I was in college when I got bit by ants on my scalp. I had an allergy attack that almost killed me. It was warm at first, like that pulsating sensation behind the ears after a brisk walk. It felt nice like a light buzz after two bottles of beer. Then my throat got tighter, my face swollen. My body reacted to the foreign toxins inside me, making sense of the chemicals that weren’t supposed to be there. There was no air coming through my wind pipe, and I couldn’t breathe.
That experience is Midsommar, less the ants. Aris Asir’s grotesque fairytale of college students on summer break to their destination of a life time, is a warm lump in the throat. The production is right out of technicolor, sweet and bathed in eternal sunshine. You know horror is coming, but when it did rear its head, it was still a punch in the gut.
LEFT: Attestupa ceremonial mallet, solid wood with 5 foot shaft. RIGHT: Attestupa tunic. TOP: Florence Pugh crowned as May Queen. COVER: Isabelle Grill and other cast members are seen wearing the hand embroidered costumes. All images Copyright A24.
With what little knowledge I have of photography, I knew from the get-go there was something special happening with the shots. And my hunch was right. Aster again collaborated with cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski to create a look that will define the film. From custom lens to creating a LUT that dictated the set design, every possible avenue was explored to make the film a visual spectacle.
And this outward beauty is what makes Midsommar truly unsettling. There was dissonance when a depressed Dani (Florence Pugh), traumatized by violent death in the family, comes into an idyllic place where death is celebrated and welcomed. It’s unnatural and disturbing, much like the world view and customs of the Hagar people portrayed in the film, which were actually based on old Nordic customs. It’s like watching a horror film through candy-colored filters.
If a film can be judged by its cinematography and costumes and set design, Midsommar is up there. The story is a bit harder to gauge because I didn’t know how or what I felt at the end. It was weirdly satisfying and confusing at the same time. The images stayed with me for days. For the casual viewers, Midsommar can be a welcome treat. Rating 3/4.
Watch the trailer below.
kibinibis 