The Take
Hereditary is not worth watching. The first half builds suffocating dread around grief and a shattered family, anchored by Toni Collette's unhinged performance, but the film abandons any emotional thread for a cult payoff that feels like a prank on the audience.
Practical effects and set pieces hit hard, yet the story's refusal to offer catharsis or meaning turns the whole exercise into pointless misery porn.
The Verdict
The film starts with believable family wreckage and unsettling atmosphere but trades it for a third-act cult ritual that mocks any investment in the characters. Practical horror moments work, yet the ending leaves nothing but emptiness.
Skip it.
Common Questions
What is Hereditary about?
A family unravels after a grandmother's death as hidden occult ties surface through grief and bizarre events.
Why is Hereditary controversial?
Its graphic family trauma, shocking violence, and bleak nihilistic close divided audiences.
Does Hereditary have a happy ending?
No. It ends in pure cult nihilism with no hope or closure.
