The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011)

September 16, 2020 9:24 PM

A dark domestic horror drama about the ties that bind and the ties that really bind. An early short film by Ari Aster (Midsommar, Hereditary).

Available streaming in the US on YouTube.

CW: this film is a shocking and upsetting story of incestuous sexual assault.

posted by DirtyOldTown (3 comments total)

I did not know what this was about going in. I only knew it was by Ari Aster.

It's really upsetting.

If you've seen Hereditary or Midsommar, you know Ari Aster likes to get under your skin and unnerve the hell out of you.

Well, this is his film about incest and sexual assault. It's a good film, but it is awful to behold.

I just... Ok, if you are reading this wondering if you should watch this, in the first scene, a suburban teen is inadvertently caught masturbating to a photo by his father. After the dad gives the kid a supportive heart to heart talk and leaves, we see the photo. It's a photo of the dad himself.

It gets worse from there. The son becomes a serial sexual assaulter of his own father.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:30 PM on September 16, 2020

I'm not linking the YouTube video because, as well made a film as this is, I am still uncertain if I can recommend it in good conscience.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:38 PM on September 16, 2020

Wait, this movie was Ari Aster??
posted by atoxyl at 10:42 PM on September 17, 2020