MIDSOMMAR (2019)
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)

In MIDSOMMAR, three friends travel to Sweden to observe the midsummer festival at the farm/commune of another of their friends. It is probably not much of a spoiler at this point to say that this film bears more than a slight resemblance to THE WICKER MAN, although the "outsiders" here are not quite as clueless as Sergeant Howie. For starters, one of them is doing his thesis on midsummer festivals.

This is a 2019 movie, so not surprisingly, there is more sex (and gore) than in the 1972 WICKER MAN. (FWIW, Britt Ekland's dance in THE WICKER MAN is far more erotic than the more explicit sex of MIDSOMMAR.) There are also more special effects, though they are primarily in the service of either the gore, or various hallucinations, rather than any possible supernatural elements.

Of interest to those who follow folk horror (see our review of WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED in the 01/06/23 issue), but obviously THE WICKER MAN (the original from 1973, not the 2006 remake) should be seen before this.

Released 03 July 2019. Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10

Film Credits: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772262/reference

What others are saying: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/midsommar

					Mark R. Leeper
					Copyright 2023 Mark R. Leeper