The Complete Guide to Midsommar

Thank you so much for your amazing work and dedication! I recently joined Patreon solely to watch and support your videos. I am curious on your thoughts regarding Christian being a representation of the "black one." If the Harga already associate Christian with such a negative entity, why would they want him to mate with the Harga? Wouldn't they risk letting the black one continue to thrive in their community? Or can it just be swept under the rug since the Harga are a cult and this would just be one of their inconsistencies?

MariVal

I loved the final theory that Inga had to breed with her father as the reason for her anger and upset. i also acknowledge that the actor mentioned she had no feelings for mark but i want to provide a possible explanation for her being with mark and why the red Italian horn and the possible reasoning behind wearing it. I sense she feels shame in wearing it. possibly because permission had not been granted for her to mate with Mark, the others must have found out and along with the other quite old fashioned views the Horga have, maybe continueing valuing this life death cycle, they are forcing her to have the child knowing she will be punished afterward. possibly hoping the child is okay and born but her fate is undecided or decided for after the birth. she's could also forced to wear it as a shame symbol while upsetting the mother, but also protecting the child. just a little input :)

Selina De Sousa

I was late to the game on Midsommer but having now seen Hereditary, Midsommer and Beau is Afraid, I’m all in on Ari Aster (who is clearly insane). Your analysis was exactly what I needed. After only 26 minutes watching on YouTube, I knew I not only needed to see the uncensored version, but that I needed to support your work. Having watched every minute, this is a masterclass. You’ve given me so much to think about with my own theatrical design choices and I am so impressed by your dedication to research. Thank you for the thoughtful, engaging explanations and I appreciate your honesty when differentiating between that which you feel is evidence based, and that which is a pet theory. Can’t wait to watch your Hereditary analysis.

Julie Janson

I have a great deal of trouble watching horror movies due to personal issues and a dread at not knowing what's going to happen that often results in my physically getting sick, but I have such a fascination with horror and truly artistic horror films that I often enjoy them secondhand-- often times, i don't watch the movie myself, but I'll watch and find enjoyment and appreciation in the movie through video essays and plot recaps, and your videos perfectly scratch the itch to both get plot summaries and get in depth analyses on what's happening, what imagery is being used, research into inspirations, etc. I have watched this entire video, and am about halfway through your Hereditary video, and it's absolutely wonderfully done. Just wanted to give praise where praise is due. offer personal thanks because videos like this are what allow me to enjoy art in a genre I would otherwise want, but be unable, to enjoy.

Hannah McHugh

Amazing in-depth analysis! Can't believe I watched a 6 1/2 hour video and was totally enthralled! This might be a stretch but at the 6:32:41 mark you mention the runes on the wall flanking the door inside the altar and the similarity to Nazi iconography. If one were to "explode" or expand the diamond shape inside the X and slide the sides out at a 45 degree angle it would form a swastika. Just sayin'. Keep up the stellar work!

Michael Jocco Phillips

So I've just come back to this video after watching Midsommar again, and I have to admit I think you missed something major (apologies if someone already brought this up, I haven't read the YouTube comments!). The importance of breath in the movie can't really be overstated. From Pelle talking about how the trees are breathing, to the Hårga breathing rituals, breath is important to them and seems to be a connection to nature and each other. It's also no coincidence that Dani's family is murdered by carbon monoxide poising, their breath was taken away from them and poisoned. Dani also, in the moments when her grief is triggered, loses control of her breath in the form of panic attacks, showing her lack of connection to nature and how vulnerable it makes her. This is all backed up by the visuals, where the trees in the background (when there are psychedelics in play) are undulating and pulsating like the rise and fall of a chest. This is a pretty common visual when tripping, but I find it hard to believe it's a coincidence. Anyway, this video (documentary, essay, art analysis?) is still amazing, and I can't wait for the addendum and The VVitch companion guide!

Michael Green

Christian's robe when he enters the temple to "mate" with Maya are embroidered with the "boldness, victory" rune on his right shoulder, and the "taboo, warning" rune on his left. Gonna toss that out there for anyone who wants to ruminate on it.

Rusted Ursa

Maybe a couple more days-to-weeks of being breeding stock before someone found a different excuse to off his obnoxious ass.

Rusted Ursa

I come back to this again and again and again. Makes a great background to drawing or crafting. But I will never get over "From the top, make it drop like a mallet into Josh's skull."

Rusted Ursa

I love that you tracked down an almost lost to time Swedish fairytale, but you still managed to use a picture of a moose to depict an elk 🥲 this is incredible though and I love your videos so so much please keep doing amazing work like this

Libby Graalum

What do you think would have happened with Christian if Dani had not chosen him to burn?

Amy Miller

This is great work, kudos to you! I must add that the St John’s Wort on the ground as they walk toward the compound reminded me a lot of the yellow brick road in wizard of oz.

Liz Jensen

I mean, I don't think anything supports this... But nothing refutes it either, afaik! Although one could argue that there was most probably a thorough investigation around the death of Dani's family, and investigators would have found some evidence pointing to that, if she was brainwashed or influenced online. But again, they might have missed it. But I don't believe Pelle ever really acts in a clear way to make sure Dani comes with them... Meaning, I don't think she was really part of his plans, originally. After all, initially, there would have been no reason for her to come to the boys' trip, right? Personally, what I greatly appreciate with it coming down to pure luck is exactly that; how sometimes, the most evil people in the world can get insanely lucky. It's, for example, reminiscent of how Hitler escaped an assassination attempt so closely. Not to mention, more recent events...

Anvekeen

I joined your Patreon to watch this uncensored version. Shortly after that, rewatched the film. Perhaps you mentioned it and I’ve forgotten (sorry!) but what are your thoughts on Dani’s panic attack when she’s coming up in the field/running to the bathroom, and says something like, “no, don’t think that, it’s almost your birthday”? I missed it before but it seems to me like she’d been planning an attempt of her own, but wound up in Sweden instead.

Katie

I am 2.5 hours into your amazing analysis, and I am wondering if Pelle might have manipulated Dani's sister into committing suicide in the same manner as Jim Jones or the Heaven's Gate cult. I think that the use of online recruitment of incels for neo-nazi groups, especially in the U.S., seems to be reflected in the image of Terri being isolated in her dark room with a vividly bright computer screen, as if that is only connection to the outside world. As you point out, Pelle is an apt manipulator, and I just can't see that it is by chance that Dani makes the trip. Also, cults need to remove the recruit from the family unit, so manipulating Terri into killing Dani's parents seems to be the perfect way to make it so Dani has no reason to return.

Pepper's Place

Oh shoot you're right, Youtube is so extreme with monetization, I always forget how much of a struggle it is for you guys!! I'm not surprised many people were confused about the Director's Cut, and since the version on streaming platforms is usually the theater cut, I think it adds to the confusion (There's a greater discussion lurking here about how streaming platforms might mean the death of alternate versions of movies). Personally, I watched it in a group watch so I had to go with that version, and forgot about the DC's version afterwards... Also, I wasn't familiar yet with Aster's genius. To be honest, I still wasn't fully aware of it after watching the movie, because the movie disgusted me so deeply, given the non-stop manipulation and abuse depicted on screen (and, of course, the fact she joins a freaking cult). It didn't help that the people I was watching with were arguing for some of the Hårga's practices... That's how they get you, man ! I had to take a breather after that and, only after watching Hereditary later, did I understand the brilliance of this man ! But wow, are his movies heavy.

Anvekeen

A bit late in commenting, but thanks for the amazing video! I don’t know whether I missed this or someone else has commented this but in “ättestupa” or just ättestup the word stupa has a double meaning: “att stupa” as in the verb, means to fall or to die (as in to fall in battle) and “stup” means a cliff. My mother tongue is Swedish but I def thought that ättestupan in Midsommar referred to the death of family. But it would make sense that cliffs were named ättestup and maybe a myth based on the double meaning of stup/stupa were born after that. I really didn’t make the double meaning connection until this video XD 🤦‍♀️

Ellen

Oh Libby! I cut out a section with Yellow and madness and I was going to make specific reference to The Yellow Wallpaper. I genuinely don't think it's too much of a stretch and I absolutely love this comment. To explain why I cut it: 1. Because the ways colour is employed were already getting convoluted. I don't think that makes it a stretch, but it does make it harder to digest and feel cohesive and ultimately it's so subjective and so far reaching wherever colour is concerned. 2. You probably know what I'm going to say, you're probably surprised it isn't point one. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was not only an inspiring feminist, but also a loathsome racist. That's the number one text for linking yellow and mania and as we know it's horrendously marred with... other applications of the word 'yellow'. While a discussion of that racism is tangentially related to Midsommar it wouldn't feel right (and would also encourage many instructional comments) discussing yellow in that text without getting into it properly and a fair few disclaimers. Hopefully that explains my thought process, I think you're bang on and when I update the amendments list I will include you pointing it out but yeah...gonna need to include those disclaimers lol.

Novum

Ooooh can’t wait for that!

Anne

I'm so happy about that actually, I've been really surprised by the amount of people who are only just finding out the Directors Cut exists. At the very least I think I've pushed some sales of the 'fancy version' A24's way! You're absolutely right about the head trauma, that was one of a few moments where I was just hoping people would understand it because I was really dancing a fine line regarding monetisation. I think the thing I'm proudest of is that I talked about Midsommar for seven hours and didn't say the word suicide once, it's kind of like that where I just didn't want to dwell too long on the specifics of the injuries. But yes, you're absolutely right!

Novum

I love the link with Odin's eye, I'm not sure if you were the person that pointed it out on YT but I have already added it to the sticky post with amendments and additions under the video! As far as the drawing goes, yeah it's not the best likeness in the world, especially given the later drawing by Pelle (which is at least in part CGI). However my feeling is that it's just a not very good drawing and that's the prop they had to work with. Which is to say it probably does look a bit more like Terri, but I'm really not sure that's intentional and I didn't want to insult anyone's artwork during the vid!

Novum

You're far too kind Grace, thank you so much - very glad you enjoyed it!

Novum

I absolutely love that Rosemary, I think I was fixated on the baggy Swedish style she was wearing back in Winter but I think that's absolutely bang on! I'll try to remember to add it to the list of addendums on the YT video!

Novum

Ahaha, yeah there will be at least an hour of me reacting to Midsommar Cinema Sins coming shortly, and as Anvekeen says, there might be enough soon to do an 'addendum' video! Really glad you enjoyed it Anne!

Novum

Thanks so much, hope you enjoyed it!

Novum

Thank you so much Toni! Me too, me too..

Novum

Yeah dude it's great! Nordin Walks is awesome, really lovely dude that was totally on board with signing documents a stranger on the internet was sending him. Honestly maybe I got lucky but every single Swedish person I interacted with was extremely helpful and personable. I doubt you would get the same success rate with British people!

Novum

Thank you so much Elio, that's really awesome to hear dude!

Novum

Thank you so much Jessica, for the support and the kind words. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply. I honestly have no idea if he's aware of them or not and the thought fills me with terror! I'm kind of itching to get something non-Aster related out next just so if he ever does see it he doesn't think I'm some crazy stalker! I do imagine though, given the popularity of the Hereditary vid on reddit, that it's somewhat likely someone will ask him about it during his next AMA, again the thought fills me with terror.

Novum

Hi Jessica, Firstly thank you so much for the kind words, and please rest assured that while you may see more 'easy' content from me here over the coming weeks, my decision is very much to focus solely on the 'Complete Guide' series as really the only kind of curated content I'll be putting out, because it's clear that's what people really want. I'm very lucky that you've all been quite vocal about not caring about the wait vs quality content, and I'm super happy we're all on the same page with that. As for your assessment of me, you're half right. I am not Jewish. I have however spent a great deal of time tripping my face off. I hope that's okay to say here and I shall clarify that I'm speaking about a long time ago when I was a little rapscallion. And I absolutely agree with you on both counts, Jewishness is layered into everything Ari Aster creates in extremely subtle ways and I think psychedelics play a huge role too. Completely agree that he harnesses the way those substances feel and brings that feeling to the screen in very unique and playful ways. To go back to Beau is Afraid though, I've had a couple of people offer to provide input about the movie and (as I say in the podcast-thing I just released here) I know Jewish mysticism isn't my specialty and it's going to be a lot of research. So there will come a time in a few months when I post asking for input about all that and please feel free to share whatever you want to share with me on the topic. I will be extremely excited to hear it. For right now though I have to have VV shaped blinkers on to everything Beau related or my brain will start to wander. Oh and as for Nike, I know I know I know, but unfortunately I think if I said it like that my more northern friends would disown me entirely. It's somewhat a betrayer of class where I'm from!

Novum

A few things that struck me recently which i don't think were mentioned: - the communal drone that the harga make during their first meal sound like the violins during the reveal of Dani's families deaths - the drawing of Dani honestly doesn't look much like her and in some ways resembles Terri - the link between Reuben and Terri also being a reference to Odin with the lacking of one eye

kai james

this was one of the best videos i’ve ever seen! Thank you so much for putting so much of these thoughts and ideas into words!

Grace -

I’m here for it!

Anne

When I read some amazing comments with more info, I'm thinking this could be extended an hour or two, lol

Anvekeen

This was absolutely fantastic. I hated finishing it! Can you submit a couple more hours of info, please? ;-) It truly was fascinating and the work you’ve put behind it is insurmountable. Thank you for everything you’ve done! Just…. amazing.

Anne

I subbed to see this 🌻 You didn’t mention one of my favourite details about the Hårga dress being the first piece of clothing that Danni wears that actually fits her

Rosemary Black

I had some interesting additional thoughts about the colour yellow, and while Aster doesn't make reference to them, it was something that occurred to me. The colour yellow kind of has an association with madness. While contextually, it's probably NOT something the film is drawing on, a BIG association I had for St John's Wort, is it is often used as a natural remedy for anxiety, although it's use is contentious. There are the literary examples of this association like classic horror and new-weirds The Yellow Wallpaper and The King In Yellow, but, I think that woild definetly be a stretch. However, yellow in Midsommar does occur alongside themes of mental health, sanity etc. from Terri's depression leading to her death, the indoctrination of the cult, the burning temple as the climax of the narrative and Dani's breakdown, representations of dangerous ideologies and doctrine such as the cult and cultic thinking in general, to specifically nationalism and far-right violence, the sun and its horrifying expression at the start, the colour of mania which characterises many aspects of the Hårga to a t. That was just my interpretation, but, yeah 😅

Libby Reed

Wow, only by watching your video did I realize a Director's Cut exists... I totally forgot about it ! I was confused about the "drowning" scene until I remembered that... Also, you mentioned that it is absolutely Josh that is doing the weird sound once he's been hit by the Hårgas on the head. But I was hoping you'd go on and explain that the sound he makes is similar to sort of a very deep/loud snoring sound, and is VERY indicative of head trauma. It's one of those things the internet educated me on!

Anvekeen

subscribed to watch the uncensored version, excited to get started!

Sorceringingarts

Great video man, truly the best i've seen in all year ,and I wach alot of youtube

Toni

Great job once again but also thanks for Nordin Walks, the ambient channel that I didn’t know I was missing.

Alexx T. Holden

Fourth Horseman

Honestly, it's not something that is really needed, I was just wondering if you already had a non-cen version around which just hadn't made it up onto here yet. If it requires more work then save your time and efforts because we all know what's supposed to be there!

Robin

Signed up for my first Patreon for this. Your content deserves supporting. Hard to believe so much I missed in this movie, which is one of my favorites. Thank you so much for doing these! Must be a Herculaneum task but you do it so well! Has Ari ever seen your videos I wonder? I hope so!

Jessica Hudson

I already left a comment. However, I just finished the video and wow it is so wonderful. You are so talented, and this work has so much substance. I love how with all your long firm videos, the viewer walks away with so much more than a film explanation. You are truly teaching in these, and again, your thoughtful approach is just, so refreshing. I may or may not be your target market. I'm a 42 year old Jewish American woman, who loves novels, music, film, basketball, have a ton of experience with psychedelics, and generally love film and am a huge fan of documentaries. Ari Aster is also by far my favorite director, currently. Last of the compliments..I so despise the "churn out content" trend. I don't want half assed crap daily to feed a content addiction lol. I want quality, not quantity. I want thoughtful, not quick . Tiktok has its place, it's just not for me. Give me 6 hour videos I can re-watch. So, one thing that is so crucial to Ari Asters work, at least to me is Jewish identity, how that informs so much of his approach. And the psychedelic experience. Both those definitely align for me. But as someone whom I am guessing and assuming, isn't Jewish, and hasn't tripped, I wanted to share a few thoughts with you. If you have tripped, or are Jewish, please excuse my presumptions. Ari's Jewishness, and Jewish perspective, to me, is so very obvious in all 3 of his most well known films. In Hereditary, the element of passing things down, not just tradition, but trauma, is so very Jewish. In a myriad of ways both positive and negative. Midsommar is, in some ways, how Jewish people view other religions. Despite the fact we share some elements with other religions (the most relevant that comes to mind is the Temple offerings. Throwing meat in a sacred fire for different offerings, different reasons, and to make up for different transgressions. Beau is Afraid , paints a picture of the paranoia one cn have being Jewish in the world. Especially nowadays. I'm so excited for your eventual 5-7 hour Beau is Afraid video. In researching, talk to s many Rabbi's as you can lol. These things are only small elements of these 3 films. But I think it's worth it to point out, as a writer and filmmaker, Ari approaches everything from his Jewish perspective, he has no choice lol. And of course, he is Jewish culturally more than religiously. But we are a religion, that's also a culture, that's also an ethnicity. Nomatter how much of which one is coming from, it does shape a persons perspective. And I love how it does for his 3 major works. While Jewishness provides a perspective, nothing seems to inform these films as heavily as does the psychedelic experience. As an experienced user of psychedelics, I can say that it's a realm that Hollywood not only gets completely wrong. But in popular culture, they are often either marginalized, demonized, or given way too much credit, or the Joe Rogans of the world make them seem absolutely only for idiots. It's cringe inducing to me also, any time I see an attempt to make things "Trippy". The film Mandy, starring Nicholas Cage got close, but was so over the top, the more subtle aspects got missed. Trying to explain tripping to those that haven't is near impossible. Noto mention, LSD is very different than Mushrooms, Mushrooms are not like Mescaline or Payote, none of the aforementioned are anything like DMT. I could write books about my experiences, but that wouldn't really explain what they are like. What they feel like. How scary and close to death the experiences are or can be. The hills and valleys. So much more than teens staring at geometric patterns on a wall, though there's space for that too lol. What Ari does so well in all 3 films, Midsommar particularly, but in all 3 he gives the viewer a trip, an experience, and a slice of what being on psychedelics FEELS like. So often people fail so hard because they are focused on trying to explain hallucinating. I'm a way, that aspect gets more attention than it deserves. Sure, there are times the visual effects are outstanding. But it's the mental/and physical sometimes, Rollercoaster that you enter into upon a trip that Ari provides so succinctly for his audience. Midsommar, is almost the pinnacle of this, if not the most accurate I've ever experienced. When tripping, there are often periods of confusion, of fear, of intensity, of not being able to even talk, and somehow, this is what Ari captures completely. Sure, through the movie, there are some sight gags. But the more subtle ones, like Dani's sisters face in the trees at the end, those are closer to the actual experience. The journey, the very draining journey, that viewers go on during an Ari Aster film, are so similar to me, to the psychedelic experience. Midsommar being the closest. I have watched Midsommar under the influence of psychedelics as well, and they are a one and the same experience imo, as far as how one feels after the experience is over. Drained, but with some catharsis, but a catharsis don't fully understand. Anyways, those are y thoughts. Loved the video. One very American criticism, I apologize, Nike is pronounced "Nigh - Key" or "Ny-kee". Other than that I would give this video a 200 out of 10, amazing work. If you actually read all this. Thank you. Have a great day

Jessica Elsener

Thanks so much John, cheers for all your support dude!

Novum

Thanks so much dude, that's amazing to hear and I'm really glad you enjoy them. That's a really interesting question re: Hereditary. Something I hadn't thought about until yesterday. I'm certain the Hereditary premiere project will no longer be functional. All the side files/extra images and so on have to still be in the exact same place and a bunch of other things and I've moved computers since then (literally to be able to render the Midsommar vid). However, I'm thinking I might be able to find the exported file for Hereditary and then kind of just edit over the top of it. Outside chance I might be able to make the sound quality a bit nicer too. So in short, I think there's a good chance I can do an uncensored guide to Hereditary and I have put it on the list, but it will be a render of a render so ever so slightly lower visual quality.

Novum

So, so glad to hear that dude, it's one of my main fears when making these. I think absolutely there's a tie, just like we see wtih Terri's eye being similar to Odin, all the meaning in this film meets in the middle. So yeah, no doubt there, breathing in out black smoke has very negative (or twisted positive) connotations every time, being with the Harga/unclouded is clear breath in unison. Honestly as far as Ari Aster is concerned I'm not sure coincidence exists!

Novum

Fantastic video. Its great seeing how the in movie universe is informed and how close to reality that it reflects.

John C.

Hereditary, Lighthouse, Alien got me here. Then I saw Midsommar split over 3 sittings.... and it's just morally wrong not to support this with a bit of money. In a world of shouty 5-minute YT 'insights' and Blu-Ray extras you can get through over a single cuppa, your videos are like manna from heaven. Truly, truly well done on all your videos, but especially the big ones and I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on The Witch. Side note - Are there any plans to post an uncensored version of Guide to Hereditary here?

Robin

Really great analysis! I think the pacing is perfect, despite the longer runtime I felt really engaged the whole time and it gave me a lot to think about. Do you think that there's a narrative tie between the focus on Dani's breathing/hyperventilating and the carbon monoxide poisoning/asphyxiation of the Ardors, or just a coincidence?

Spice_weasel

Thank you… the complete guide to hereditary brought me here

Antwan Luminance

Terrific work! I'm so glad I get to support this! Thank you for sharing this wih us, we're unworthy! lol

Anvekeen

I'm not sure what you're referring to exactly but I'm guessing I mumblemouthed it lol

Novum

Just happy you're here now. There's no way the video for The VVitch will be as long as this one, even just based off running time, but I am going to absolutely cut no corners, I can assure you of that!

Novum

"Water, stone, hmmr, fire..." Had to play that back again

Evergreen

I’m so sorry I didn’t join this Patreon earlier. This is some of the best content I’ve seen in years. Also, I cannot express how much I loved the VVitch. Take your time and make it as LONG as possible. I’ll take the day off when it comes out. Phenomenal work.

JGL I

No shame at all, there really hasn't been much on offer up until now. Thank you so much for the support!

Novum

That's so awesome to hear dude, thank you so much.

Novum

I just became a Patron. It's a shame, I should have long ago. Glad to support great work like this.

Jessica Elsener

I've never bought someone's patreon before, but I don't feel right consuming content of this quality for free!

Jack O'Donnell