‘Hereditary’ Film Theories: Explanations, Themes, and Meaning

I first watched Hereditary in a virtually abandoned movie theater near a rough part of Detroit. It was a late showing. To say the walk home spooked me would be the understatement of the millennium.

If you’ve seen it, you know: This movie is f*cking scary. But it’s also one of the best horror movies made in modern times, in my opinion, and has A LOT going on under the surface.

So, I gave Hereditary yet another rewatch last night and wrote down some of my thoughts and theories.

Screenshot from “Hereditary” trailer.

(Did you know there’s a link between Hereditary and Midsommar?)

Top Theories About the Meaning and Themes of ‘Hereditary’ (2018)

1.The Curse of Family Legacy

Theory: The film uses the supernatural curse as a metaphor for the burdens, secrets, and unresolved traumas passed down through generations of a family. Instead of an actual demon, one could read “Paimon” as a symbol of the destructive force of inherited trauma.

• Why It Fits:
  • Annie’s toxic relationship with her mother and the way Ellen’s influence continues to warp Annie’s life (and Charlie’s) mirror how inherited dysfunction can overpower each new generation. The supernatural elements underscore how impossible it is to simply “opt out” of a family’s patterns.
• Key Moments:
  • Annie’s funeral eulogy revealing a fraught mother-daughter bond.
  • The discovery of Ellen’s secret cult activities symbolizing hidden family legacies.
  • The repeated references to how Ellen deeply impacted Charlie’s upbringing.

2. Loss and Grief Twisted Into Obsession

Theory: Annie’s journey mirrors a descent into madness caused by overwhelming grief. The coven and demonic elements could be interpreted as manifestations of unprocessed sorrow and guilt, culminating in the family’s destruction.

• Why It Fits:
  • We see how Annie’s grief becomes more unhinged: from isolation (going to bereavement groups) to dabbling in séances, she spirals into a need to control or resurrect what she’s lost. This hunger to “fix” death opens the door to horror.
• Key Moments:
  • Annie’s support group confessions and her desperation to contact Charlie.
  • The séance scene where Annie speaks with Charlie’s voice, signifying her inability to separate her living world from her loss.
  • Steve’s increasing worry about Annie’s mental state, highlighting how her grief consumes the family.

3. Mental Illness as a Supernatural Force

Theory: The film can be read as an exploration of hereditary mental illness, with the demonic scenario representing psychosis or dissociation passed from Ellen to Annie and eventually impacting Peter.

• Why It Fits:
  • Characters show signs of disassociation, paranoia, and hallucinations. The “possession” episodes can represent psychotic breaks, especially in the context of Annie’s mother’s history and Annie’s own traumatic upbringing.
• Key Moments:
  • Annie describing her family’s history during the support group—mentioning her father’s psychotic depression and her mother’s dementia.
  • Annie’s sleepwalking confession, nearly harming her children, and her confusion over whether it was real or imagined.
  • Peter’s violent episode in school, where the “demon” takeover could be a metaphor for a complete psychological break.

4. The Danger of Repressed Anger and Guilt

Theory: Annie’s bottled-up resentment toward her mother, her son, and even her own role in Charlie’s fate creates an emotional environment where evil—or tragedy—can fester. The ritualistic horror is an external manifestation of those repressed emotions exploding.

• Why It Fits:
  • Scenes where Annie refuses to openly confront her fury reflect how unspoken anger transforms into a force that she cannot contain. The “demonic” events might be a literal outgrowth of everything left unsaid and unresolved.
• Key Moments:
  • Annie’s confrontation at the dinner table, where she finally unleashes her rage at Peter.
  • Her creation of miniatures replicating traumatic family scenes, suggesting she’s working through internal rage but never actually addressing it directly.
  • The climax in the attic, where all the repressed feelings take on violent, nightmarish dimensions.

5. Fate vs. Free Will: The Inescapable Design

Theory: The film emphasizes that the Graham family was doomed from the start by an elaborate plan orchestrated by the coven. This can symbolize how certain tragedies in life feel preordained, whether by destiny, family obligations, or social pressures.

• Why It Fits:
  • Repeated indications point to the family’s helplessness: Ellen’s cult worship was well underway before Charlie’s birth, and every move—right down to the party and the allergic reaction—feels like it’s part of a grand scheme.
• Key Moments:
  • The revelations in Ellen’s photo albums, showing that the cult’s plan was in motion for years.
  • Charlie’s death tied to a series of “coincidences” (the party, the nuts, the telephone pole’s occult symbol).
  • Joan’s public attempt at a ritual to expel Peter’s spirit, suggesting powerful forces have been guiding events all along.

Key Themes in ‘Hereditary’

The Complexities Of Motherhood

Hereditary portrays motherhood as both a nurturing force and a source of anxiety. Annie’s conflicting emotions toward her children reflect the stresses of parenthood, especially when unresolved issues with her own mother resurface. The film raises questions about how much of our sense of responsibility to our children is shaped by our past relationships, and how guilt can taint even the fiercest maternal instincts.

The Influence of the Occult

While much of the supernatural horror in Hereditary stems from Ellen’s secretive practices, the larger theme is how hidden or esoteric beliefs can govern people’s actions. The coven’s devotion—and the complex rituals they perform—highlight how occult beliefs have their own rules, hierarchies, and moral codes, which can quietly infiltrate everyday life.

The Role of Art And Miniatures

Annie’s work as a miniature artist symbolizes her attempt to exert control over the uncontrollable. The painstaking dioramas mirror life events yet remain distanced and carefully crafted—an echo of how art can both process trauma and, paradoxically, keep it at arm’s length. This theme underscores how creative expression can serve as a coping mechanism while simultaneously isolating the artist from real emotions.

The Fragility of Family Bonds

Although the Graham family appears outwardly functional, the film reveals how small fissures—secrets, regrets, or lingering resentments—can become tectonic rifts under extreme stress. Hereditary shows that solidarity within a household can be dangerously brittle when deeper issues remain hidden or unaddressed, leading to tragic breakdowns when crises arise.

Confronting Mortality and Loss

Death is a constant presence in Hereditary, with the family repeatedly forced to confront its permanence. The physical and psychological toll of loss saturates every aspect of their lives, shining a light on the sometimes desperate lengths people go to in order to deny or escape the finality of death. This emphasis on mortality threads throughout the film, casting an unrelenting atmosphere of dread.

Plot Summary

• Year Released: 2018
• Director: Ari Aster
• Writer: Ari Aster

Annie Graham’s mother passes away, leaving behind a legacy of secrecy that unsettles the entire family. Not long after, a tragedy claims the life of Annie’s daughter, Charlie, further fracturing Annie’s already tense relationships—especially with her teen son, Peter. In her grief, Annie explores supernatural means to contact Charlie, which unleashes terrifying events connected to her mother’s hidden involvement in an occult coven. As these forces intensify, the family unravels under the weight of old resentments, inherited traumas, and the looming threat of a demonic power seeking a human host.

Movies with Similar Themes to ‘Hereditary’

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Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

A young wife becomes increasingly paranoid that her neighbors are part of a satanic cult with designs on her unborn child, reflecting themes of hidden evil and maternal anxiety.

—> Watch Rosemary’s Baby online.

The Babadook (2014)

A grieving mother struggles with her son’s fear of a sinister, storybook monster—an allegory for suppressed trauma and the overwhelming force of parental guilt.

—> Watch The Babadook online.

The Witch (2015)

Set in 17th-century New England, a family’s isolation on the edge of a forbidding forest stirs supernatural suspicions and highlights the destructive power of paranoia and religious fear.

—> Watch The Witch online.

The Shining (1980)

A family’s winter caretaker job at an isolated hotel becomes a descent into madness, as familial bonds fray under the influence of ominous, possibly supernatural forces.

—> Watch The Shining online.

Midsommar (2019)

A couple travels to a remote Swedish festival where a seemingly idyllic commune masks chilling pagan rituals—demonstrating how communal beliefs and grief can intertwine to devastating effect.

—> Watch Midsommar online.

Have Your Own ‘Hereditary’ Theory?

Oh, man. I love this movie. I used to say I loved anything from Ari Aster until Beau Is Afraid came out. Still, I’m grateful this movie got made. It remains one of my favorite horror films.

But what do you think about Hereditary? I’m sure I missed some stuff, so hit me with it in the comments.

😱