Is This The New Face Of Horror?
As I share my “Horror A – Z” list for Halloween, this little follow makes his case to join the list!
Oh, and Florence Pugh does as well:
Hmm…so many pretty flowers, but Pugh looks anything but cheerful!
You know where I’m going: it’s the “M – N – O” of my series, so let’s get started by watering those flowers!
“Midsommar”
Wow, nobody saw this horror masterpiece coming!
“Midsommar” is a 2019 folk horror film directed by Ari Aster, known for his unsettling and visually distinct style. It stars Florence Pugh as Dani, a young American woman grieving a family tragedy, who travels to a remote Swedish village for a midsummer festival with her emotionally distant boyfriend Christian, played by Jack Reynor, and his friends.
Here is the trailer:
As the trailer shows, the friends do NOT want Pugh there, and when they show up, things quickly go awry.
Upon their arrival, the friends discover that the seemingly peaceful Hårga community has sinister, ritualistic traditions, including ritual sacrifice and violent public ceremonies. You know, the stuff that horror films are meant to have!
As the festival progresses, the atmosphere grows increasingly unnerving, with the group of friends becoming isolated and targeted by the cult.
That’s all you need to know, but “Midsummer” builds a sense of dread and foreboding that, when it pays off, shocks! And speaking of shocks, my choice for the letter “N” created a whole new generation of zombie films!
“Night Of The Living Dead”
As I look at some of the greatest horror films of all time, you can’t discount the power of this 1968 zombie film – a low budget masterpiece directed by George Romero!
Romero broke all the rules of low-budget filmmaking when he created “Night Of The Living Dead” – a film that has inspired filmmakers and movie lovers for decades – a Halloween classic…
“Night Of The Living Dead” has grown more famous over the years, but almost never got made at all! It is a testament to the tenacity and ingenuity of Romero that he managed to get this film made! It was completed on a $114,000 budget and premiered October 1, 1968.
Here is the classic trailer:
The plot is straightforward: A shocking phenomenon has occurred: throughout the country, the dead have suddenly come back to life. A small group barricade themselves in an old farmhouse in an attempt the remain safe from these “walking dead.”
“Night of the Living Dead” is a master class in low budget filming. The script is razor sharp, the characters become clearly defined over the course of the movie, and the gore – well, let’s just say it was heavily criticized when it came out, because it was presented in a “reality” style that was shocking for its time!
The film has grown in critical stature over the years, and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, as a film deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
The film’s unexpected success spawned sequels, which continued the story:
“Dawn Of The Dead” was my “D” choice on the “Horror A – D” list – click here to see why!
As for the other face of horror I shared:
Hmmm, this little fella seems to be perturbed – I wonder what his story is:
“The Omen”
Well, here’s why the little guy seems upset: his father is the Devil!
In 1976, this movie shocked audiences as it told the story of a small boy who may be the spawn of Satan!
Here is the trailer:
Legendary Actor Gregory Peck gives gravitas to the horror story, and this movie is beautifully directed by Richard Donner for maximum scares – a real treat.
hope you enjoy this edition of my “Horror A – Z” series, but if you need a more interactive way to celebrate Halloween, head here!
Why not spend the night at Dracula’s Castle?
Here are the details for the most horrific party of 2025!
I am sharing 26 films this month to celebrate Shocktober, and it all started here:
Carrie sure knows how to “light up” a party!
She was got her hot under the collar here:
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Categories: 70's Cinema, British Cinema, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Halloween, Horror films, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
I remember Night of the Living Dead. So scary!
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I loved watching all of these! “Midsommar” was strange, but not everyone in America is familiar with the Midsummer rituals in Scandinavia, so I found it interesting.
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For years no parents could call their baby boys Damien!
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I love that! Yes, it carried a VERY ominous burden, didn’t it? Thanks for the comment, it made me laugh!
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John, I loved the other films you mention, but ‘Midsommar’ was so predictable and derivative. I was SO disappointed in that film, I was prompted to give it really bad criticism on my blog. If anyone didn’t see that ending coming, they were just not paying attention. Best wishes, Pete.
https://beetleypete.com/2023/12/13/film-review-midsommar-2019/
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great choices and now I’m going to have to seek out midsommar!
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In all honesty , Beth, there are better films to watch.
https://beetleypete.com/2023/12/13/film-review-midsommar-2019/
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Well Pete is right that it’s a bit polarizing, but I really liked it so that’s why it’s on my list – but not Petes!
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Not everyone in America is familiar with Scandinavian midsummer rituals, so I found “Midsommar” interesting. I realize you’re in Britain, and the British seem more familiar with these rituals.
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I live in New York and Beverly Hills, so I assume everyone wears flowers and kills!
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Hi, Dawn. It’s not so much that we are familiar with those rituals because we are closer to Scandinavia. It’s more about the numerous other films that had the same theme. I won’t leave a long list, but if you haven’t seen it, check out this old British classic. Best wishes, Pete.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070917/
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