You are here:

Hereditary

Name: Hereditary
Director: Ari Aster
Released: 2018
Duration: 128 min

Representation Score

4.8/10

Fair

2018

Director

Ari Aster

Runtime

128 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Hereditary is a deeply focused psychological horror that prioritizes thematic deconstruction over demographic breadth. It succeeds in challenging traditional social structures, particularly regarding gender and the sanctity of the family unit. However, the film is notably narrow in its casting, offering almost no racial or LGBTQ+ diversity. The narrative operates within a strictly Anglo-centric, straight-centered framework that limits its social scope. Ultimately, the film trades broad representation for intense, specialized exploration of trauma and moral relativism. It is a specialized work that challenges cultural norms while remaining demographically homogeneous.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Hereditary have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight relationships. It focuses solely on a traditional heterosexual family unit.

How does Hereditary portray gender?

Good

The story centers around a woman's psychological journey and the breakdown of traditional maternal roles. It challenges the nurturing mother stereotype by showing femininity through grief and instability.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Hereditary?

Minimal

The film depicts a homogeneous white family in a suburban setting. There is no evidence of racial diversity or color-blind casting within the main cast.

How does Hereditary represent religion and culture?

Good

The film challenges Western views of family sanctity by portraying the nuclear family as a source of trauma. It emphasizes an occultist perspective over traditional religious institutions.

Does Hereditary include disability representation?

Fair

Mental health and neurodivergence are explored through the lens of inherited trauma and grief. However, psychological instability is often used as a catalyst for supernatural horror.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender hierarchies by centering women's psychological journeys.
Portrays the nuclear family as a source of trauma, challenging conventional views.
Offers a nuanced, non-traditional portrayal of femininity and maternal roles.

Limited or Absent

Lacks racial and ethnic diversity, focusing on a homogeneous white cast.
Does not represent LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
Uses mental health struggles primarily as a device for supernatural tension.

Official Synopsis

Following the death of the Leigh family matriarch, Annie and her children uncover disturbing secrets about their heritage. Their daily lives are not only impacted, but they also become entangled in a chilling fate from which they cannot escape, driving them to the brink of madness.

How are these scores produced? →