Hereditary Review: 6 Ups And 3 Downs

1. The Trailer Mismarkets The Film

Attached seemingly to all major movies released recently, the Hereditary trailer teased a non-stop thrill ride that would scare you out of your wits. After watching the film, it's certainly tension-filled, but any craziness is, you could say, 'Carefully distributed.' The tension is undeniable, and its disturbing qualities will keep you on-edge, but it's not quite the heart attack inducer it's being sold as.

It's not just the editing of the trailer that caused this issue either. Part of the problem is in the usage of certain critical reviews, like the one who proclaimed 'Hereditary is this generation's The Exorcist.' While discussions of this film's quality in comparison to 'The Exorcist' is one that can be had, both movies aren't similar enough to warrant the comparison. This only further leads to the mismarketing problem as viewers go in expecting one of the scariest movies in recent years, and they'll eventually come out somewhat disappointed with that kind of mindset.

Audience expectations aren't easy to manage, and even director Ari Aster acknowledged the negative effect those critical ravings can have on each viewer's mindset. With the film's Cinemascore being rather low following its worldwide premiere, it's clear that the marketing didn't do Hereditary any favors.

And now on to the positives...