Hereditary Review: 6 Ups And 3 Downs
5. Sharp Direction And Stunning Cinematography
Hereditary is Ari Aster's feature film debut, and it does not show whatsoever. The overbearing tone, strong shot composition, and haunting cinematography (captured by Pawel Pogorzelski) is a major reason why Hereditary works as well as it does. There's just a greatly-polished feel to it, using a mixture of creative shots and effective use of lighting to keep your eyes glued to the screen.
This helps give the film a sense of authenticity as it feels like people behind the camera believed in the director's vision and wanted to ensure that vision came through. The film's unsettling nature is also strengthened by this aspect. Every shot, whether it's a slow pan or close-up, feels like there's something else going on in the background. Then, in those moments where there literally is something going on in the background, it's always strategically-placed so that thing is just visible enough to send chills down your spine without detracting from the scene.
The purposeful camera movements not only keep the shot composition varied, but also gives the film a natural progression, like the camera's moving the story forward. This may be Aster's debut film, but his work here feels like the handiwork of a seasoned veteran.