Comparables
Hereditary is a family drama disguised as a horror film. It uses heightened tropes to examine relatable themes of family and grief. Tonally it manages to be unnerving and genuinely scary without being trashy or exploititive. It shows violence but doesn’t rely on it, simply for shock. It never loses sight of its characters and their relationships, making it more memorable and weighty than other genre films.
Gone girl examines themes of trust and toxic relationships. Most relevant is its sense of escalating tension against diminishing time. We watch the birth of a relationship its evolution and ultimate fragmentation. The seeds for each stage are present in all.
The Witch is another touchstone. Societies inner fears are reflected in the belief in witches. Initially we are unsure of what’s real, and the supernatural is presented in a subtle manner that gets under the skin. The threat seems woven into the landscape. The film takes superstitions that have long died out and brings them to life for a modern audience.
The exorcist
