Ari Aster’s Midsommar is a 2019 folk horror film he wrote and directed. It stars Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor as a couple dealing with relationship issues who travel to Sweden with a group of friends for a once-in-a-90-year celebration, only to fall into the grips of a Scandinavian pagan cult. A supporting ensemble cast includes William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe, and Will Poulter.
The picture was presented to Aster as a conventional slasher film set among Swedish cultists. It was a co-production between the United States and Sweden. After a traumatic split, Aster wrote a script based on the notion but made a disintegrating relationship the key issue. Bobby Krlic, a British electronic artist who was inspired by Nordic folk music, wrote the soundtrack. During the summer and autumn of 2018, the film was shot on location in Budapest.
Midsommar was released in theatres in the United States by A24 on July 3, 2019, and in Sweden by Nordisk Film on July 10, 2019. The film earned $47.9 million at the box office and garnered generally excellent reviews from reviewers, with many applauding Aster’s directions and Pugh’s performance.
Ari Aster would write and direct the picture, with Lars Knudsen serving as producer, it was reported in May 2018. The film was produced by B-Reel Films and Square Peg, with A24 handling distribution.
After writing the film while listening to The Haxan Cloak’s 2013 album Excavation, Aster enlisted British electronic artist The Haxan Cloak – real name Bobby Krlic – to compose the film’s score. Before filming began, Krlic began writing the music, drawing inspiration from Nordic traditional music, and working closely with Aster. Diegetic music is also used in the film, with actions on-screen blending with the score.
On June 18, 2019, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in New York City hosted a pre-release screening of Midsommar. On July 3, 2019, the film was released in theatres in the United States. On July 10, 2019, it was released in Sweden.
On September 24, 2019, Midsommar was released on Digital HD, and on October 8, 2019, it was published on DVD and Blu-ray. On July 20, 2020, the director’s edit of the film was released as an A24 shop exclusive on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in limited quantities.
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