When you think of a scary movie, you might imagine dark, eerie settings, creepy music, and moments that make you jump out of your seat. But Midsommar, directed by Ari Aster, is different. It’s a horror film that takes place mostly in daylight, with vibrant, sunny scenes that seem far from frightening. The film is set in a secluded Swedish village during a pagan festival, and it challenges everything we think we know about horror.
So, the big question is: Is Midsommar really scary? For many viewers, it is. But for others, it may not be as terrifying as expected. This article will explore why Midsommar is considered scary by some, and why it might not be for everyone. We will dive into the key aspects of the film—its unsettling atmosphere, disturbing themes, and shocking imagery—to understand how it creates fear in its audience.
What Makes Midsommar Different from Other Horror Movies?
At first glance, Midsommar doesn’t fit the typical mold of a horror movie. The film takes place during broad daylight, a setting usually associated with safety and peace. Unlike most horror films, which rely on darkness, fog, or dim lighting to create fear, Midsommar flips this idea on its head. This decision alone sets the tone for the film and makes it unique in the horror genre.
The bright and beautiful Swedish countryside seems almost like a dream. The lush green fields, wildflowers, and blue skies create a sense of serenity. But this peaceful atmosphere hides something far more sinister. The horror in Midsommar doesn’t come from external threats like ghosts or monsters but from the strange and unsettling behavior of the villagers and the rituals they perform.
This blend of beauty and horror makes Midsommar a psychological thriller rather than a traditional slasher film or supernatural horror. The film lures you into a false sense of security before slowly revealing its disturbing core.
Psychological Horror: The Real Fear in Midsommar
One of the main reasons why Midsommar is so scary is that it taps into psychological horror. This kind of horror doesn’t rely on jump scares or gory violence to make you afraid. Instead, it builds fear by creating a sense of discomfort, unease, and dread. Midsommar excels at this by showing how the main characters, especially Dani (played by Florence Pugh), are manipulated and trapped in a world they don’t understand.
The film presents a cult-like community that seems friendly and welcoming at first but gradually reveals its dark, unsettling practices. The villagers are so calm and composed, even when performing horrifying rituals, which adds to the chilling atmosphere. Their bizarre behavior becomes more disturbing the longer the film goes on.
For viewers, the scariest part is often the feeling of helplessness. The characters are trapped in a foreign culture, with no easy way to escape. This is a psychological nightmare—being surrounded by people who don’t share your values, who perform strange ceremonies that seem harmless at first but are actually life-threatening. The fear builds slowly, and you are left wondering how much worse it can get. And in Midsommar, the answer is always: a lot worse.
The Fear of Losing Control: Dani’s Emotional Journey
A major aspect of Midsommar’s horror is tied to the emotional journey of the main character, Dani. At the beginning of the film, Dani is grieving the tragic loss of her family. Her emotional breakdowns are raw and real, making her pain relatable to the audience. As she joins her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his friends on a trip to Sweden, she is already emotionally vulnerable.
The horror of Midsommar takes root in how Dani’s emotional state is exploited by the cult. As the film progresses, she starts to feel more connected to the villagers than to her own friends, who seem increasingly distant and unsupportive. This emotional manipulation is terrifying because it highlights the power the cult has over her and how her grief makes her more susceptible to their influence.
Watching Dani’s slow descent into madness is deeply unsettling. The film forces the viewer to confront the horror of losing yourself in a place where everything feels wrong but you can’t escape. This loss of control is one of the core fears that Midsommar taps into.
The Shocking Violence and Rituals
While Midsommar is not filled with traditional horror tropes like jump scares or blood-soaked violence, the violence it does show is shocking and grotesque. The rituals performed by the villagers are often disturbing, with some scenes that are so unsettling they can make even the most seasoned horror fans squirm.
One of the most famous scenes in Midsommar is the Ättestupa scene, where two elderly villagers throw themselves off a cliff as part of a ritualistic suicide. The way the scene is filmed, with the calm and collected manner in which the villagers perform this act, is incredibly disturbing. The fact that it’s done in broad daylight, with no hints of horror or chaos, adds to the eerie atmosphere.
As the film goes on, the violence becomes more frequent and graphic. The rituals grow increasingly extreme, and the line between reality and nightmare becomes harder to distinguish. This gradual escalation of shocking events builds tension and fear, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. The violence in Midsommar is not just about shock value—it’s tied to the central themes of the film, which deal with grief, trauma, and the loss of control.
Fear of Cultural Differences: The Villagers’ Strange Practices
Another layer of fear in Midsommar comes from the cultural differences between the main characters and the villagers. The film explores how unfamiliar customs and beliefs can be terrifying, especially when those practices involve death and violence. The villagers’ rituals seem strange and incomprehensible to the main characters, and this sense of alienation makes the horror feel even more real.
The fear of the unknown is a powerful motivator in horror films, and Midsommar uses this to its advantage. As the group of friends becomes more involved in the villagers’ customs, the sense of disorientation and unease grows. The villagers’ calm acceptance of their brutal rituals contrasts sharply with the characters’ growing horror. This cultural clash makes the violence even more terrifying, as it challenges the characters’ understanding of morality and human decency.
For the audience, the fear of cultural differences is something we can relate to, as we too are confronted with a world that operates by a completely different set of rules. The horror in Midsommar isn’t just about what’s happening on screen—it’s about how the characters react to the world around them, and how they struggle to make sense of the chaos.
The Ending: A Climactic Release of Horror
The final act of Midsommar is where the horror truly reaches its peak. The last 30 minutes of the film are a whirlwind of disturbing imagery, emotional breakdowns, and shocking revelations. By the time the film reaches its conclusion, you are left with a sense of dread and horror that lingers long after the credits roll.
The ending is a powerful release of all the tension that has built up throughout the film. Dani’s emotional journey comes to a head, and the cult’s influence over her becomes fully realized. The final scenes are haunting, with imagery that will stay with you long after the movie ends. Whether you find the ending cathartic or deeply disturbing, there’s no denying that it leaves a lasting impression.
Conclusion
So, is Midsommar really scary? The answer depends on what kind of horror you enjoy. If you’re a fan of traditional slasher films or supernatural horror, Midsommar may not be the type of scary movie you’re used to. However, if you appreciate psychological horror, disturbing imagery, and emotional depth, then Midsommar is undoubtedly a terrifying experience.
What makes Midsommar so unsettling is not just the gore or violence but the way it taps into our deepest fears: the fear of losing control, the fear of being manipulated, and the fear of encountering something we cannot understand. It’s a slow-burn horror film that gets under your skin and stays with you long after the credits roll.
In the end, Midsommar is a horror film that challenges traditional conventions and offers a unique, terrifying experience. Whether or not you find it scary is up to you, but one thing is certain: it’s a film that will leave you thinking long after it’s over.
