As 2026 keeps delivering one of the best streaks in horror with the success of both Backrooms and Obsession, a remarkable film also in the line of independent productions will make its way onto streaming. Starring Oscar nominee Florence Pugh, the feature is an unforgiving exploration of grief that evolves into a wicked blend of a scary vacation movie and folk horror. Warning: this may actually convince you to cancel that bucket list trip to Europe.
Directed by Ari Aster (Hereditary, Eddington), Midsommar is arguably one of the best horror films of the last decade – a modern gem that will inevitably become a cult classic over the years. Released in 2019 by A24, it grossed a total of $48.5 million, earning more than five times its $9 million budget. Midsommar was also a critical hit, earning an 83% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and effectively putting Pugh in the Hollywood spotlight. The film is now streaming on HBO Max, as part of the platform’s June update, which also includes the thrillers Stoker and A History of Violence.
‘Midsommar’ Is the Best “Vacation Horror” Film of the 21st Century
In Midsommar, Dani (Pugh) suffers a blow when her sister kills her parents and then takes her own life. But as devastating as losing her family is, her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) is completely dismissive of her. Months pass and Christian finds it impossible to break up with Dani. When he gets an opportunity to head to Sweden with his friends for a midsummer festival, he reluctantly invites Dani to join them.
Upon their arrival in the remote commune, it all seems great. Everyone seems to be happy, and even after a bad trip, they don’t realize they could be in danger. When the festival turns into a disturbing series of ritualistic practices, the group begins suspecting there may be something at play. While Dani also feels there’s something off, she receives unique treatment as one of the special visitors. Eventually, she finds out that this rural settlement may hold answers about her place in the world and the future of her relationship.
Is ‘Midsommar’ Better Than ‘Hereditary’?
It is certainly a hot take, but in various ways, the film tops Hereditary, Aster’s 2018 Hollywood breakout that also touches on grief horror elements. Midsommar feels like a scary movie running on themes that go way beyond the basic elements of horror. It is shocking, of course, and has plenty of unnerving images that will stay with you for days. Nevertheless, Dani’s journey is not as simple as that of a final girl facing a dilemma (a path the film could have easily taken, and one that would still have been effective).
The emotional manipulation that’s unfortunately part of some modern relationships eventually fuels Dani’s coming-of-age arc. There’s a pathos in the film’s final reveal, when it becomes apparent that the vacation trip to Sweden wasn’t just about encountering a commune with different values. The trauma of losing one’s family to a horrific tragedy and the lack of support from a partner can take you to a very dark place, but sometimes, community can be found in the most bizarre of places. Love-bombing aside, that’s where you belong — and if you feel you fit in, you might as well stay forever if you think you could be part of this bizarre community.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
