Movie review
June 7, 2018 · 128 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Hereditary is a 2018 supernatural horror film about a suburban family that unravels after the death of its matriarch. The mother, father, teenage son, and young daughter uncover dark secrets about their bloodline tied to an occult cult and a demon that possesses family members and drives them toward tragedy and madness. The story focuses on grief, generational trauma, mental strain, and inherited evil in a traditional family setting. No audience-visible woke elements appear in the plot, dialogue, casting, or marketing.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Hereditary.
Woke representation / casting
All-white cast fits the suburban family premise naturally with zero visible diversity signaling or forced inclusion.
Woke political dialogue
No political, activist, or ideological lines; talk stays on grief, family tension, and supernatural signs.
Identity-driven story themes
Core story is generational occult curse and trauma; any gender detail in the demon (preferring male host) serves horror logic only, not identity affirmation or critique.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Shows family isolation and communication breakdown in modern life alongside supernatural evil, but without activist angles on patriarchy, toxic masculinity, or systemic issues.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant; original story with no adaptations or historical changes.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No notable right-leaning complaints accuse the film of DEI, identity politics, or left messaging; pushback was only about pacing and tone.
Creator track record context
Ari Aster builds horror around family darkness and human nature with no activist track record; recent work even pokes at political extremes.
Production
