2019 is the year for sophomore horror directors. Jordan Peele, who won an Oscar for his work on “Get Out,” returned with “Us” and somehow earned a bigger box office than his first breakout hit. Then just a couple of weeks ago, Robert Eggers, who helmed “The Witch,” debuted his follow-up, titled “The Lighthouse,” to some of the best reviews at this year’s Cannes. And next month, Ari Aster returns after the critical and commercial success of “Hereditary” with “Midsommar.” Thanks to Fangoria (via EW), Peele and Aster get to talk about the new film and what makes it so special.
As proven by his first two films, Peele knows a thing or two about horror, specifically good horror. So, when you hear some of the things that the filmmaker says about “Midsommar,” it’s hard not to become incredibly excited (even more so than you probably were before).
“When I texted you after the screening, I wrote, ‘I think you’ve made the most idyllic horror film of all time,’” said Peele to Aster. “You’ve taken ‘Stepford Wives’ and shattered the attractiveness of that movie with this one. That alone is a feat.”
He continued, “Also, there are some obvious comps out there, but this movie is just so unique. This hasn’t existed yet, and anything after ‘Midsommar’ is going to have to contend with it. I mean, this usurps ‘The Wicker Man’ as the most iconic pagan movie to be referenced.”
Aster says that it’s not so easy to put “Midsommar” in one particular genre, or even sub-genre. He admits that many people will immediately look at ‘Wicker Man,’ but Aster thinks that the film is something completely different.
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He said, “I’ve been asked, “What is it?” and I’ve been happy saying it’s a breakup movie dressed in the clothes of a folk horror film.”
Is it a horror film? Is it a relationship drama? Or somehow, has Ari Aster created the most horrific relationship drama of all time? We don’t want to get too hyped, but Peele seems to think that Aster has definitely created something disturbing.
“…after it ended, I found myself looking back at the final act like, ‘Holy shit,’” said Peele. “That was some of the most atrociously disturbing imagery I’ve ever seen on film, and yet I experienced it with this open-mouthed, wild-eyed gape.”
“Midsommar” arrives in theaters July 3.