10 Best Directorial Debut Films Of The 21st Century (So Far)
8. Hereditary
Many could be forgiven for only being able to sit through this film once, as it’s a deeply unpleasant watch. However, Hereditary is a horror everyone should see because there just simply aren’t many made that compare to it.
Ari Aster has quickly become a household name in Hollywood due to his distinctive style of filmmaking. Aster’s preference to capture horror traps the audience through long takes and wide shots that work in tandem to exhibit unsettling imagery from which the viewer is subsequently unable to escape.
In terms of the plot, the clue is in the name really. It’s a wild ride that explores ancestry, witchcraft and Satanism through a modern-day American family who face a horrifying fate their lineage bestowed onto them.
Hereditary is evenly blood-curdling and spine-chilling, boasting standout performances in particular from Toni Colette and Alex Wolff, with the former well and truly robbed of an Oscar nomination for her efforts.
What makes Hereditary so damn scary is that it’s a horror that never leaves you. It latches itself to its victim like a leech through unforgettable scenes such as the separate decapitations of Charlie and Annie… Ari Aster has a real problem, doesn’t he?
Horror has a home at A24 as the studio has evolved into an authentic hub for up-and-coming filmmakers to showcase their talent to the world, and long may it continue.