10 Horror Movie Moments IMPOSSIBLE To Watch Same Way After This Article
9. Dani's Parents Are Still Alive When She Calls - Midsommar
Ari Aster's stellar second feature Midsommar begins with one of the most harrowing opening sequences in any recent horror film, with protagonist Dani (Florence Pugh) receiving a disturbing series of messages from her mentally ill sister.
Though encouraged to brush it off as attention-seeking behaviour by her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor), Dani later receives a phone call confirming that her sister has not only committed suicide, but also killed their parents by filling the family home with carbon monoxide.
It's a deeply disturbing sequence and one that sets an uneasy tone for the rest of the movie, yet only on a repeat viewing are you likely to realise the even more horrifying truth of that opening.
Early in the scene, Dani calls her parents and we catch a glimpse of them as they appear to be sleeping soundly, but of course, in reality they've seemingly already succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Yet if you look closely, you can actually see that the parents are still breathing: their chests move slightly as Dani calls them, suggesting that if Christian hadn't discouraged Dani from investigating the issue further, their lives could've possibly been saved.
Had Dani kept calling, maybe her parents might've woken up, or had she pursued the matter further she could've summoned help in time.
In turn, this would've not only saved her parents' lives but also ensured that Dani never took her ill-fated trip to Sweden.