TRANSCRIPT HERE
Welcome to hell. A family is falling the fuck apart, in the most distressing way. Toni Colette wishes she was back in Porpoise Spit at this point. We are of course, unpacking the traumatizing debut from Ari Aster, Hereditary (2018).
We talk in depth about how Ari portrays grief, PTSD and family attachments, but also make it horror? As well as start to question his choices in how he portrays and utilises disability in his films. Is he exploitative? Do we love Ari or do we hate him? Can it be both?
Some little refs include Alec With Pen (Haunted House Husband) and the regularly referenced and beloved You’re Wrong About (here is the start of the Michelle Remembers arc). (It is Sarah Marshall not Marsh sorry!)
CONTENT WARNING: Death of a child, ableism, decapitation, PTSD, traffic accident, suicide, self harm, disability used as horror, discussion of visual gore, drug use, violence, dead animals, cults, demon possession, witchcraft, child sexual abuse
NOTE: This podcast is not designed to be therapeutic, prescriptive or constitute a formal diagnosis for any listener, nor the characters discussed. The host is not representative of all psychologists and opinions stated are her own personal opinion, based on her own learnings and training (and minimal lived experience). Host and co-hosts do not have the final say and can only comment based on their own perspectives, so please let us know if you dispute any of these opinions – we are keen for feedback!
Host: Stephanie Fornasier
Cohost: Michael Watson
Editor: Nicholas Fornasier
Music and artwork: Michael Watson
References!
HORROR AND DIAGNOSIS: ON ARI ASTER
Hereditary and the Changeling Myth | Horror Movie
Exploring Depictions of Disability in 2018 Horror Movies
‘Hereditary’ Filmmaker Ari Aster Answers Burning Questions (Spoilers)
'Hereditary': Milly Shapiro wants to freak you out as that creepy kid
'Hereditary' star Milly Shapiro responds to criticism about her appearance
‘Hereditary,’ Mad Horror, And Representation Of Mental Illness
Important questions asked by new horror movie 'Hereditary' - UGA Today
Hideous Progeny: Disability, Eugenics, and Classic Horror Cinema on JSTOR
Episode 48: Drop Dead Fred and ”Imaginary Friend Syndrome” with Ariadne Giousmas
Episode 47: Married At First Sight & the brutal reality of Reality TV with Clare Verrall
2023 Psychocinematic Trailer
Episode 46: Your Fave & Flop Films of 2022!
Episode 45: Falling for Christmas- Lindsay is back! And so are outrageous representations of amnesia (with Emily & Heather McIntyre)
Episode 44: Bojack Horseman the cartoon horse teaches us everything about mental illness (with Annie Ware)
Episode 43: Hannah Diviney talks Latecomers, disability advocacy and serious plans to take over the world
Episode 42: ADHD is being Everything Everywhere All At Once (with Jordan Bastian)
Episode 41: Darren Aronofsky loves a Mental Illness Movie - Part 2. Black Swan (with Ash Roberts)
Episode 40: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: The Exorcist asks, have you considered your mental illness could simply be a touch of demon possession?
PATREON BONUS: The Babysitters Club- Stacey’s Emergency: Diabetes is not simply a maths game
Episode 39: Looking for Alibrandi and life as an Italian immigrant family in 1960’s Australia (With Frank Fornasier)
Episode 38: Darren Aronofsky loves a Mental Illness Movie - Part 1. Requiem for A Dream (with Nic Fornasier)
Episode 37: Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey and the psychology of abusive cults (with Merowyn Olaver)
Episode 36: The Babadook is actually grief, depression, trauma, and a fabulous queer icon
Episode 35: We Need To Talk About The Butterfly Effect
Episode 34: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: a film nerd and psychologist’s literal dream (with Indi Gage)
Episode 33: Moon Knight- have we progressed in our portrayals of Dissociative Identity Disorder in 2022?
Episode 32: Russian Doll, and trying to stop dying and start living after trauma (with Maz Fornasier)
Episode 31: Human Resources & Perinatal Mental Illness (with Clary Garrett)
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