[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:04.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari Aster] One thing I love about genre\Nfilm-making is that the genre kinda
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.42,0:00:09.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,provides you with this like very sturdy\Nframework that you can kind of lay messier
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.78,0:00:13.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,emotions onto and you can tell a very\Npersonal story but it like provides you
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.86,0:00:17.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a very kind of strict path that you\Nhave to adhere to.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.56,0:00:21.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it also forces you to kind of find the\Ncatharsis in that story.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.01,0:00:26.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just wanted to write a break-up movie,\Nand I saw a way of marrying the break-up
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.78,0:00:33.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,movie that I had at the time with the\Nstructure of a folk horror film.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.45,0:00:41.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] Rather then reviewing Midsommar\Nin full, I wanted to focus on one aspect
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.07,0:00:43.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of it: it's genre.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.05,0:00:46.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm mostly going to be pulling from a\NLA Times piece by Mark Olsen, who
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.93,0:00:51.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,interviewed Aster and others who worked\Non the film, and a folkhorrorrevival.com
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.93,0:00:55.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,piece by author and artist Andy Paciorek\Ncalled:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.22,0:00:58.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'From the Forests, Fields and Furrows'.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.68,0:01:02.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Andy Paciorek's piece goes deep into what\Nthe term 'Folk Horror' encompasses,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.88,0:01:06.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,though he never pretends to narrow the\Nterm down into a distinct definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.69,0:01:07.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As he says:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.81,0:01:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the unholy trilogy of Folk Horror\Nfilms are a good place to start, and,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.98,0:01:28.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as he says:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.51,0:01:44.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Mark Gatiss] From the late 60s, a new\Ngeneration of British directors avoided
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.81,0:01:49.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Gothic cliches by stepping even\Nfurther away from the modern world.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.94,0:01:55.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Amongst these are a loose collection of\Nfilms which we might call Folk Horror,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.51,0:01:59.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they shared a common obsession with the\NBritish landscape, its folklore,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.22,0:02:00.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and superstitions.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.31,0:02:04.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Witchfinder General,\Ndirected by Michael Reeves,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.43,0:02:08.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,took us back to the witch hunts of\N17th century East Anglia.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.06,0:02:11.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It may have cast horror legend\NVincent Price in the lead role,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.30,0:02:15.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this was new territory.\NDark, and nihilistic.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.71,0:02:19.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Wicker Man may have become the cult\Nfilm, and Witchfinder General
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.18,0:02:22.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may have grabbed most of the critical\Nplaudits, but there's another film
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.56,0:02:24.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I think deserves\Nmuch wider appreciation.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.81,0:02:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What makes it so special?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.48,0:02:30.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, let's just say there aren't many\Nfilms set in the reign of William and Mary
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.74,0:02:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which the Devil rebuilds his body by\Nharvesting the skin of children.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.87,0:02:37.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The film is Blood on Satan's Claw,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.38,0:02:42.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and its director Piers Haggard also drew\Ninspiration from the countryside
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.54,0:02:44.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the home counties.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.01,0:02:47.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What kind of a horror film\Nwere you setting out to make?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.46,0:02:52.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Piers] I didn't want to do something\Nwhich was, urm, larky,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.13,0:02:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I wasn't really interested in Dracula,\NI was interested in the dark things
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.24,0:03:02.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that people feel, and the dark things\Nthat happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.57,0:03:06.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that was what I want to explore,\Nand I think the other thing that appealed
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.23,0:03:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to me, really, was the setting,\Nthe rural setting.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.10,0:03:11.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] He says:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.47,0:03:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Mark] There's this sort of little moment\Nof Folk Horror, I suppose,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.53,0:03:44.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is absolutely distinct.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.10,0:03:46.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you think that was something to do\Nwith the times?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.58,0:03:48.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Piers] Uh, this is very interesting this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.60,0:03:55.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that I did-was trying to make\Na Folk Horror film, in a way,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.15,0:03:57.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we were all a bit interested\Nin witchcraft,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.90,0:04:03.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we were all a bit interested in free love,\Nthe rules of the cinema were changing
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.26,0:04:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and nudity became possible and be\Naltogether possibly over-prevalent,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.50,0:04:11.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the lid\Nhad slightly been taken off.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.73,0:04:15.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] The BFI piece on Folk Horror\Ndescribes the trilogy's films as:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.38,0:04:36.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paciorek recounts Adam Scovell's list\Nof Folk Horror elements:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.00,0:04:44.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and argues for or against each.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.43,0:04:45.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He says:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.25,0:04:58.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Piers] The nooks and crannies\Nof woodland, the edges of fields,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.53,0:05:03.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the plowing, the labor, the sense\Nof the soil was something that I tried
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.90,0:05:05.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to bring into the picture.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.15,0:05:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was important to,\Nfor the rest of the film,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.68,0:05:11.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to have the camera often very low.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.71,0:05:14.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Children laughing]
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.78,0:05:18.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we dug a whole flood of holes,\Nput the camera in, just to give you
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.79,0:05:22.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the feeling that we were somehow\Nin the earth and what it was might
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.25,0:05:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,come out of the earth.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.53,0:05:27.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] ...says that Folk Horror films,\Nand 'backwoods' horror films, regardless
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.60,0:05:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of location often share the factor\Nof a principle character or characters
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.04,0:05:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finding themselves amongst people who do\Nnot think or act the way they do,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.04,0:05:38.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often with dire consequence.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.48,0:05:42.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Mark] Without a doubt, the best known\Nof this group of films is The Wicker Man.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.72,0:05:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Set on an idyllic summer isle, it pits\Nthe Pagan islanders against the upstanding
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.06,0:05:51.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Christian hero, with its horrific\Nconclusion played out in daylight.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.21,0:05:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari] It's fun in theory to make a film\Nin daylight, and then it's a nightmare
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.28,0:06:01.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in practice, you're chasing the sun\Nall day, which also means
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.11,0:06:02.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you're chasing continuity.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.59,0:06:07.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I know that we were very excited about\Nmaking a film that was very beautiful
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.82,0:06:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and kind of inviting even as it gets\Ndarker and darker, and whether you're
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.96,0:06:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,making a film and, y'know, utter darkness\Nor, y'know, broad daylight,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.32,0:06:18.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the goal is always\Nto make something beautiful.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.82,0:06:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] and that:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.09,0:06:36.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The website in general says:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.60,0:07:04.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paciorek's piece is dense.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.09,0:07:06.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He describes the origins\Nof the term 'Folk Horror',
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.58,0:07:09.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Folk Horror in other mediums,\Nand how it overlaps with other genres,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.80,0:07:14.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially sci-fi, and many examples from\Ndifferent time periods all over the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.89,0:07:18.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But rather then giving the full account as\Nhe does, and as other websites try to do,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.92,0:07:21.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to take the lead Paciorek\Nsets here, when he says:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.94,0:07:51.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If someone asked me, in conversation,\Nto define folk horror,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.03,0:07:54.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd just bring up The Wicker Man,\Nand describe it.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.32,0:07:56.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even having never seen it in full,\NI have on hand
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.61,0:07:59.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what I learned from cultural osmosis,\Nand references.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.53,0:08:02.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An uptight stranger gets stranded\Nin a more natural,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.23,0:08:05.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seemingly idyllic setting, with members\Nof a religion he does not understand,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.97,0:08:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and grows gradually more suspicious\Nand frightened of, until, spoilers,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.27,0:08:13.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they destroy him as a part\Nof their rituals,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.04,0:08:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my first exposure to Folk Horror\Nprobably came in those cultural references
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.60,0:08:20.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to films like The Wicker Man in...\NHot Fuzz!
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.23,0:08:24.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is a meta-comedy action film\Nthat was heavily influenced,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.50,0:08:27.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least plot-wise, by Folk Horror.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.13,0:08:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think Folk Horror is neat,\Nand a subgenre that could either lend
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.86,0:08:36.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,itself in pieces to another genre well,\Nor meld with other genres well.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.29,0:08:38.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Apostle is more Folk Horror\Nthen Hot Fuzz is,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.66,0:08:42.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's still more action-oriented\Nand takes itself less seriously
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.03,0:08:43.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then something like Midsommar.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.76,0:08:49.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I did not enjoy or appreciate\Nthe Folk Horror elements of Midsommar,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.25,0:08:53.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had so many problems with this movie,\Nbut they crystallized when my friend
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.15,0:08:57.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sent me screenshots of that LA Times\Ninterview after we saw the movie together.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.20,0:08:59.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that interview, Aster said:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.100,0:09:23.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari] Yeah I mean, I, uh, I wrote the film\Nduring a breakup.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.28,0:09:29.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Um, I wanted to write a breakup movie,\Nfor the same reason that most people
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.29,0:09:32.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably do, when they do,\Nand it's because I was going through one.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.51,0:09:36.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon, reading on-screen text]
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.20,0:09:56.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why would you take this genre, this \Nstunning and terrifying and weird amalgam,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.74,0:10:00.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where built-in you have a rich genre\Nhistory of beautiful settings
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.92,0:10:05.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and horrific violence, or a terrified\Nindividual facing a harmonious collective,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.69,0:10:09.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the ability to harness\Nthose primal fears of loss of self
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.74,0:10:13.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or loss of bodily autonomy,\Nor being trapped waiting to get killed
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.47,0:10:15.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in an unfamiliar and ancient place.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.99,0:10:19.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or like, maybe subverting these tropes\Nthrough a modern lens.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.22,0:10:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The way The VVitch is a modern feminist\NFolk Horror film,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.13,0:10:24.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or like how modern audiences\Ndon't hate hippies.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.71,0:10:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or maybe you could do something like\Nin Apostle where a lot of the villagers
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.31,0:10:32.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are hesitant and sympathetic and suffer\Nalong with the outsider main character,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.15,0:10:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or like Hot Fuzz which kind of parodies\Nthe secular cop character.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.42,0:10:38.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything there is so rich,\Nand has so much potential,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.15,0:10:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he's like, Aster's like:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.02,0:10:45.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh, it's incidentally a Folk Horror film.\NI wanted to talk about my break-up,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.47,0:10:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for some reason, I took this genre\Nthat's arguably about the collective
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.54,0:10:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vs. the individual, and fear of loss\Nof individuality, and the merits
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.84,0:10:56.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a repressed secular society vs.\Na creepy sex cult where people
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.97,0:10:59.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seem very happy but do weird scary stuff\Nall the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.66,0:11:03.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I made it about a very specific,\Nvery personal event between two people.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.96,0:11:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because, to me, these genre elements\Nas a chose to apply them,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.70,0:11:11.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are incidental, and predictable,\Nand boring."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.02,0:11:13.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hereditary is amazing,\Nand is deeply disturbing,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.72,0:11:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and is imbued with Aster's own fears\Nof his loved ones dying, or changing,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.14,0:11:20.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or betraying him,\Nor him accidentally harming them
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.99,0:11:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the devastation and guilt\Nthat would cause.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.18,0:11:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari] I mean, there's a saying that\N"life is suffering", and I don't disagree,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.24,0:11:31.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,uh, and I guess with both of these films\NI wanted to make something
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.64,0:11:33.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that takes suffering seriously.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.14,0:11:36.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] I related to it a lot,\Nhaving dealt with a lot of death,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.32,0:11:37.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it terrified me.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.56,0:11:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari] And, y'know, and then-otherwise,\Ny'know, I've..uh, my family and I have,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.68,0:11:59.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, y'know, suffered uh...misfortune,\Ny'know and, uh, to be cryptic, um, and uh,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.46,0:12:06.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so, y'know, I-I...you draw\Nfrom...from experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.22,0:12:09.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] You watch this family\Nwho was very sympathetic slowly degrade
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.77,0:12:12.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and die because of forces\Nbeyond their control.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.22,0:12:15.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Midsommar is about a break-up,\NAster was not very interested
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.56,0:12:18.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the ritualistic killing elements,\Nso...they're just sort of there.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.93,0:12:21.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As far as I could tell,\Nthere was no supernatural force
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.51,0:12:23.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,keeping people on the island,\Nor killing them.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.65,0:12:26.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Erik Davis] Like, Scandinavian folklore\Nhas got all kinds of creatures
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.99,0:12:31.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and monsters in it,\Nand was that sort of-stuff that helped,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.08,0:12:33.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kind of played into it at all, or?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.00,0:12:39.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari] No, there-there's nothing overtly,\Ny'know, um, fantastical here.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.31,0:12:42.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] And at the beginning,\Nnobody is forced to be there,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.17,0:12:45.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no one's taken there against their will,\Nand there a lot of opportunities
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.60,0:12:50.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to sneak away as huge red flags pop up\None after the other, but nobody does.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.30,0:12:54.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Especially not the American characters,\Nthis is for-something for a separate
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.00,0:12:57.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,analysis, a separate video,\Nbut specifically all of the Americans
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.48,0:13:01.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this film are just very stupid\Ncompared to the European characters,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.53,0:13:06.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including the other outsiders, not just\Nthe scary Swedish people.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.03,0:13:09.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most of the American characters are kind\Nof stupid or one-note,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.90,0:13:15.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one is a crass gag character who has weird\Ncomedy lines obviously ADR'd in
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.44,0:13:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are a little bit distracting,\Nor they're unlikable.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.70,0:13:22.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of the ritualistic kills,\Nin typical Aster fashion,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.40,0:13:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are kind of sickening and upsetting\Nand haunting, especially towards the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.68,0:13:30.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if the film's narrative doesn't seem\Nto really care that they're happening,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.44,0:13:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some look kind of stupid\Nand are direct rip-offs of NBC's Hannibal,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.87,0:13:37.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which did the killings better.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.10,0:13:39.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also there's a r*** scene that some\Ninterviews
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.53,0:13:42.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and reviews describe as 'darkly funny'?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.62,0:13:45.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Jack Reynor] And I think that\Nit's a great device,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.01,0:13:49.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it challenges an audience and, y'know,\Neven seeing people's reactions to the film
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.92,0:13:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and seeing some people laughing through\Nthis, y'know, crazy sex scene,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.14,0:13:57.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then other people going\N"What are these people laughing at"?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.15,0:14:00.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that's really interesting\Nand it's good film-making.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.00,0:14:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] I guess because a man\Nis the one who's r****,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.64,0:14:04.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that r*** is what pushes\Nthe main character
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.84,0:14:06.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get the character who is r**** killed?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.82,0:14:08.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Interviewer] \NAnd I don't have their handle,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.93,0:14:11.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they called this the \N"Anti-f*ckboy movie"?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.24,0:14:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] It feels like the film implies,\Nor could be very easily misread
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.68,0:14:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as implying, if it wasn't intentional,\Nthat because the character is a man,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.25,0:14:22.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an asshole, that being heavily\Ndrugged, and pursued for your seed,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.40,0:14:26.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is somehow having consensual sex\Nand also cheating and makes him-
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.35,0:14:29.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's like another thing in the list\Nof things that makes him a bad person
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.78,0:14:30.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a bad boyfriend.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.92,0:14:35.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's lots of stuff he does in the movie\Nthat is very realistic,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.08,0:14:38.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,classic bad boyfriend behavior,\Nand you understand why the main character
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.77,0:14:41.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is upset with him, and unhappy\Nwith the relationship,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.70,0:14:45.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but, yeah I don't-I really don't like\Nthe way the rhetoric around this film
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.41,0:14:49.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has engaged with that scene,\NI don't think the scene in the film
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.69,0:14:52.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is necessarily terrible, I don't know\Nif you're supposed to, like,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.78,0:14:56.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,relate to her when she decides to\Nget the villagers to kill him after that.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.63,0:15:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's pretty terrible, but I think a lot\Nof the response saw to it found that scene
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.78,0:15:02.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just sort of funny and weird\Nand it was like:
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.93,0:15:06.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh he deserves it, oh watch out don't \Ngo see this movie with your girlfriend
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.62,0:15:08.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or she'll kill you, so like...ooooo"
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.37,0:15:12.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Jack] Additionally, y'know, for me,\Nsomething that was kind of like
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.27,0:15:18.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a big, um, enticing factor in it\Nwas-was this long drawn out,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.77,0:15:24.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very humiliating and exposing sort of\Nsequence towards the end of the film,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.26,0:15:26.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know with the-with the fate that\NChristian suffers.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.85,0:15:31.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's something that, uh, I think\Nhistorically has been reserved for females
Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.22,0:15:34.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in horror films,\Nbut this was an opportunity to be a male
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.72,0:15:39.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to put myself into that, um,\Nperspective, which was really interesting
Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.14,0:15:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and difficult and made me feel vulnerable\Nin a way that I'm sure many actresses
Dialogue: 0,0:15:44.60,0:15:45.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have felt over the years.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.95,0:15:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Piers] If I look at the r*** scene now,\Num, I think it's probably too strong,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.38,0:15:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's interesting that I wasn't\Nbothered at the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.08,0:16:00.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think you, um, will find most directors,\Nuh, if they get their teeth
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.36,0:16:03.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into a sequence,\Nwhich is going to be really powerful,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:03.02,0:16:06.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they become completely seduced,\Nand I was seduced
Dialogue: 0,0:16:06.33,0:16:07.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the sheer dramatic power.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.96,0:16:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] Also during the r*** scene,\Nthere were a bunch of weird naked women
Dialogue: 0,0:16:11.78,0:16:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the village?
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.08,0:16:17.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of them are old, the naked old people\Nin Hereditary are really scary
Dialogue: 0,0:16:17.72,0:16:20.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and genuinely unnerving because\Nof the context,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:20.62,0:16:24.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but out of context I don't find\Nnaked old people scary,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:24.04,0:16:26.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it feels like something Aster\Nis leaning too heavily on.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:26.91,0:16:30.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the oracle character\Nis just straight-up offensive
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.08,0:16:32.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also not scary.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.34,0:16:33.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Look at this Fangoria cover.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:33.88,0:16:37.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Monsters - Aliens - Bizarre Creatures",
Dialogue: 0,0:16:37.07,0:16:41.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the face of a character\Nwho is an in-bred disabled person.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:41.33,0:16:45.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Deliberately performing incest\Nto make an oracle is disturbing, yes,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:45.44,0:16:49.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but focusing on a deformed or disabled\Nface, as if it's inherently horrific
Dialogue: 0,0:16:49.55,0:16:52.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and weird and upsetting\Nand the face of a monster, is just sh*tty.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:52.64,0:16:55.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And some of the portrayals\Nof mental illness in this film,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:55.35,0:16:59.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially PTSD and anxiety, are accurate\Nand relatable,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:59.11,0:17:01.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and others are just...baffling,\Nlike the family death scene
Dialogue: 0,0:17:01.87,0:17:05.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the beginning at the hands\Nof the main character's bi-polar sister,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:05.15,0:17:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I honestly had trouble connecting\Nto the rest of the film tonally
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.46,0:17:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and aesthetically, apart from giving\Nthe main character a reason to be upset
Dialogue: 0,0:17:13.00,0:17:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and vulnerable the whole time.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:14.72,0:17:17.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Midsommar does shine in scenes\Nwhere Aster leans more
Dialogue: 0,0:17:17.70,0:17:19.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into the surreal horror elements.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:19.54,0:17:22.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A nightmare sequence in the film\Nfeels like a nightmare.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:22.73,0:17:26.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The way one character's face\Nis highlighted, like, it's under-lit,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:26.30,0:17:30.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though there would be no realistic\Nlight source where he is in a car,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:30.48,0:17:33.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's a nightmare, like,\Nthat was really creepy and it reminded
Dialogue: 0,0:17:33.100,0:17:35.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,me of nightmares that I've had.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:35.54,0:17:39.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the hallucinatory effects of drugs\Ncharacters take added a lot
Dialogue: 0,0:17:39.57,0:17:43.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the film's aesthetic and atmosphere,\Nwithout being unrealistic
Dialogue: 0,0:17:43.47,0:17:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or clichéd or corny, and the film\Nis well shot and often creepy,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:47.26,0:17:51.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it does have a palpable sense\Nof dread with Aster is very good at,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:51.81,0:17:56.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it still feels long and meandering\Nand tiresome, and I found the way
Dialogue: 0,0:17:56.53,0:18:00.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Aster talked about it in interviews\Njust kind of disheartening.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:00.07,0:18:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,David Edelstein's Midsommar review\Nin Vulture ends:
Dialogue: 0,0:18:22.34,0:18:27.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari] I...I wanted to-when I was writing\Nthe film I-I wanted to write
Dialogue: 0,0:18:27.22,0:18:30.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a break-up movie because I...needed\Nto write a break-up movie
Dialogue: 0,0:18:30.98,0:18:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I had just gone through\Na break-up, um, and uh-and I saw a way
Dialogue: 0,0:18:39.63,0:18:45.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of sort of passing it through \Nthis sub-genre, the Folk Horror genre,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:45.13,0:18:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and kind of, y'know, marrying\Nthose two things and-and, y'know, uh,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:51.06,0:18:59.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finding a way to make this big operatic,\Njust, break-up movie, like dark comedy...
Dialogue: 0,0:18:59.06,0:19:02.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know, um, I don't know what it is,\Num...
Dialogue: 0,0:19:02.36,0:19:05.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon, reading on-screen text]
Dialogue: 0,0:19:24.42,0:19:27.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] I feel like this review maybe\Nprojects emotions and intentions
Dialogue: 0,0:19:27.80,0:19:30.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,onto Aster a little too much.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:30.04,0:19:33.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ari] I can tell ya, I put a lot of myself\Ninto both of the characters,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:33.40,0:19:35.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've been in both positions.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:35.32,0:19:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do call the film a horror movie,\Nthat co-dependency and I-
Dialogue: 0,0:19:38.14,0:19:41.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's sort of what I was thinking\Nabout while I was writing it.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:41.34,0:19:45.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But um, but I hoped that-that people\Nwill be able to relate to-to both sides.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:45.77,0:19:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] But it's certainly telling\Nthat he rejected the idea
Dialogue: 0,0:19:48.68,0:19:52.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a Swedish Folk Horror slasher until he\Ncould thinly project his break-up onto it.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:52.91,0:19:56.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Midsommar does explore some\Nof those Folk Horror elements,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:56.15,0:19:58.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it does in a disjointed way.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:58.58,0:20:03.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like Edelstein says, the main character\Ndoes find a kind of comfort in the cult,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:03.44,0:20:07.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a kind of place in the cult,\Nand scenes of group sobbing and screaming
Dialogue: 0,0:20:07.99,0:20:11.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are-are very affecting, but the film\Ncould've been improved a lot,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:11.56,0:20:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel, if Aster had leaned more into\Nthe Folk Horror elements
Dialogue: 0,0:20:15.28,0:20:21.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,outside of an aesthetic, and outside\Nof a skeleton on which to build
Dialogue: 0,0:20:21.02,0:20:24.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his really weird, personal break-up movie.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:24.78,0:20:29.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gareth Evans, who directed Apostle,\Nsounded so excited and happy
Dialogue: 0,0:20:29.53,0:20:33.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the Folk Horror films\Nthat he had seen, and incorporating those
Dialogue: 0,0:20:33.55,0:20:35.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into his vision for Apostle.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:35.07,0:20:38.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Drew Taylor] Well what were some of your\Ninspirations, like, obviously Wicker Man,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:38.100,0:20:41.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Drew] I think.\N[Gareth] Yeah, Wicker Man is definitely...
Dialogue: 0,0:20:41.71,0:20:43.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Drew] Um, what else\Nwas in that stew?
Dialogue: 0,0:20:43.49,0:20:46.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Gareth] Um, I mean a lot of those British\NFolk Horror films,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:46.35,0:20:49.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so The Wicker Man, and Witchfinder General\Nas well, and then, um,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:49.41,0:20:51.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more importantly probably\NKen Russel's The Devils,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:51.74,0:20:55.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I had not seen 'till 2016 when we\Nwere just about to start working on this,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:55.55,0:20:59.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was a massive sort of inspiration,\Nbecause I was just blown away by that film
Dialogue: 0,0:20:59.35,0:21:01.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had never seen it before,\Ndidn't know what to expect,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:01.93,0:21:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then it just came out of nowhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:03.68,0:21:07.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Shannon] And Aster seems almost, like,\Nembarrassed, or hesitant to embrace them,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:07.50,0:21:10.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not that he has to embrace them,\Nbut why make a Folk Horror film
Dialogue: 0,0:21:10.68,0:21:12.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you don't want it to be\Na Folk Horror film?
Dialogue: 0,0:21:12.83,0:21:15.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As an aside, uh, shout-out\Nto Folk Horror Revival
Dialogue: 0,0:21:15.16,0:21:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for being explicitly against fascism\Non their website.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:18.38,0:21:19.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's cool.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:19.32,0:21:22.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you have any interest in Folk Horror,\Nyou should check out that piece
Dialogue: 0,0:21:22.75,0:21:26.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by Paciorek, and the BFI piece\NI mentioned, links in the description.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:26.03,0:21:29.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, I'm now the film correspondent\Nfor the podcast Struggle Session,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:29.32,0:21:31.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we did an episode on Midsommar,\Nif you want to hear
Dialogue: 0,0:21:31.89,0:21:35.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more of my general opinion on the film,\Nlink also in the description.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:35.27,0:21:37.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you enjoyed this video,\Nplease consider supporting me
Dialogue: 0,0:21:37.94,0:21:41.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on Patreon for on-going donations,\Nand Ko-Fi for one time donations,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:41.14,0:21:43.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you have any Folk Horror film\Nrecommendations,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:43.62,0:21:46.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,please leave them in the comments,\Nbecause I'd like to branch out
Dialogue: 0,0:21:46.68,0:21:49.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maybe do a full video essay\Non the genre at some point,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:49.52,0:21:53.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially, maybe like modern applications\Nvs. older ones.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:53.58,0:21:57.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you want to hear why I liked Hereditary\Nso much, check out my review on it,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:57.34,0:21:59.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is still my favorite review\NI've ever written.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:59.77,0:22:02.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, of course linked in the description.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:02.00,0:22:03.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And thank you for watching.