Ari Aster's filmography consists of two award-winning movies, Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019). While the former centers around a dissociated family, the latter tells a tale of a group of students who travel to Sweden to join a unique summer festival. The gang was a mixed bag in terms of how much audiences enjoyed them.
They vary in personalities and likability, ranging from endearing and inquisitive to woefully ignorant. Some characters were deemed unlikable because of their actions, while others got a higher likability rating solely because of the cruel fate they met. Amiable or not, none of them deserved to die the way they did.
10 Mark
Not only was Mark the least likable character, but he was also among the least intelligent. He was so ignorant that the cult proclaimed him as a jester. He truly did act like a fool, urinating on their sacred tree and not even feeling sorry about it.
This guy didn't care about their rituals, customs, or people, which was frustrating to watch. Disrespectful people never make for the most likable characters.
9 Christian
Christian was a bad boyfriend and a bad friend. He dismissed Dani's suffering and didn't even have the courage to end things with her. At the festival, he stole Josh's idea for a thesis and ended up mating with an underage girl.
The movie's ending feels cathartic precisely because Christian is such an annoying character. Watching him being sentenced to death was one of Midsommar's scariest scenes, but it wasn't just Dani who was smiling at the end of this movie.
8 Siv
No movie about a cult is complete without a cult leader. Siv was one of the elders, leading the prayers and making things happen. There was something sinister about the certainty and sternness with which she carried herself, chanting some of the most memorable quotes from the movie.
Audiences can hate on Christian all they want, but Siv is just as responsible for his betrayal of Dani. She was the one who set up a meeting with Christian. Once he was drugged, he didn't really have a choice but to follow Maja into that particular building.
7 Ulf
Ulf brought Connie and Simon to the festival and he was the one who was behind killing the outsiders. That should make him one of the most unlikable characters, but there is something truly tragic about this character. He trusted the cult and what they stood for - so much so that he was brave in face of death, convinced that he won't feel any pain as he burns to death.
His screaming at the end of the movie is the last sound heard before the cult takes over and joins in the screaming match. He died realizing that he was lied to, which makes him a pretty sympathetic character.
6 Josh
It's hard not to like Josh, even though he was a bit obnoxious at times. He really tried his best to be respectful towards the community that hosted him and he seemed to be the most delighted to be a witness to this rare festival.
He was interested in everything that made this horror movie as visually stunning as it was, from the paintings to the runes to even the human sacrifices.
5 Simon
Poor Simon disappeared so fast that there was little room for any character development. He was observant, reserved, and respectful. He realized faster than anybody that something was off about that place.
He met the most brutal death, execution by the blood eagle ritual. When Christian found him in the chicken coop, he was still breathing.
4 Maja
There was something incredibly humorous about Maja's infatuation with Christian and her love potions. The cult served Christian a drink with her blood, while she was eyeing him from the other side of the table.
When Dani was proclaimed the May Queen, Maja rejoiced with her. She was young, pretty, and naive - too young to know any better.
3 Pelle
Pelle is equally annoying as he is likable. Let's put it this way: it's annoying how likable he is, despite acting creepy half of the time. He was one of the most pleasant people in the cult, capable of holding space for traumatized Dani.
"Do you feel held?" he asked her with his trustworthy and kind face. It was all just a form of manipulation, though. Bringing the May Queen to the festival saved Pelle's life.
2 Connie
Since Connie saw through the cult straightaway, she had to go. It was hard to watch her freak out as she realized that Simon was gone. Nobody from the group stood up for her or even noticed that she was missing.
She was also quite a forgettable character. Once she was gone, her absence wasn't really noticed. But she was smart and intuitive, making her one of the most likable people in Midsommar.
1 Dani
As perfect cult material, Dani was the protagonist of the movie. Not only did she suffer an unimaginable trauma, but she also put Christian's needs above her own. He was completely oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend is a real catch: smart, poised, and understanding. There's a reason so much praise was given to Florence Pugh for one of the best performances in Ari Aster's work.
By the end of the movie, Dani found a place where she felt like she belonged and most fans were happy for her. Perhaps the scariest thing about Midsommar isn't the movie itself, but the way it manages to convince an average viewer to assume the mentality of a cult member without even noticing it.
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January 31, 2021 at 06:30AM
