Hereditary

Gabriel Byrne and a full throttle Toni Colette in Hereditary

Ari Aster's Hereditary is a good first feature, but not a great one. Aster's tale of a family coming apart due to an ancient curse resonates as a creepy exercise, but falls short of being transcendent horror. Visually, the film is competent and well thought out, but not deeply felt. Aster nicely uses pans and quick dolly shots to heighten the feeling of a family trapped by its past, but when the occult climax is reached the effect is muffled because the direction, measured and assured, lacks the crazed brio of a Polanski, Dante, Raimi or De Palma.

The cast all give well guided performances. Toni Collette gives the film hysterical intensity it needs. Ann Dowd, so magnificent in The Leftovers, is money in the bank in the Ruth Gordon role. Gabriel Byrne, often adrift if miscast, is effective. When Colette's wife asks him to be open to the idea of a séance, I had to chuckle, because there is no actor more closed than Mr. Byrne. The juveniles are all effective leading me to believe Mr. Aster had a firm hand on the tiller and I look forward to his next effort. (6/10/17)