Ari Aster's Hereditary is one of the scariest and most creative horror movies released in the past couple of years, and the 2018 film has an explosive, unforgettable ending that maintains the claustrophobic and eerie tone of the entire story. Toni Collette is perfectly cast as Annie Graham, an artist who carries around family trauma and who has trouble connecting with her teenage son Peter (Alex Wolff), daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro), and husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne).
The final scenes of Hereditary have serious staying power, as fans will never forget seeing what happens to the Graham family, and the demon at the core of the story is also fascinating to explore. There are many reasons why Hereditary has one of the best horror movie endings.
What Happens At The End Of Hereditary?
The trailer for Hereditary was misleading, as it was impossible to know that the movie is really about a family who becomes part of a demon-worshipping cult because it has been part of their family history. That worked out well, though, as the movie is a total and complete shock, and the final scenes are perfectly crafted.
Peter is at the center of the ending of Hereditary. When he's at school, he begins hurting his head on his desk, and it seems that something has possessed him. Paimon possesses Annie, who then ends up near the ceiling. Annie is then compelled to take her own life and she takes wire from her piano, removes her head, and leaps out of the window of the attic. This is a terrifying scene to watch and it only gets worse from here, proving that Ari Aster doesn't shy away from memorable, dark, and haunting endings.
People who belong to Paimon's coven are at the family home, and Joan (Ann Dowd), who Annie got to know in a loss support group, gives Peter a crown. Ann says that Peter is King Paimon and that while it seemed that Charlie was the host, Peter is the real one, since Paimon needed a male.
There are some hints at the terror that is to come, as Charlie's tongue clicking in Hereditary suggests that something is wrong, but the ending of the movie is definitely unexpected. The beginning of Hereditary suggests a dark family drama that explores loss and difficult family dynamics. But when Charlie dies on the way home from a party, it's one of the most upsetting horror movie deaths, and the story takes a sharp and even more emotional turn.
The ending works because it feels like the horror inside the Graham family is inevitable. They will never be able to get over losing Charlie, and Annie, in particular, can never move on from the neglect that she suffered from her mother. The best horror movies like Hereditary go deeper than just a regular demon possession story, and this movie stands out not only for its amazing performances from the talented cast but because the characters are dealing with so much pain. It's rare to see a horror film about a well-written family who is a realistic example of what can happen when trauma isn't explored or processed.
Whether someone wants to call Hereditary an elevated horror movie or not, it does talk about death in a more sophisticated manner than most films in the genre. And in Hereditary, the demon that possesses Annie and Peter can be seen as a metaphor for people who can't escape their genes or family history.
What Is The Demon In Hereditary?
The demon in Hereditary is named Paimon and in the final scene, Peter is hailed King Paimon, and he's now in charge of the cult that worships this demon. Paimon takes over Charlie, then Annie, and then finally, Peter.
When Paimon is in charge of Charlie's mind and body, she acts as if she doesn't understand what's going on around her, and people think that she seems strange. When he finds a human host, he makes sure that they see terrible things, have bad dreams, and are in lots of pain.
There are many terrifying horror movie demons, but Paimon just might take the cake given how he can ruin someone's life. Paimon has been part of the Graham family for decades. Annie's mother Ellen was part of the cult and wanted to have a son who could be the host for the demon. When Annie's then-teenage brother suffered greatly as a result, he took his own life, and Annie never moved on from his terrible moment. While this is more intense than most family fights, it does make Annie a relatable character as many struggle to connect with relatives or parents.
The Hereditary ending is so creepy because it's clear that Joan targeted Annie, pretending to be nice to her and acting like she wanted a friend. But Joan really wanted to get close to the Graham family so she could find a male host for the demon Paimon. This is smart as it makes it all feel premeditated instead of random. When Joan gives Peter his crown, she says, "You... are Paimon, one of the eight Kings of Hell. We have looked to the Northwest and called you in. We've corrected your first female body and give you now this healthy male host."
Joan shares the point of worshipping Paimon: hoping for money and good fortune. When she says, "Bring us honor, wealth and good familiars. Bind all men to our will, as we have bound ourselves for now - and ever - to yours. Hail, Paimon! Hail, Paimon! Hail" Chances are that horror fans will never forget this chilling ending.