I feel like Ari Aster got the wrong idea about what people liked about Hereditary. Midsommar has none of the subtlety of Hereditary and instead doubles down on trying to shock audiences. The cinematography is beautiful and the setting allows for some great shots that can contrast with the events we watch unfold. I liked having to rewatch Hereditary and look into the mythology to fill in the gaps I had after the credits rolled the first time. Midsommar has way too many things that are plainly foretold, not even foreshadowed, but just "alright, let's just go ahead and tell everyone what's going to happen." I loved all the acting of the real characters, with Florence Pugh being the just outstanding (I'd see Will Poulter in anything though), but there seems to be a lack of direction for all the extras. Even when the scene is super serious and 99% of the actors are portraying that, there is usually at least one that is inappropriately smiling. I don't know if it's a language issue, but there a definitely some people that don't understand the tone of the scenes and they are probably too elaborate to re-film because that lady is having too much fun with the chanting to keep a straight face. The presentation of Midsommar is almost perfect, but the story leave a lot to be desired. There is way too much focus of trying to pop an OMGWTF! instead of telling a compelling story with real payoffs. I was prepaired for a slow burn, but even when it catches fire, Midsommar never burns even half as bright as Hereditary. Like Hereditary, Midsommar isn't really a horror (even though that's what every trailer paints it as), but Midsommar is less drama and a lot more about building a general feeling of unease and anticipation that they blow off with something horrifying. It's been well over a year since I saw Herediatary and I can still remember so many scenes other than just the scary/shocking ones. It's been about 30 minutes since I watched Midsommar and I can't recall much other than the tent-pole gruesome scenes. This is at least partially because no much really happens. We have so many irrelevant plot threads that get time when they really don't deserve it. It's worth noting that the film takes place in Sweden and they selectively provide subtitles for the Swedish dialog, so I feel like there is an entire level of the film that I can't experience without learning Swedish or translating line by line. It's not like when you don't understand an alien language in a Sci-Fi movie because those aren't clues to a puzzle. With Hereditary, by the end you knew that there were many little clues that you could have put together to anticipate where the movie was going. Midsommar abandons that and has literal signs pointing you in the exact direction. After the first half, there is very little left to surprise you. With Hereditary, I was clueless up until the last couple of minutes; everything was an unexpected turn. Midsommar blows it's wad forty-five minutes in and by that point you already have the rest pretty mapped out. The movie started filming in July of 2018 as was already premiering in July of the next year and I think a big chunk of the blame lays there. While Midsommar is great visually and almost all of the acting is top notch, the story just isn't as well crafted. It's like watching Logan and than Aquaman; both have there values, but one definitely got more care. If I put Hereditary aside and pretend that Midsommar has no obvious counterpoint, it's a unique take on a film we've seen before. The directing and acting are great and Aster explores well trodden paths in a new light, but it's just missing that intangible X-factor. Midsommar never hits the highs that it promises to. Shock and awe can only push a movie so far before the story has to bare the weight and Midsommar's story just isn't strong enough.