Emma and Christy look at Ari Aster’s 2019 folk horror film Midsommar and talk environmentalism, nationalism, community, grief, horror (obviously), folk art, facial transplants, whiteness, screaming, and IKEA.



CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE IMAGES WE DISCUSS, as well as complete show notes, references, and suggestions for further reading.



IMAGES DISCUSSED:

The camera turns upside down as the Americans enter Hälsingland

Part of the Ättestupa ritual (and the fall off the cliff)

The Hårga in their white clothing

The painting at the beginning of Midsommar

Dani as May Queen (and the famous ‘frown’)

Christian sewn into the bear suit

Dani running and choking in front of the burning building

Dani during the maypole dance

Grass growing from Dani’s hands and feet

Josh’s foot sticking out of the ground

Stig Lindberg, Melodie (1947)

Francis Bacon, Study after Velázquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X (1953)

The face-smashing part of the Ättestupa ritual

Facial difference: the Hårga’s inbred oracle

A member of the Hårga wearing Mark’s face

The yellow and blue A-frame building (IKEA vibes)



CREDITS:

‘Drawing Blood’ was made possible with funding from the Experimental Humanities Collaborative Network.

Follow our Twitter @drawingblood_

Audio postproduction by Sias Merkling

‘Drawing Blood’ cover art © Emma Merkling

All audio and content © Emma Merkling and Christy Slobogin

Intro music: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras, © BunHead Records 2019. We’re still trying to get hold of permissions for this song – Kim Petras text us back!!