Top 5 Reasons Why Hereditary is the Scariest Movie of the Year
You may have seen the ads all over the internet, but we're here to tell you just how terrifying this movie is. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 5 Reasons Why Hereditary Is the Scariest Movie of the Year.
#5: The Twists
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Okay we’re not going to get into any serious spoilers here in case you haven’t seen the movie for yourself, but let's just say that this movie does not unfold in a predictable way...at all. One of the issues with many horror films is how when you’ve seen enough of them, it becomes very easy to guess exactly what’s going to happen next. “Hereditary” is full of surprises though and you have to wait until the very end to understand exactly what has been happening to the Graham family.
#4: It's a Slow Burn
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Another way in which many modern horror movies are lacking is in their pacing. When you rush into the action, you miss out on the opportunity to build suspense and make the audience feel a looming dread. In “Hereditary”, you’re never sure when something horrific is about to take place, and you are inevitably on the edge of your seat the whole time waiting to see how things play out. The producers also made the choice to build up the film’s major characters so that you actually care what happens to them.
#3: The Score
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Colin Stetson has worked with top musical acts like Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, and it turns out he was the perfect person to create the haunting score for “Hereditary”. Unexpectedly, Stetson’s saxophone plays a major role in the film’s music and creates a creepy sound that definitely stands out. While writing for Pitchfork, Larry Fitzmaurice said it “stands as one of the most immersive film scores in recent memory”. The sound mixing is also incredibly done, and that clicking noise? We won’t be forgetting that anytime soon.
#2: The Performances
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Toni Collette is no stranger to horror films, turning in a performance in “The Sixth Sense” that earned her an Oscar nod. Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers said that she gave “the performance of her career” in “Hereditary” going on to say that “Her tour de force bristles with provocations that for sure will keep you up nights.” She and the rest of the cast were so believable in their roles that it’s easy to forget you’re watching a piece of fiction. Amelia "Milly" Shapiro made her big screen debut in “Hereditary” and we can already tell she’ll go on to do great (and probably terrifying) things.
#1: It Doesn’t Rely on Jump Scares
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Some horror movies are completely built on jump scares- and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But in truly great scary movies, the creators avoid overusing cheap and easy tactics like that to frighten their audience. This movie relies more on evocative and disturbing imagery as well as atmosphere building to disturb viewers to their core. Exclaim’s Alex Hudson said that “Hereditary”, “avoids cheap shock-and-awe scare tactics almost entirely, instead building up a bone-chilling tension that's relatable and frighteningly realistic.” You’ll have to see it for yourself and tell us if you agree!
