Exploring the deeper meaning behind the chilling scenes in “Midsommar,” one particularly unsettling moment is the infamous group crying scene. The film, directed by Ari Aster, serves as a follow-up to his acclaimed horror “Hereditary” and follows Dani, portrayed by Florence Pugh, as she navigates a series of harrowing experiences during a trip to a seemingly idyllic Swedish village. The trip soon reveals the village’s true nature as a disturbing pagan cult. What might appear on the surface as a show of solidarity from the cult members during Dani’s emotional breakdown may carry darker implications, as revealed by cult expert Rick Alan Ross.
According to Ross, who shared his insights in a Wired video, the group’s synchronized crying is less about empathy and more about engulfing Dani into their belief system. It signifies an erasure of her emotional autonomy, binding her identity to the collective as if saying, “Dani, you no longer have your own individual feelings. There is just the group.” This moment acts as a pivotal point in Dani’s character arc.
Dani’s traumatic journey starts with the shocking deaths of her family members, leaving her emotionally isolated and desperate for support from her boyfriend, Christian, and his friends, who offer little solace. The Harga members may seem to offer the empathy Dani desperately craves, but each comforting gesture is instead a calculated step into further manipulation by the cult. While initially an emotional comfort for Dani, this perceived empathy gradually strips her of independence and immerses her into the community’s macabre embrace.
While the film intertwines Dani’s psychological descent with potent folk horror elements, it subtly questions the nature of relationships and individuality, against a backdrop of culturally ingrained rituals. As Dani becomes integrated into the Harga, leading to that haunting finale where she is crowned May Queen while Christian meets a grisly end, the cult’s grasp turns from seemingly nurturing to disturbingly coercive. The scene underscores the terror of losing oneself within a pervasive collective identity, hauntingly portrayed by Pugh’s raw performance.
According to Wired, the group’s actions appear as orchestrated empathy, combining an exploration of isolation with the horror of assimilation. It’s a chilling reminder of how easily one can be swallowed by a seemingly understanding community when searching for connection amidst personal trauma. This scene, like many in Aster’s films, deftly reveals layers of emotional complexity wrapped in horror.
“Midsommar,” released on July 3, 2019, stars talents such as Jack Reynor, Will Poulter, and William Jackson Harper, alongside Pugh. The film was shot on a modest budget of $9 million, capturing the beauty and terror of the Swedish wilderness through its sweeping 147-minute runtime. Aster’s knack for memorable, unsettling scenes remains evident, with this cult-centered narrative reinforcing his distinctive style. The infamous group crying scene, while meme-worthy out of context, stands as evidence of Ari Aster’s prowess in crafting unnerving cinematic experiences.
As the film continues to provoke analysis and discussion, the embedded YouTube video of Rick Alan Ross’s analysis further enhances our comprehension of this enigmatic scene:
The layers of Midsommar continue to unveil unsettling truths about collective psychology and relationships, ensuring its place in contemporary horror cinema’s chilling canon.
