Midsommar (2019)

Midsommar, directed by Ari Aster, is a folk horror film that explores themes of grief, relationships, culture clash, and psychological disintegration. Released in 2019, this daylight nightmare is as visually lush as it is emotionally brutal. Beneath the sunlit fields and flower crowns lies one of the most unsettling cinematic experiences in modern horror.

Detailed Summary

Tragedy and Trauma: Dani’s Loss

The film opens in wintry darkness with Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) struggling through anxiety and strained communication with her boyfriend Christian. When Dani’s bipolar sister commits a gruesome murder-suicide—killing both their parents and herself using carbon monoxide—the already fragile Dani is plunged into overwhelming grief.

Christian, on the verge of breaking up with Dani, awkwardly invites her to a summer trip to Sweden that he had planned with his anthropology grad-school friends. This impulsive decision sets the stage for a journey that spirals into madness.

Arrival at Hårga: Culture Shock

The group—Christian, Dani, Josh (a serious anthropologist), Mark (comic relief), and Pelle (their Swedish friend)—arrives at Hårga, a remote pagan commune in northern Sweden. Pelle explains that this once-every-90-years midsummer festival will be a unique anthropological experience. Everyone is greeted warmly, and the idyllic landscape contrasts sharply with Dani’s internal grief.

The beauty and harmony of the commune soon reveal a darker underside. The group witnesses a ritual ättestupa, where two elders commit ceremonial suicide by jumping off a cliff. One dies instantly; the other does not, prompting the villagers to smash his head with a mallet. Most of the Americans are horrified—except Josh, who’s intrigued—and the descent into horror begins.

Psychological Unraveling and Rituals

As the days pass, the group is fed psychedelic drinks and drawn deeper into the community’s rituals. Josh tries to study the sacred text of the Hårga, but is later killed when he tries to photograph it in secret. Mark is seduced by a red-haired girl and disappears, later revealed to have been flayed and turned into a scarecrow-like figure.

Christian begins to emotionally and physically drift further from Dani. He’s chosen to mate with Maja, a young woman who has been pursuing him through cryptic rituals involving pubic hair, menstrual blood, and love runes. This culminates in a graphic, ritualistic sex scene—choreographed and witnessed by chanting Hårga women.

Meanwhile, Dani is crowned May Queen after a psychedelic-infused dance competition. While she experiences fleeting moments of joy and belonging, Christian is drugged and manipulated into impregnating Maja.

The Turning Point: Dani’s Decision

After discovering Christian’s betrayal, Dani—dressed in an elaborate flower gown—watches the final ritual. The Hårga must sacrifice nine lives to complete the festival: four outsiders, four villagers, and one final choice left to the May Queen—either a Hårga volunteer or Christian.

Dani, in a moment of surreal clarity and empowered rage, chooses Christian.

Movie Ending

In the film’s chilling finale, Christian is sewn into the body of a paralyzed bear, symbolically “cleansed of evil,” and placed in a temple along with the other sacrifices (Josh, Mark, two villagers, and the already-dead tourists). The temple is set on fire as part of the ritual.

Dani watches as the structure burns, at first weeping in horror—then gradually her expression changes. In the film’s iconic last moment, Dani smiles, surrounded by flower-crowned cult members swaying in unity. This ambiguous ending suggests her emotional catharsis, release from her grief, and rebirth into a new identity—whether that’s as a victim of cult brainwashing or someone who finally found belonging is left disturbingly open.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Midsommar does not include any post-credits scenes. However, many fans have noted that sitting with the unsettling mood during the credits can feel like part of the experience.

Type of Movie

Midsommar is a folk horror film with strong elements of psychological drama, tragedy, and dark satire. It avoids jump scares and instead builds dread through atmosphere, ritualistic violence, and emotional breakdowns—all in broad daylight.

Cast

• Florence Pugh as Dani Ardor
• Jack Reynor as Christian Hughes
• William Jackson Harper as Josh
• Will Poulter as Mark
• Vilhelm Blomgren as Pelle
• Ellora Torchia as Connie
• Archie Madekwe as Simon

Film Music and Composer

The haunting and hypnotic score was composed by Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak). The music blends Swedish folk traditions with ambient and experimental soundscapes, enhancing the ritualistic and otherworldly tone of the film. It’s an essential part of what makes Midsommar so immersive.

Filming Locations

Midsommar was primarily filmed in Hungary, not Sweden, due to cost and logistical considerations. The village of Hårga was built from scratch in a rural field near Budapest. The isolation of the location plays a vital role in the plot, emphasizing the characters’ helplessness and sense of being trapped.

The endless daylight of the Scandinavian summer was simulated using lighting effects and digital enhancements to maintain the film’s signature unnerving brightness.

Awards and Nominations

While it didn’t receive major Oscar nominations, Midsommar was widely praised by critics and earned recognition in several areas:

• Florence Pugh received Best Actress nominations at several critics’ associations and the Saturn Awards.
• Nominated for Best Horror Film by the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.
• The film was named one of the top 10 films of the year by Sight & Sound and The Guardian.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Ari Aster wrote the script after going through a painful breakup, and the film is as much about emotional disintegration as it is about horror.
• Florence Pugh filmed Midsommar right after shooting Fighting with My Family. She has stated that Midsommar was emotionally taxing but creatively rewarding.
• The bear scene was inspired by an actual medieval punishment in which criminals were sewn into animal carcasses.
• Much of the dialogue was improvised, particularly in the scenes of grief or group rituals.
• The entire Hårga village set was constructed from scratch and arranged according to pagan symbology.

Inspirations and References

• Loosely inspired by the 1973 film The Wicker Man, especially in its depiction of a deceptive, isolated pagan community.
• Ari Aster cited Ingmar Bergman, especially Cries and Whispers, as an influence for the film’s emotional and visual tone.
• The Hårga mythology borrows elements from Norse and Swedish folklore, although the cult is fictional.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Ari Aster released a Director’s Cut (available on Blu-ray and streaming) which adds 30 minutes of footage:

• Includes a disturbing child sacrifice subplot, where villagers try to drown a disabled boy during a nighttime ritual.
• Adds more scenes showing Dani’s deteriorating emotional state.
• Adds depth to Christian’s manipulative behavior, making the relationship even more complex.

There is no alternate ending—Ari Aster has stated that the theatrical ending is exactly how he always envisioned it.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Midsommar is not based on a book, though it was novelized after release. However, it draws heavily on myth, anthropology, and folklore. The richness of its world-building often gives the impression of being an adaptation of ancient mythology.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The shocking ättestupa cliff scene.
• Dani becoming May Queen, wearing a robe of flowers.
• Christian’s ritual sex scene, as elderly women moan and push his body.
• The final burning sacrifice in the yellow temple.
• Dani’s emotional breakdown after discovering Christian’s betrayal, where Hårga women scream and cry in unison with her.

Iconic Quotes

• “Do you feel held by him? Does he feel like home to you?” – Pelle
• “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” – Christian
• “I could see myself doing that.” – Mark, in reference to cliff-jumping (ironically)
• “I’m sorry.” – Dani, at multiple points, reflecting her emotional repression

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Paintings and tapestries throughout the commune foreshadow key events, including the menstrual spell Maja uses.
• The mirror in Dani’s apartment shows her sister’s face briefly during the opening.
• Christian’s name may allude to Christianity, symbolizing cultural/religious conflict.
• The flowers in Dani’s crown pulse and move slightly when she’s fully integrated into the cult—an unsettling touch of subtle VFX.

Trivia

• The film was released in the U.S. on July 3rd, just before Independence Day—an ironic juxtaposition to its anti-individualism themes.
• Florence Pugh was not given a full script before filming; Aster wanted her reactions to feel spontaneous.
• The movie has almost no darkness, breaking horror conventions that rely on shadows and jump scares.
• Will Poulter’s sunburn in the film was real, as the Hungarian sun was brutal during filming.

Why Watch?

Midsommar is a must-see for fans of psychological horror, arthouse cinema, and cultural horror. It’s emotionally devastating, visually mesmerizing, and intellectually provocative. Not just a horror film—it’s a breakup movie, a grief drama, and a critique of toxic relationships wrapped in a floral nightmare.

Director’s Other Movies

• Hereditary (2018) – Another emotionally intense horror film centered on grief and family trauma.
• Beau Is Afraid (2023) – A surreal odyssey through anxiety and existential dread.
• Short films like The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Wicker Man (1973)
• Hereditary (2018)
• The Witch (2015)
• Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
• The Ritual (2017)
• Mother! (2017)