

It’s revealed that Charlie was the favorite grandchild (even though Ellen wanted Charlie to be a boy) and that Ellen was a little too protective of her granddaughter her entire life, even trying to breastfeed her. The enigmatic sigil she wears has a special, secret meaning.ĭebate: After the funeral, Annie speaks to Charlie about Grandma Ellen’s death. It’s also important to note that Annie and her mother, laying to rest, wear the same enigmatic gold sigil, which we’ll be seeing more part of the “private ritual.” Ellen Leigh lying in state. This is what the Graham family, particularly Annie, will come to learn. How those closest to us may harbor dark secrets (that can come back to haunt us). This is the theme: the people we thought we knew, but really don’t. Annie’s eulogy of her mother’s “private rituals, private friends, private anxieties” doesn’t paint her deceased mother in too good a light. Theme Stated: Annie reads a eulogy about her intensely secretive and private mother to a smattering of guests, many of whom that she doesn’t recognize. Steve, Charlie, and Peter have a family moment during the funeral.
HEREDITARY LOGLINE FULL
Of course, we won’t know the full impact of the death and its consequences until well into the story. The catalytic death will affect each member of the family, particularly Annie.

Ellen’s passing is what kicks off the story. They’re all late for…Ĭatalyst: … the funeral of their Grandma Ellen Leigh (Annie’s elderly mother). Set-Up: We meet Peter Graham (Alex Wolff), and the rest of the family, Steve Graham, the father (Gabriel Byrne) Annie Graham, the mother (Toni Collette) and 13-year-old Charlie (Milly Shapiro), who has fallen asleep again in the treehouse. The dollhouse-like existence of the Graham family Most of the film is framed in locked-off, long and wide shots, as if we’re peeking into the happenings inside of a doll’s house. In a way, this informs us about seeing this particular family, the Grahams, up close and personal (along with the private hell they’re about to endure). Opening Image: After the obituary notice for 78-year-old Ellen Taper Leigh, we open on the perfect miniature of the Graham house in Annie Graham’s workroom. How does Hereditary hit Blake Snyder’s story beats? Here is the Save the Cat!® beat sheet for the film:

MITH Cousins: Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, The Haunting, The Shining, The Witch, Get Out, The Omen, The Amityville Horror, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Race with the Devil, Angel Heart, The Mephisto Waltz, Burnt Offerings, The Sentinel, House of the Devil, The Babadook, Paranormal Activity, The Evil Dead, Night of the Demons, Curse of the Demon, Insidious, The Conjuring, The Nun The transgression of Annie Graham’s mother conjures an unspeakable evil into the Graham household. Hereditary is the debut feature film of Ari Aster-and what a debut! The film follows the Save the Cat! Monster in the House genre that includes a Monster, a House, and a Sin. And if Toni Collette doesn’t at least get an Oscar® nomination for her electrifying performance, there’s no justice. The film owes much to family dramas like Ordinary People as well as psychological horror films with a demonic element like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist. Many critics, and audience members, claimed that it was the most terrifying film of 2018. It went on to become producer A24’s most successful film. When it opened on June 8, 2018, Hereditary was already a favorite at the Sundance Film Festival.
