Ari Aster is a somewhat new director to Hollywood and has gained popularity as of recently with his movies Hereditary and Midsommar.
Although these two movies are greatly different and “have no connections intentionally,” as claimed by Aster in an interview with Bloody Disgusting. There still many connections and provide a view into his individual characteristic of movie making.
No matter which movie you begin with, as you watch, you will see clear relations back to each other.
For example, there is a strong portrayal of cults, nudity and mental illness. Although these things seem to be strong emotional bares on their own, the way Aster incorporates each characteristic varies and promotes a unsettling, almost dirty, feeling after watching.
The best way I can describe the movies, independently and as a pair, is that they make you want to take a shower after. They leave you feeling confused and unhinged.
One defining factor of his film style that I’ve noticed, is greatly inspired by Wes Anderson, another very well known director, with very wide distinct shots (especially in Midsommar). For both movies, confusion is a strong emotion provoked for both the characters and the audience. Aster has stated that he intended to confuse the watcher, as if he wanted us to be in the dark as much as everyone in the movie.
Although Aster is a relatively new director in the public eye, his work so far is very promising. I think that his way of movie making has set a new standard or defining aspect to world of movies, especially horror. I look forward to his future work and which direction it takes.
A Friend of Film 