The Shrine

Holy shit,

I was not ready for seeing a little girl's head get taken off. Perhaps the most disturbing thing I have ever seen in a film; I felt physically ill. Haha (that's a nervous laugh), when I watch it again, I'm going to consider skipping that scene. It wasn't the act of decapitation via blunt force, so much as who it was who suffered it.

The first thing that ran through my head was "I was sure she was going to be the main character" and the sound of the thud, over and over again, and the fact that this socially-awkward little girl just lost her life in a very brutal fashion. Looking at Peter's expression afterward, wondering if they're going to show it, and then when they do show it... (explained above).

That scene alone really set the mood for at least the next 45 minutes (in that's how long it took my stomach to fully settle).

The first 2/3rds of the film were more disturbing and unsettling than scary, but holy crap does it ever go full-on horror greatness for the last third.

The first part puts down a lot of hints as to what's going on seems somewhat randomly placed in the earlier half all comes together at the end. The terror surrounding all of the family members, knowing that they're all pretty much doomed once it becomes apparent this is not just some kind of psychological issue, but something truly supernatural.

My favourite part of the film overall was the last half when they were going around trying to escape - the skeptical father who doesn't realize how much danger he's in - Peter and the mother (Annie) are essentially screwed.

The film comes down quite a bit in the last 5 minutes or so and wraps up the mystery portion in a very satisfying way.

If I were to describe it: it's definitely got a bit of Psycho, The Conjuring, and American Beauty (I want to say the cultists were a bit Lord of Illusion, but that one was too cartoony); although, very different from each.

It’s a different sort of a film than The Conjuring 1 or 2, so I feel this comparison I’m about to do is not serve either well. The Conjuring films are more focused on the art of scaring the hell out of the viewer while keeping levels of anxiety and anticipation high - even after multiple viewings. Hereditary has a lot more to do with mystery and suffering; and the nature of what’s going on isn’t given away until later in the film... which makes it a great first time viewing, but I am unsure if repeated viewings will be as impactful (on the fear front), the mystery story and the psychological trauma on the characters will still be there. The Conjuring films and The Babadook left open questions, while Hereitary completely wraps it up; so when Hereitary is over, it’s over - while the others stay in your head a little longer with the (purposefully) unresolved bits.

That said, the Conjuring films didn’t make me think “I need some whisky” at any point like Hereitary did. Different sorts of films, I wouldn’t go without either.

I mean...it was different. Maybe not so much scary as it was disturbing. That's putting it mildly. It was pretty fucked up in general...but that car scene was brutal.

It took way too long to get going though - thats my only complaint.