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Surviving the Festival of 'Midsommar'

Understanding the film's Psychological Terror

By Sri VishnuPublished about a year ago 3 min read
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"Midsommar" is a horror movie directed by Ari Aster and released in 2019. The film follows the story of a young American couple, Dani and Christian, who travel to a remote Swedish village to participate in a festival that only happens once every 90 years.

The festival, called "Midsommar," is a pagan ritual that is celebrated by a secretive commune known as the Harga, which is led by a charismatic leader named Pelle. Dani and Christian soon find themselves drawn into the twisted and bloody rituals of the Harga, which becomes increasingly violent and disturbing as the festival progresses.

Throughout the movie, the protagonist, Dani, is struggling with a recent family tragedy and this state of mind leads her to be more vulnerable to the cult's manipulation, which provides an eerie background to the horror that unfolds. The movie also explores the impact of grief and loss, as well as the dangers of blindly following a leader or group without question.

One of the most notable features of the film is its striking visuals, with the director uses the picturesque and serene setting of the festival to contrast with the gruesome rituals that happen there. The movie also touches on themes of mental health and the concept of toxic relationships. The movie is a commentary on the effects of grief, the dangers of blindly following a leader or group, the power of tradition and culture, and the inescapable nature of fate. The climax of the movie is a masterfully orchestrated finale that concludes the story with a satisfying yet terrifying way.

Can anyone survive Midsommar

"Midsommar" is a horror movie and therefore, the survival of the characters in the film is not guaranteed. In the movie, several characters do not survive the festival and meet tragic ends. The movie portrays the cult's rituals as violent and dangerous, and the festival takes a dark turn as it progresses.

It's important to note that the movie is a work of fiction and the events portrayed in it are not real. The movie is intended to be a commentary on the themes of grief, the dangers of blindly following a leader or group, the power of tradition and culture, and the inescapable nature of fate.

The protagonist, Dani, ends up being the only one to survive the festival and that is also not a guaranteed outcome in the movie. Overall, the film is not to be taken as a guide on how to survive a dangerous situation like the one portrayed in the movie, instead it's a work of fiction with the purpose of entertaining, scaring and making the audience reflect on certain themes.

What we can learn from Midsommar?

"Midsommar" is a horror movie that has a number of themes and motifs that viewers can take away from the film. Some of the things that you may learn from the movie include:

The dangers of cults and blindly following a leader: The movie portrays the character being pulled into a bizarre and dangerous cult, which ultimately leads to tragedy. It serves as a reminder of the dangers of blindly following a leader or group without question and highlights the importance of critical thinking and self-awareness.

The impact of grief and loss: The protagonist of the film is struggling with a recent family tragedy, and the movie explores the ways in which grief can affect someone's mental and emotional well-being.

The importance of setting boundaries: The protagonist character struggles to assert themselves and set boundaries with the people in their life, which ultimately leads to them being taken advantage of.

The power of tradition and culture: The cult members, who are Swedish, are deeply connected to their traditional customs, even though it is deadly. The movie also shows how tradition and culture can shape people's beliefs and actions, for better or for worse.

The inescapable nature of fate: The characters in the movie are being controlled by the cult and the traditional rituals in a sense, it's an inevitable outcome that they can't escape from.

It's worth noting that Midsommar is a horror movie and the themes it portrays may not be the same for everyone, but those are some of the things that a viewer may learn from the film.

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