Midsommar (2018) by Director Ari Aster shows his mastery of weird films. While drug-induced trips in films tend to be handled cheesily, those in Midsommar show restraint and psychic truth.

The movie begins with tragedy as Dani experiences her family being killed in a murder-suicide. After this traumatic event, she joins Christian and his oddball family at a Swedish commune that hosts an once-every-90-years festival featuring some strange practices.

Origins

As college graduate Dani (Evan Rachel Wood) accepts Pelle’s (Paul Reubens) invitation to visit a Swedish commune where he grew up – Harga – it quickly becomes clear it will be anything but relaxing. Harga, which specializes in shamanism and ritualized murder as well as its strict matriarchy is notorious. But after taking their hallucinogenic mushroom tea, everything goes haywire.

As the film unfolds, it becomes evident that tea is responsible for Harga’s strange behavior – including murdering people every 90 years – but other details remain uncertain; students could have been under the influence of “psilocybin mushrooms” (commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms”) given by Pelle to help them adjust to Midsummer celebration and drinking more during May Queen ceremony.

According to journalist and expert on Sweden’s traditions Po Tidholm, Dani dancing around a Maypole is an integral part of harvest celebrations in Sweden and plays an important symbolism role for her practice which symbolizes nature regaining its strength after winter; she notes this practice also serves to commemorate an annual harvest festival with their May Queen sacrificed as part of it all; though in movies like The Wicker Man this type of behavior was depicted during real celebrations.

But perhaps the most shocking element of this movie is how its students are treated by Harga. Students are seen more as objects than individuals and expected to perform multiple tasks each day without time for rest, leading them to serious physical and mental harm. Furthermore, this cult systematically steals personal belongings of participants – another disturbing theme throughout. Luckily there are ways you can prevent it happening to yourself!

Benefits

Midsommar mushroom tea can help relax and de-stress you by providing essential vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants that are good for both body and mind. Furthermore, its consumption has also been linked to lower blood pressure and risk of heart disease – as well as helping users lose weight while increasing muscle mass.

Midsommar, the Swedish and Finnish celebration of summer solstice, is an important holiday for many Swedes and Finns. Bonfires and folk music concerts feature prominently alongside dancing in traditional costumes to mark this ancient pagan celebration, originally meant to pay homage to Ukko the God of Thunder; its purpose being that pleased god would guarantee good weather and abundant harvests – now Midsommar serves as an occasion for spending an enjoyable weekend outdoors with family and friends.

Christian invites Dani, a grieving college student, and two of her academic buddies – Josh and Mark from Folison who are here on a summer internship – to a Midsommar party held in Folison where Pelle grew up. Once there, Pelle gives them magic mushrooms (likely belonging to the psilocybin family) in order to ease them into festivities of Folison.

As soon as the effects of mushrooms take hold, it can be hard to track how much time has gone by. But typically the trip lasts between seven and eight hours depending on factors like how much psychedelic medication was consumed and individual tolerance levels.

Psychodelia can often be handled cheesily on film, transforming into an absurdist Peter Max nightmare; but Aster and cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski succeed with deft hands in handling it here. Dani’s hallucinations don’t simply serve to reinforce her attachment to the Harga, further intriguing both her and the audience about this matriarchal cult.

Ingredients

For this beverage, all that’s required are fresh or frozen berries, mint leaves, lemon slices and cane sugar – along with 1.5L of steeped and chilled mushroom tea steeped for 6-8 people – making for a tasty and colorful combination that will enhance any gathering without sending anyone on an unexpected adventure (unless it already is one! ).

Mushroom tea can also make for a delicious cold treat served with rye crisps for breakfast if time does not permit eggs in the morning. Mushroom powder can even be added to juices, smoothies and shakes to kickstart your day in style!

Dani, Christian and Pelle arrive in the village and are given mushroom tea as part of acclimatizing to Midsommar festivities. The drink appears to contain magic mushrooms (aka psilocybin) traditionally used for spiritual and ritualistic ceremonies – possibly this same mushroom tea will also be consumed as the community selects their May Queen during this festival.

Preparation

Midsommar, writer-director Ari Aster’s follow up to last year’s Hereditary, has generated much discussion. Starring Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor as students attending a summer festival hosted by an unusual pagan cult in Sweden where things begin to turn dark; Midsommar is packed with visuals intended to elicit strong reactions from viewers; its story unfolds easily with clues as it progresses.

No matter your opinion of Midsommar, there’s no denying it’s an engaging piece of work packed with symbolism and hidden references. Not to mention being highly entertaining with both laughs and scares to boot! But be wary; if you aren’t paying close enough attention you could miss some of its subtler elements!

One of the key indicators in Dani’s journey comes from Pelle, who has garnered mixed reactions. Some praise him for showing kindness to Dani while others blame him for causing multiple student deaths. There are also intriguing questions surrounding Pelle’s past including his being an orphan.

Midsommar is particularly remarkable for the way in which it uses sounds and visuals to create an atmosphere of fear and anxiety, specifically with regard to sound dronings and camera movements that create unease in its audience. Coupled with shadowed figures constantly surrounding characters onscreen, the overall effect is unnerving indeed.

Harga has received much notice for how it uses breathing as a symbolism of death or change, much like Hereditary did with its tongue click sound. This imagery should definitely be explored further! It’s shocking symbolism.

Midsommar is an intense and strange film with some visually arresting visuals and music designed to cause discomfort among its audiences. Though controversial in nature, this experience will definitely worth checking out for all its subtle details.