I’ll do my best to keep this vague to avoid spoilers.

Turns out Hereditary was filmed near me. I vaguely knew it premiered at Sundance not too far away, but I just barely learned that the house in the film (the outside at least) is an actual house about an hour away from me. The interiors were all built on a sound stage that’s also not far from me. Small world, eh?

If I googled hard enough I could probably find that house in real life and go see it, but that seems rude. Shown in the movie, though, it’s a lovely large house filled with lovely miniature houses. All the events the movie’s family experience are mirrored in the miniature dioramas the main character creates, as if they’re all little dolls being moved by forces beyond their control.

The movie is ruled by dream logic and those deep wounds that only family can inflict. There are a few shocking moments and gory effects, but mostly the movie just washed over me in waves of grief and confusion, leaving me stunned at the end.

Some movies feel completely different when you watch them a second time. With some movies, knowing the ending doesn’t ruin the impact, but it shows every event in a whole new light and gives you a completely changed experience. I have a feeling this movie will give me that. I’ll definitely be watching it again.