Hereditary

Main Plot

"Hereditary," directed by Ari Aster, follows the Graham family as they grapple with the aftermath of their secretive and reclusive grandmother's death. The family begins to unravel a series of disturbing and increasingly terrifying events linked to their ancestry. As they delve deeper, they uncover dark secrets and sinister rituals that suggest their lineage is cursed. The mother, Annie, becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, leading to strained relationships and psychological torment. Supernatural forces and inherited trauma intertwine, pushing the family to the brink of madness. The film explores themes of grief, legacy, and the inescapable nature of familial bonds.

Characters

• Toni Collette plays Annie Graham, a mother unraveling dark family secrets and supernatural horrors after her own mother's death, driving the plot's psychological and emotional intensity.
• Milly Shapiro plays Charlie Graham, a young girl whose mysterious death triggers a series of terrifying events and unravels dark family secrets.
• Gabriel Byrne plays Steve Graham, the supportive husband and father who tries to hold the family together amidst escalating supernatural events and psychological turmoil.

Ending Explained

In the climax of Ari Aster's "Hereditary," the film reveals that the Graham family has been manipulated by a cult devoted to summoning the demon Paimon. Annie Graham, played by Toni Collette, discovers that her mother, Ellen, was a key member of this cult and orchestrated a series of events to ensure Paimon's arrival. The cult's goal is to transfer Paimon's spirit into a male host, which they ultimately achieve through Annie's son, Peter. Annie becomes possessed and, in a horrifying sequence, decapitates herself in front of Peter. Traumatized, Peter jumps out of the attic window, seemingly killing himself. However, his body is then inhabited by Paimon. The cult members, including the decapitated bodies of Annie and Ellen, gather around Peter's body, now possessed by Paimon, and crown him as their new king. The film concludes with the cult chanting praises to Paimon, solidifying the demon's presence in the mortal world through Peter's body. This ending underscores the inescapable and tragic fate of the Graham family, manipulated by forces beyond their control.