Midsommar is director Ari Aster’s latest horror feature film that will disorient and disturb. But at its heart lies an intricate tale about breakup revenge fantasies and codependency fairytales.

Dani joins Christian and his academic friends on a trip to Sweden for Harga’s once-in-a-lifetime Midsommar Festival. When Pelle hands them mushroom tea, all four exchange significant glances between themselves.

Ingredients

Midnight Sun hosts Jim and Teal are joined by special guest kiki koala to discuss Ari Aster’s Midsommar, which features an unconventional romantic relationship, pagan folk cult elements, mostly daylight horror horror revenge genre, delicious mushroom-based food and drink! They discuss everything from its stunning setting to delicious mushroom dishes!

The movie takes place during Midsommar, an annual Swedish and Finnish summer celebration which marks the longest day of the year. People traditionally gather outdoors to mark this holiday by lighting large bonfires and dancing around them; today however, Midsommar can also be celebrated with friends and family by spending a weekend outdoors singing songs together and eating food like meat pie with mushroom sauce and salad as part of this festival.

As soon as Dani, Christian, Mark, Josh and Pelle arrive in their village they are welcomed by Pelle’s mother and offered “mushroom tea.” The tasty concoction contains butter, onion, mushrooms, lemon juice, salt and heavy cream for an aromatic experience that also contains potency psychedelic chemicals like those belonging to the Psilocybin family – historically used by indigenous communities for ritualistic ceremonies before becoming accessible for everyday recreational users who simply love tripping out.

An increasingly popular dish is a vegetarian version of traditional boeuf bourguignon. To create it, slice some crimini mushrooms (or another variety) and cook them over medium heat in some butter until tender and soft, before stirring in some flour and stock/water to create a thick stew. Once it’s done, serve it up alongside some rye bread or crisps and enjoy your dish!

Preparation time

Director Ari Aster weaves Midsommar into a deft blend of horror, break-up revenge fantasy and co-dependency fairy tale set against the stunning fields of Scandinavia. Aston’s film will leave audiences feeling disoriented but satisfied after watching. Not for those easily disorientated. Not suitable for young viewers either.

Dani, a young woman, participates in an annual celebration hosted by Harga, a murderous pagan cult that reveres mushrooms. At this festival, they feast and sacrifice innocent victims using magic – people are then used as slave labor for harvesting crops from these festival goers.

Dani attempts to escape this terrifying cult throughout the film, yet finds she cannot. Aster and cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski use wide lenses to make landscapes appear larger-than-life and heightening tension further. These visuals combined with an unnerving soundtrack create an uncomfortable feeling that lasts until its conclusion.

Aster expertly treads a fine line in the final scenes, validating Dani’s break with Christian but downplaying its significance in order to focus on her larger character arc and narrative arc. Additionally, Aster uses subtlety when handling hallucinations so they appear credible rather than as unrealistic nightmares like Peter Max nightmares commonly found in movies of this genre.

Aster and his team used an intricate sound design to give audiences an immersive sense of place, but also included sinister electronic music and vocal distorted vocals to emphasize a sinister side to their film.

Pelle gives Dani some kind of mushroom tea early on to help her adjust to the community, likely composed of Psilocybin (commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms”). According to research conducted, taking Psilocybin can induce trips that last seven to eight hours; no doubt this contributed greatly to many of the film’s surreal visuals.

Cooking time

Midsommar is an incredible experience; prepare yourself for it by drinking this tasty tea. Although its preparation requires time and effort, its rewards will surely outstrip it! Simply simmer dried mushrooms and spices in water for around 20 minutes, before adding lemon juice and honey as desired for maximum enjoyment of this wonderful festival experience! You may need certain supplies such as a strainer and pot in which to boil the water – though this recipe itself shouldn’t require too many additional items!

Ari Aster, director of Hereditary, follows up his critically-acclaimed debut with Midsommar, an admirably different horror flick set primarily in an odd commune in rural Sweden. While it didn’t receive as much critical praise as its predecessor, this picture remains compelling and disturbing.

While watching this movie, you might notice references to Nordic culture. One such reference could be found in a coffee table book labeled as “The Secret Nazi Language of Uthark.” Many viewers interpret this reference as an ironic nod at right-wing populism in Europe as well as Nordic cultures’ predominantly homogenous populations.

Another example is the film’s use of traditional Swedish cooking and decor throughout. Kitchen scenes often take place against bright red walls covered with paintings preserving traditions passed down from generations past; many paintings contain sinister symbols, often depicted in conjunction with pagan rituals; for instance, in one scene Dani sees her sister’s face painted onto food in one such painting and even discovers pubic hairs hidden within her pie!

Hallucinogenic mushrooms add an unsettling and disquieting layer to this story, specifically the use of psilocybin mushrooms – long used by indigenous communities before becoming popularized among countercultureers – as hallucinogens in Dani’s life and making her even more vulnerable against their manipulations and schemes. In the movie they seem to heighten Dani’s sensitivity toward Harga people while making her even more vulnerable against their schemes.

Serving time

Besides mushroom tea, the film features various Scandinavian-influenced foods. Dani makes her signature meat pie and Swedish Almond Coffeecake which would both make for a fantastic midsummer movie night treat!

Swedish Almond Coffeecake is an easy vegan-friendly treat made of almonds, maple syrup and soda water – an impressive combination that’s sure to impress friends and family! Simply whisk all the ingredients together before pouring them into a loaf pan before baking at 350 for 35-40 minutes in a preheated oven. Top it all off with pink lemonade – an irresistibly fizzy pink drink perfect for creating that romantic feeling in any situation – to enhance its movie-inspired aesthetic!

Midsommar is worth watching for its stunning scenery alone; set in a remote Swedish village, Midsommar recalls Hereditary in terms of its dark fairytale story about a pagan commune with an unpleasant past.

Christian and Dani, two members of a couple, are invited by Christian’s cute friend Pelle to come live at an idyllic commune filled with folk art and white summer clothes, which makes for an unnerving yet hospitable environment. However, some members feel uncomfortable there as well, which adds another layer of mystery.

As soon as the group arrives in their new community, they are given magic mushrooms known as psychedelics from the Psilocybin mushroom family to aid with adaption and adapt to ritualistic practices within it. These hallucinogenic mushrooms can induce hallucinations within users – adding a supernatural twist to the storyline.

Dani’s initial trip lasts around seven to eight hours, including her time spent passed out. This fits with reality of taking hallucinogenic mushrooms which typically last about that long; additionally, this long duration makes her more vulnerable to manipulation from cult members.

Although this film contains some sexual scenes, they are not overt. Director Ari Aster has previously been criticized for her use of nude bodies; although she attempts to balance these scenes with more realistic psychological moments; some viewers may still find them shocking. But ultimately this powerful message about family ties and diversity shines through.