fear and anxiety, so much that I want to cry for her, and hold her that she can not truly mourn with the distractions of lore and drugs. I truly hate Pelle. He's truly the main antagonist and has no love for Dani--he could care less about the death of her family (he allows his brother to die, and implies his parents died via ritual as well).

[@summerskull9379]

Holy shit that's terrifying 6:26 I wish someone would make an entire video of these shots

[@luismacara8467]

The only scene that really got to me was the crying scene, It was by far the most hateful, most rage-inducing thing I've ever seen. When she is crying and they are around her mimicking, I don't remember the last time I felt so much rage and hate at the same time, it was disgusting on so many levels I hardly could see it throughg

[@wickandwax]

Really? I found it extremely cathartic.

[@luismacara8467]

@@wickandwax I have no idea how that's possible. That was the most disturbing scene I've seen in my life, maybe it's because I feel like they are robotic leeches feeding of her pain and amplifying it while pretending to care. It's pure evil, I think even Hitler would think that that was way too far

[@wyattmilliken3320]

​@@luismacara8467 ok dude calm down.

[@janestauss1057]

See I find it funny that you took anger and rage from that when on my first watch through that scene was tremendously comforting haha

[@Mahmoud.Kiblawi]

@@luismacara8467 that is pretty fucked u not that I think about it

[@OCMOOO]

Wonder Ari Aster sleeps well with all that genuinely gut-churning imagery Chirst imagine having a bad trip watching his movies

[@user-yv9iw5bg3t]

This movie itself is a bad trip…

[@siqnoir3626]

The first time I watched this movie, I was blown away. I told myself I had to watch it on hallucinogenics next. I did. Not the best idea. I was so immersed and literally felt uncomfortable and unsettled the entire time

[@NootalieWalf]

I can’t even watch an analysis of this damn movie without shattering into tears thinking about Dani. The way the movie conveys anxiety and PTSD (and psychedelics) is disturbingly accurate and really really painful to watch and think about.

[@Bandstand]

I might have to sub to you

[@thomaszampino6369]

Hey bro

[@Bandstand]

@@thomaszampino6369 what up ✌🏻

[@somebraveapollo8211]

There's no escaping you, huh?

[@joeltheowl3299]

To think this movie came out only 1 year after Hereditary a still has this insane amount of detail. Ari Aster is a beast.

[@whiskii]

After I watched this movie I went back and watched the ending 3 times, the Fire Temple song along with the ending is just the most incredible mix of disturbing and beautiful I've ever seen. I didn't think it was possible to achieve what Ari did there.

[@DiinoZenny]

Just found this channel today. Now one of my favorites. These are great!

[@suicidalchristg5923]

Lmao same!!

[@whiteberry130]

same

[@mr.masterhq3320]

YEP.

[@emmamay5469]

I can't stop seeing yellow everywhere now!

[@cryvengeance]

you're officially up there with my 2 other favourite movie "reviewers", spooky rice and dead meat

[@rinsen_repeat]

that scene where the old woman just splat on the rock: 10/10 bullseye perfect shot 👌

[@lordgrompuluskevinribbiton4319]

uploaded 17 seconds ago. So early I can't even think of a cringe comment to post.

[@SpikimaMovies]

Well you may be one of the few who caught me uploading this vid without a proper title.

[@lordgrompuluskevinribbiton4319]

@@SpikimaMovies Lol. BTW I really enjoy your video analyses. I have been binge watching them lately. You have a great ability to deconstruct individual scenes and why they invoke terror in the audience. Keep that baking that fresh content.

[@austins.2495]

@@lordgrompuluskevinribbiton4319 no, you nailed the cringey comment. Bragging about being early to a KZbin video is like bragging about pooping 4 times a day or something. No one cares, and it means nothing. Go outside, kid.

[@lordgrompuluskevinribbiton4319]

@@austins.2495 Hello there. I do not see my previous post as boastful. To me, commenting on how quickly you saw a video was uploaded is not inherently cringeworthy. Rather, it is the lazy, crude zingers people attach to such comments in a futile attempt to sound edgy that makes them cliche, repetitive, and ultimately cringe-inducing. Perhaps that was the original sentiment I wanted to highlight when I wrote the comment. In any case, I would encourage you to act a little less spiteful when you interact with others. I understand that this is the internet and most people are inherently vicious, but that is no excuse for you to act in a similar way. Also, did you know that Austin is a contraction of Augustinus, a Latin derivative of Augustus? It became very popular throughout much of Western Europe after the death of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, who brought Christianity to England. Have a wonderful day, friend.

[@man-sb4gs]

Did anybody else notice that the scene at 5:50 also looks like the first shot? The blue painting on Dani’s side (the moon, skull, death, sadness) and the lighter, orange painting on Christian’s side (the sun and fire which ends up killing him). Also the plant too? Just interesting.

[@jaykyob]

I've seen this movie so many times and I never noticed the mountains moving in the back!

[@Kay-kg6ny]

Just coming down here to say thanks for always having Korean subtitles for all your vids! I started learning Korean specifically because of Korean films and it's nice to have practice reading and writing about movies in Korean!

[@speakeasy366]

Ive only been able to watch midsommar 2 times. the second time i had a full blown panic attack. The intro was the single most terrifying piece of media ive ever seen.

[@LolGurrl91]

This film was one of the trippiest and artistically well done films that I have watch in a long time and nothing is spoon fed to you, you are never told how to feel, and you can empathize with the feel of isolation and loneliness that the main character goes through.

[@heavensdoor666]

How does this only have 650 views??? Finally a video that puts into words my love for the sound design and score. Great work!

[@JenIsRaadd]

Want your videos to last hours😭 keep up the amazing work

[@SpikimaMovies]

What a compliment. Thank you

[@gatheringleaves]

Note to everyone, please watch and listen with headphones for the full experience

[@daftymilk7601]

Have you ever consumed a piece of content so good that it was almost difficult watch? That’s exactly how I felt watching the movie as well as this video! Great stuff

[@AnneSofieLovesMozart]

Look at that disturbing, grinning sun in the opening picture, top right. Then think about the last picture of the film. Dani, smiling, devoured by light.

[@MemoryColor]

One thing that I noticed when first watching this movie is how Terri has the "gas mask" and vomit on her T-shirt in reality, but when Dani has flashbacks of the event, there is either no "gas mask" or vomit on her shirt.

[@lemonasticlaifu1505]

9:06 And here I was thinking I was going insane for seeing that moving flower

[@warriorrazorclaw480]

Oh my god, I never noticed the pulsating flower, even though it’s smack dab in the middle of so many shots. That’s super freaky. What an amazing detail.

[@countbrackmoor]

This makes me wanna watch it for a 3rd time but my god the runtime

[@slytherinsalazar4668]

03:30 As Akira Yamaoka stated: "Selecting moments of silence is another way of producing sound."

[@TheLazyReviewer]

Another great video and analysis of what makes this masterpiece works in unsettling the audience

[@panfluteskeleton]

I'm gonna put myself through a wall if Ari Aster doesnt make any more movies

[@trashdotcom753]

He doesn’t want to make any more horror movies apparently

[@panfluteskeleton]

@@trashdotcom753 I heard that too. Which is totally fine for me. I'd watch anything he makes

[@jonpontonkey1959]

The jump from the singing at the start to the loud, abrupt telephone ring really got me when I watched it.

[@empress_m]

goddamn your channel is a hidden gem.

[@Rhixera]

Love love love this movie and adore this analysis. Explains why I adore the movie so much but much more eloquently than I ever could. Keep up the amazing content!! I hope you thrive, you deserve it with all this hard work!

[@intheair1987]

I am so blown away by your video essays! It is so satisfying to see a masterpiece being taken apart and analyzed. Thanks!

[@jakeunderwood9]

Super stoked to have found your channel. I've scrolled through your other vids and I really love a lot of the stuff you've covered so far. Can't wait to watch more of your work.

[@DARESQUAD]

Spikimas channel is primed to boom any time now, amazing video as always :)

[@pyrrhichos]

Everything about this movie is so unsettling and I absolutely love it

[@poodled7794]

Your channel is a treat! Such a great analysis and beautifully presented, keep doing what you do!

[@YourPoint1981]

This is one thing that grips me about this movie - the music helps instill such a subliminal dread that sticks with you

[@dayulPH]

I freaking love this channel. I am so happy I found you today. I have been binging your videos and I am so glad I found a film lover that explains the story so well, in the horror genre!

[@vorpalpoet]

this video convinced me to watch Midsommar (I don't watch many movies, especially not horror) and I'm so glad I did. I'll be thinking about it for a long time as a story and as an artwork.

[@BekavonGames]

I love the way you see movies. You point out things I've never noticed before, like the flower moving in time with Dani's heartbeat. And the image of Teri in the trees, that was awesome. Gives me a new appreciation for Midsommar. Thank you!!

[@jeanamparan893]

Thank you man. Great analysis. One of my favorite movies of the century, seen it 3 times and never noticed the flower and moving mountains. It's mind-blowing. Keep up the good work, you just earned yourself another subscriber. Regards from Mexico.

[@Creed329]

This is great content dude, your channel will definitely blow up

[@Markovian_]

Loving it! Great angle.

[@mayonnaisesamurai]

omg brilliant video essay as usual!! I didn't catch many of the visual tricks cuz I was so immersed in the atmosphere as u mentioned, but seeing them now definitely makes me respect this movie 10x more than I already did (which was a lot)

[@rawkrXbabee]

woooooh hats off to you, this is why I watch every midsommar video essay I can find. This movie has so much in it, crazy. I've seen it twice and still didnt notice the flower heartbeat