Hereditary Movie Ending Explained

A24’s latest addition to the horror world, Hereditary, is already making waves amongst cinemagoers the world over. Marketed as a family discovering dark secrets entwined with their heritage after the matriarchal grandmother passes away, the film is a nose dive into the darkest of supernatural occurrences - serving to only get more intense, grotesque, and shocking as the narrative slowly unfolds. Offering suggestive hints throughout rather than giving anything away outright for the most part, there’s plenty to unpack when it comes to the driving force of Hereditary’s spooky bits.

Especially when it comes to that ending. A major shift in tone from the rest of the movie, the interpretive stylisation of the film quickly gives way to a terrifying context, and much in the same way the Sixth Sense changed everything in its finale, Hereditary's ending changes the way the film functions on any viewing after the first, even more so with a little extra information and some digging into its meaning.

Obviously, this will contain spoilers, so come back once you’ve seen the film if you don’t fancy finding out what happens.

For those that have seen the film then, this explanation might seem unnecessary, considering the film took the liberty of laying out its motivations in their entirety at the very end of its final act. Whereas most of the movie relies on creeping dread, a deliciously dark tone, and a cleverly layered build up of horrific themes, Paimon’s ascension into a male body is undeservedly layed out for the audience in a way that turns the trail of breadcrumbs into a hulking loaf of bread.

We’re told by the mysterious Joan that Annie’s son, Peter, is now host to Paimon, one of the eight kings of Hell, who was previously in a ‘first female body’ that had been rejected in favour of having a d*ck. Of course. In return for the cult followers helping the devil’s demon boy out, they ask for knowledge of all secret things, honor, wealth, and good familiars. But what exactly is their ritual, what are the components that make it up? Where does it come from? What clues were seeded throughout the movie that led us to this terrifying conclusion? Who the heck is Paimon?