MovieChat Forums > Midsommar (2019) Discussion > An emotionally haunting trippy dark come...

An emotionally haunting trippy dark comedy dealing with grief and abandonment

posted 5 years ago by fzane (999)
18 replies | jump to latest

If you're over 30, and were ever in a long relationship or two, this film will likely resonate with you. I have been on both sides, being the distant boyfriend as well as being emotionally destroyed by a girlfriend. So, I can relate to both sides of this amazing break up film, and it made the experience very personal on many levels. Second, if you have ever had to endure a rough untimely death in the family, or been abandoned by your family in any way having trouble dealing, you will likely find catharsis in this movie. Third, if you have ever enjoyed taking psychedelics, especially in the woods and/or at a festival, this film is must see for you. Forth, if you can appreciate a movie that honors a Kubrickian style cinematography, as well as liking dark comedy, this movie will impress you thoroughly. Lastly, if you like movies that stay with you for days or weeks, haunting your mind with thoughts, images, and emotions, Midsommar will do just that.

[–] rootvegetables (1319) 5 years ago

The film does have humor and the situations do delve into the absurd, yet I do not see it as a dark comedy. For reference and as an example, "In Bruges" is, for me, a dark comedy.
That being said, your description below:

...if you like movies that stay with you for days or weeks, haunting your mind with thoughts, images, and emotions, Midsommar will do just that.

is one with which I agree 100%.
To be clear, I am not sure I will ever want to revisit this film or once again spend time with these characters, who are, for the most part either severely emotionally damaged, insane, psychotic, sociopathic, mean spirited, evil, foolish, creepy, unpleasant, disgusting (or a combination of some or all of these descriptors).
Yet, I will acknowledge good, skillful filmmaking when I see it; and won't pretend that this film has not stayed with me and even disturbed me weeks after seeing it in the theater. It did and, as of this writing, continues to do so.

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[–] OldG (625) 5 years ago

As the other poster also wrote I do not see as a dark comedy... There are a couple of moments that made me laugh and I agree with your thoughts on the film... But I do not feel that we are in comedy territory at all... Just what happens in the first 15 mins or so is so heart breaking... that the tone is not in comedy territory at all... This is a breakup film where we at the end see the ultimate breakup from the person who was trying to keep them together for most of the film...

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

I don't feel it was a dark comedy at all. There were some comedic one liners, but for the most part it is a very serious movie.

[–] OldG (625) 5 years ago

We agree...

[–] fzane (999) 5 years ago

Breaking Bad is considered a serious show, but many refer to it as a Dark Comedy as well. It seems we need a new term? Perhaps Dark Dramedy? :-)

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

Yeah, I really don't think Breaking Bad was a dark comedy either. One thing I can say for it was that it was intense.

[–] Batty67 (358) 5 years ago

Just saw it. Overall, well executed and many interesting situations, but I kept waiting for a truly great and terrifying moment, and so many great build-ups just fizzled.

[–] fzane (999) 5 years ago

I was sorta glad it didn't go into a truly terrifying moment. After Hereditary, I was affected in such a negative way, and it really took a toll on my psyche. Midsommar was much tamer, and easier to digest, staying with me in a way i could appreciate. Remember, this is primarily a break-up movie with some horror sprinkled on top. Try not to view it as a movie that is trying to scare the viewer, but rather as a cathartic dreamlike fairy tale journey tailor made for Dani. After being stripped of her family, and dealing with an ultra distant boyfriend whose friends made her feel like a complete outcast, she got her birthday wish, and found someone who loved her after all. To experience the build up, and psychological crescendo, you had to identify with Dani, and her final difficult decision:
If she lets Christian live, he would constantly be trying to get her to leave with him. Or, if he got out, he would likely rat out all the deaths to the police, and get the whole cult in trouble. So, I believe in those moments of decision, she ultimately chose to protect her new family (her only source of emotional freedom) by eliminating the last person who could have taken it all away.

[–] Batty67 (358) 5 years ago

Interesting. But I do not care for Dani being characterized as any sort of hero. She was seriously damaged goods. Of course, the cult were horribly, horribly criminal and deluded. They just added a new member.

Christian "put up" with untold drama for at least 2 years before trying to break-up with her. Breaking-up with a person did not make him a bad person. People DO break-up, it takes two to make it work, and it was NOT going to work. It sure seems like he tried (and failed) to support her while very conflicted. And her certainly did not deserve the horrific end he got. Nor did his friends. I don't empathize with Dani much. I certainly don't with the cult, who most richly deserved to be "ratted out" for the murderers they were.

But back to the movie, it was entertaining and clever. Well produced. Just dragged on too long and again, I for one was hoping for a more dramatic (supernatural?) ending.

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

The ending was perfect.

[–] Batty67 (358) 5 years ago

Glad you thought so. I thought it was pretty good, but it did drag getting to it. And the first part of the movie, though very well done, seemed disconnected with the rest of the movie.

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

I thought it was perfect in connecting the dots. If you follow the characters closely you get a good feeling for what motivates them.

[–] Batty67 (358) 5 years ago

Guess we disagree. We learn that Dani was seriously unstable and super-needy, and Christian was not (or no longer) and a position to give her what she needs. Not so much on the other characters.

[–] Caeli (102) 5 years ago

I don't think Dani was unstable (no evidence of that) nor was she "super-needy". Usually needy people aren't so self-aware as she was. And it is proven she is self-aware when she voices her concerns to her friend in the beginning of the movie. She knows that he is thinking about ending their relationship, she is just desperate to keep hold of it. Also, in an earlier post of yours you referred to Dani as "damaged goods". Not sure what you mean by that, but I can only assume anyone who's experienced a great loss in their lives must be damaged. I guess that means we are all damaged. Or maybe your're just blessed.

However, I do think she was eager to please. That is evident in how uber-polite she was to everyone.

[–] Batty67 (358) 5 years ago

It feels like we watched different movies. I think she's both super needy and damaged goods. Understandably, but I guess we'll have to politely disagree.

[–] Caeli (102) 5 years ago

Maybe if you gave some examples or explained your thought process I could better understand.

[–] fzane (999) 5 years ago

I agree with everything you said. Dani was definitely not a hero, and Christian and his friends definitely did not deserve to die. However, if Dani were to let Christian live, it would likely mean both of their eventual deaths. So, that's why, at the end, her decision was to take the lesser of two evils. At least she could live, and be surrounded by the support that she so desperately craved, and needed.

[–] Batty67 (358) 5 years ago

Fair points.