Ari Aster became quickly known in the horror genre as his feature directorial debut, Hereditary, traumatized millions of people worldwide. His second feature, Midsommar, continued the trend while being quite different from his prior production. His newest movie, Beau Is Not Afraid, is the one that goes the furthest from his previous creations.
There is one thing that is always in the front row in Aster's movies: the characters. Each film focuses deeply on its characters and it's one of the reasons why it is so praised by critics and viewers. In Midsommar, a horror breakup story that deals with mental health and the idea of family, the protagonist is Dani (Florence Pugh). This was a breakthrough role of the actress, who was later nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Little Women.
Dani's journey to finding a home is dark and scary, and Pugh did an incredible job at portraying her in her worst moments. Here are the best moments of the actress in Midsommar.
10 Christian's Travel Plans
Dani finds out at a party that Christian (Jack Reynor), her boyfriend, and his friends will go on a trip to Hälsingland, Sweden for over a month. When they get home, Dani is upset and questions him as to why he didn't tell her. Trying to manipulate the situation, Christian tries to dismiss his plans and reasons. Dani calls him out on what he is saying, and then Christian tries to leave, which makes Dani beg him to stay — and then apologizes to him. It's a simple and effective scene that makes the audience understand her usual behavior of taking the blame for something Christian did.
9 A Forgotten Birthday
Dani and Christian relationship ended a long time ago, but they are still together. Due to a sense of guilt, Christian didn't break up with Dani as he intended. Now, she tries everything she can to make it work, even clearly noticing that he is not that interested in her or saving the relationship. After they arrive in the village, it's Dani's birthday, and Christian forgets about it. Then, when he realizes he messed up, Dani wants to make him feel better and, once again, apologizes to him. Christian tries to make it up to her later. It's a perfect exemplification of the toxic relationship they have.
8 Grieving Alone
Dani is alone to deal with everything that happens to her throughout the movie — until she finds her new "family." There are various scenes where the audience burdens her solitude with her emotions. With a great transitional scene, Dani goes to Pelle's (Vilhelm Blomgren) bathroom to cry after he mentions her family. Once inside, she is in the plane's bathroom flying to Sweden. Pugh mentioned how she felt burned out after the movie due to Dani's extreme pain, and she portrays it exceptionally well.
7 Ättestupa
The focus of the scene is a ritual where two elderly people die by suicide that happens on a cliff called Ättestupa and not Dani's reaction. Nonetheless, Pugh's acting is incredible. There is a lot of subtext to her complete horror that goes even beyond seeing two elderly members of the village jumping off a cliff and then one of them having to be put out of their misery when it goes wrong. Because of her family's tragedy, especially due to how her sister died, she is not emotionally stable to experience such horror — and her pain and disgust at what she sees is clear.
6 A Bad Trip
Dani didn't want to take mushrooms with her boyfriend and his friends when they arrived at Hälsingland, but she felt pressured to do it and please everyone. Then, she starts to have a bad trip and decides to go on a walk. Needless to say, the boys don't go with her. Pugh portrays with haunting accuracy what an anxiety/panic attack can look like. Dani fights with herself to stop feeling that way — only worsening her state. It tells so much about the character and her constant struggle to force herself to not feel sad and depressed for the sake of others.
5 The Ninth Victim
After being crowned the next May Queen, Dani parades the village with her new position. Later, she has to choose who will be the ninth victim of the midsommar sacrifice. The choice is between her paralyzed boyfriend and a random person from the village. Brokenhearted and deeply depressed, Dani chooses her boyfriend to die in the sacrifice. It's the start of a very purging moment for the character as she literally kills the last attachment to her former life.
4 The May Queen
The whole movie is a treat to the eye cinematographically (apart from the gory moments). However, when Dani is dancing and having fun while intoxicated is a great moment for the character, even if a little anxiety-inducing for the audience. The first time the viewer sees her truly happy and being supported by those around her, who are also happy for her, happens after she wins and is crowned May Queen. After so much hardship and sadness, Dani gets a chance to be happy and have a glimpse of what's to come.
3 The Phone Call
Aster is known for completely turning the tables on his stories and creating traumatic moments. After Dani tries to reason with her boyfriend as she is worried about her unstable sister's message, she gets a phone call. Her sister died by suicide and killed her parents in the process. Pugh's scream of despair into the phone is cut to a scene where Christian holds her while she wails and cries. The performance sets the tone for the story and bewitches the audience to watch this brutal movie.
2 The Breakdown
After finally being appreciated and receiving attention as the May Queen, Dani's world crumbles as she sees Christian cheating. She goes back to the shared room they sleep in and has a complete meltdown. There, the other women from the village hold her and share her pain — screaming and crying with her. It's one of Pugh's best performances in the movie, as well as the other actresses. It became a staple moment for the film that really exemplifies the support Dani so desperately needed.
1 She Finally Found a Family
The ending of this traumatic story about belonging and mental health is cathartic for Dani. After losing her entire family and being in a relationship with a man that didn't like her, Dani finally feels like she belongs. When the temple burns with her boyfriend inside alongside his dead friends, Dani tries to hold back tears. Then, a smile grows, and she takes in what feels like a new emotional and physical start for her life with people that appreciate her.