All Of Midsommar’s Deaths Ranked By Horror

As a horror enthusiast who’s seen my fair share of gruesome scenes, I must say that “Midsommar” is indeed a chilling masterpiece that leaves one both horrified and fascinated. The opening scene where Dani discovers her sister and parents’ tragic demise is undeniably harrowing – an unsettling introduction to the film’s themes of loss, depression, and the depths humanity can plunge into when grief takes hold.

The following article includes discussions of suicide and graphic violence.

Ari Aster’s “Midsommar” stands out as one of the most skillfully made and terrifying horror films of recent years, perhaps even among the most unsettling horror movies ever produced. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast headlined by Florence Pugh, with Jack Reynor, Will Poulter, and William Jackson Harper in supporting roles. In this chilling tale, they portray characters grappling with grief and confronting appalling behavior from a Swedish cult, which takes their cruelty to alarmingly extreme levels.

Following a heartbreaking family event that puts Dani in financial trouble, she joins her friends for an excursion to a Swedish commune named Hårga, led by Pelle who hails from this remote, rural area. Despite Dani’s relationship with Christian being strained, they decide to go along with their friends Mark and Josh. However, it swiftly becomes evident that all is not as it seems, and the journey turns into a gory series of events from which neither the characters nor the audience can escape.

Many individuals meet their demise throughout the film “Midsommar.” Despite its leisurely pace and mounting tension reminiscent of timeless horror films such as “The Shining,” the number of deaths is more akin to that of a typical summer slasher movie. To celebrate the arrival of the chilling season, we’ll be examining each death in “Midsommar” and ranking them according to their level of fright. Let’s dive right in!

8. Connie

The bottom position on this list is straightforward, as it represents a death not captured on camera. Character named Connie (Ellora Torchia) belongs to the British duo who received an invitation from Ingemar (Hampus Hallberg) for the midsummer festival. After witnessing two elders of the Hårga commit suicide by leaping off a cliff, both Connie and her partner Simon (Archie Madekwe) are greatly disturbed. Despite the commune members claiming that this is an old tradition considered as a great honor, Connie insists on leaving. However, she learns later that Simon had left for the train station without her – a fact not clarified until a later point in time.

Following Connie’s departure, she disappears from the narrative until the closing scene of “Midsommar,” where a temple filled with corpses destined for a ritualistic burning appears, and among them lies Connie’s waterlogged body, implying that she was captured and drowned by the Hårga community. Earlier in the film, the Hårga members submerge an ornamented tree in a nearby lake, almost doing the same to a young boy. Although Connie’s body shares similar decorations, the specifics of their drowning practice remain unexplained.

Although it’s a challenging option and not one we typically encounter, its rarity pushes it towards the least likely scenario. However, it does maintain an eerie quality, indeed.

7. Mark

Much like many characters invited to the Hårga’s midsummer celebration, Mark seems destined for misfortune right from the get-go. However, he manages to complicate matters further by urinating on a sacred tree. Throughout the narrative, one of the commune women subtly hints at her attraction towards him, though this proves to be a deceitful act. In the course of the movie, she guides Mark away from his companions and subsequently, he vanishes from sight. Later in the storyline, a member of the Hårga is seen wearing Mark’s skinned face.

Similar to Connie, we don’t directly witness Mark’s demise, but there are clear indications throughout “Midsommar” that guide us on what occurs. Upon rewatching the film, one detail you might catch is that one of the games the younger Hårga members play early in the movie is called “Skin the Fool” – a hint at things to come. In the closing scene, when all the bodies are moved into the temple for the ritual, Mark is fittingly adorned with a jester’s hat.

While still an offscreen death, this one ranks higher than Connie’s due to the whole “wearing the skinned face of your murder victim” thing. In this kind of list, that’s a sure way to win a few extra points.

6. Josh

William Jackson Harper’s character, Josh, had a scholarly curiosity about the inhabitants and traditions of the Hårga. However, this didn’t prevent him from meeting a gruesome end at their hands. His intention to compose a thesis on their peculiar midsummer festival ended tragically when the dark side of the Hårga was unveiled, leading to Josh being brutally killed by a bare-naked man wearing Mark’s skinned face as a mask. To be honest, his actions were risky, given that he was secretly taking photographs of their ancient texts, which is a guaranteed way to invite trouble from a cult obsessed with death and the supernatural.

In “Midsommar,” although bludgeoning isn’t the most unsettling form of death depicted, Josh’s demise is particularly chilling because it’s shown directly. Additionally, his precursor exploration in unauthorized areas adds an additional dose of fear to the masked killing, amplifying the terror.

5. Christian

In the film “Midsommar,” the scene where Christian is burned alive inside a disemboweled bear while his former girlfriend watches with a chilling grin, is not among the most impactful deaths on this list. Here’s why:

Despite everything discussed, it’s important to remember Christian in our thoughts. Dani has the opportunity to save him by selecting another Hårga villager for the temple ritual, but she chooses Christian instead, leading to his painful demise amidst piles of bodies as the flames of sacrificial rituals consume him. Isn’t that a twist? If circumstances were different, perhaps Christian would have seen the error of his ways and transformed into a better person. However, he only becomes more fiery.

You know, because of the fire and everything.

4. Ylva

One of the most chilling sequences found within “Midsommar” involves the ättestupa ritual, which sets off a series of gruesome occurrences at the Hårga commune. Accompanied by the locals, Dani, Christian, and their companions make their way to the base of a cliffside. There, two senior villagers, Ylva (played by Katarina Weidhagen) and Dan (Björn Andrésen), choose to end their lives by jumping off the cliff. Unfortunately for Dan, he survives – though we’ll delve deeper into that shortly.

In this chilling portrayal, the events unfold are rooted in authentic Nordic customs of old age, where some members of the community might choose or be forced to end their lives upon reaching a specific age or losing self-reliance. Although it may not be the most gruesome moment within the movie, during your initial viewing, it’s incredibly startling and establishes an unsettling mood for what’s to come. The swiftness and brutality of Ylva’s demise leaves a lingering sense of fear in every subsequent moment.

Movies like “Midsommar” are designed to make you sick, and this scene absolutely nails that.

3. Dan

In the same instant Ylva dies, Dan follows suit by jumping off the cliff as part of the Hårga’s unsettling traditions. However, Dan manages to survive for a brief moment more due to the fall not being instantly fatal. Tragically, Dan’s last moments on earth are characterized by unbearable pain that persists until a fellow community member delivers a fatal blow to his head with a sledgehammer.

This death is quite similar to Ylva’s, but the disturbing factor is elevated due to the inclusion of murder as part of a suicide act. The gruesome details such as the white robes, the massive wooden mallet, and the graphic special effects depicting Dan’s mutilated, yet breathing body, create an appalling mix of extreme cruelty that, despite my instincts to look away, I find myself unable to divert my gaze.

And yet, there are two moments in “Midsommar” that are definitively more horrifying, starting with the very first scene in the movie.

2. Dani’s sister and parents

The onset of “Midsommar” features one of the scariest opening sequences in horror cinema history. The narrative unfolds as Dani learns that her sister has tragically taken her own life along with their parents, meticulously setting up a double-suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Florence Pugh delivers chilling performances from the get-go, emitting screams that are both heart-wrenching and unsettling in a horror film context. As first responders investigate the house and uncover the truth behind the tragic incident, viewers are enveloped by raw, audible sorrow.

In a strikingly raw fashion, “Midsommar” launches straight into its chilling narrative, bypassing any gradual introduction to horror. Instead, it plunges viewers headfirst into a gloomy atmosphere, making clear from the get-go that this is no ordinary film. The story primarily revolves around the profound impacts of grief and despair, with the initial portrayal of Dani’s emotional state setting the stage for an undercurrent of tension throughout the movie.

Honestly, this instance came very close to claiming the top position on our list. Although it doesn’t possess the extreme gruesomeness of later deaths in the film or the heavy symbolism and additional mystique, the brutal introduction could potentially linger longer in memory than any other scene. However, we opted for a different choice to secure the number-one spot.

1. Simon

If you’ve watched “Midsommar,” you might have anticipated that this particular scene would rank highly. This is because, among the numerous gruesome, startling, and unsettling moments in the film, none seem to rival the shock value of Simon being transformed into a blood eagle.

In ancient Norse culture, there exists a gruesome tale about a method of punishment known as the Blood Eagle. Historians debate whether this brutal practice actually occurred or was merely a vivid detail in tales. Essentially, the process involves tearing the ribs from the victim’s spine and drawing their lungs out through their back, giving an appearance of gory “wings.” The detailed description that follows might be too graphic for sensitive readers.

In the closing scenes of the film, it’s revealed that Simon, following his and Connie’s insistence to depart from the Hårga, ends up bound and left near death. Miraculously, he survives, but only to endure prolonged pain. Eventually, his lifeless body is taken to the cult’s temple, which they subsequently burn down.

In “Midsommar,” the most gut-wrenchingly intense death scene stands out, surpassing even the fatalities on the cliffs. This scene also encapsulates the film’s recurring theme of pain, evident in scenes such as Dani’s devastating discovery of her family’s tragic fate and her heartrending wail resonating with the Hårga women.

2024-10-25 14:30