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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Midsommar

Midsommar is a 2019 folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Midsommar is a 2019 folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster. It follows an American couple whose trip to a rural Swedish midsummer festival turns increasingly violent and unsettling.

What it is

The film centres on Dani and Christian, a relationship-strained couple who travel to Sweden with friends after a family tragedy. Their visit to a remote midsummer community gradually reveals violent pagan rituals and cult behaviour.

Key details

Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor star as Dani and Christian. The supporting cast includes William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe, and Will Poulter. Ari Aster wrote and directed the film, which was released in theatres on July 3, 2019, with a runtime of about 140 minutes.

Reception and classification

Midsommar is commonly classified as a horror film, specifically folk horror, with mystery and thriller elements. Its content includes disturbing ritual violence, sexual content, nudity, drug use, and graphic imagery.

In short

  • The story follows a young American couple who travel to a remote Swedish village for a midsummer festival.
  • The festival’s rituals become increasingly disturbing and violent.
  • Florence Pugh plays Dani and Jack Reynor plays Christian.
  • Ari Aster wrote and directed the film.
Canadian angle

Midsommar was distributed internationally and reviewed widely in Canada as part of the global release of a major contemporary horror film.

Quick questions

What is Midsommar about?
It follows an American couple and their friends who visit a Swedish midsummer festival that turns into a violent cult experience.
Who directed Midsommar?
Ari Aster wrote and directed the film.
When was Midsommar released?
It was released in theatres on July 3, 2019.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsommar
    Supports: Identifies the film as a 2019 folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster, with principal cast.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Midsommar-film
    Supports: Provides plot context, main characters, and genre framing.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/midsommar
    Supports: Provides release date, runtime, genre labels, and content/rating information.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/midsommar
    Supports: Provides release date, runtime, cast, director, and content advisory details.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772262/
    Supports: Provides plot summary, cast, and basic film identification.