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Hereditary
Clear off your miniatures and make space for the new Hereditary screenplay book. Featuring a foreword by filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, the 240-page hardcover edition includes Ari Aster's original script, an essay by writer Leslie Jamison, and Aster’s meticulous shot list from the family seance scene.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 15, 2021
I loved this movie when it came out. The horror, the pathos, and the psychological aspects all shined. Reading this script years later, I found myself completely engrossed by each line and scene. Everything was so chillingly wrought and detailed that I felt as if I was physically involved in the disquieting unraveling of something unimaginable. Now I must see the movie again, and find a hard copy of this successively disturbing script.
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July 21, 2020Writing script: The cult wears red cloaks
Filming script: The cult is naked
Filming script: The cult is naked
August 29, 2020
Ari Aster’s screenplay for his debut feature length movie is as detailed as they come, with no stone left unturned when it comes to imagery and description to the point you’d feel like you were reading a novel and not a screenplay at times.
A brief foreword from Bong Joon Ho and a haunting essay by Leslie Jamison only add to the gravitas of this collectors edition “coffee table” book from A24.
The downfall here comes with the (well documented at this point) layout of the cinematography section. Hereditary is a movie built around symmetry, and wide shots with the most detail located dead centre. The images here place all the detail right on the binding and the result are squashed, contorted renditions of otherwise striking visuals.
A brief foreword from Bong Joon Ho and a haunting essay by Leslie Jamison only add to the gravitas of this collectors edition “coffee table” book from A24.
The downfall here comes with the (well documented at this point) layout of the cinematography section. Hereditary is a movie built around symmetry, and wide shots with the most detail located dead centre. The images here place all the detail right on the binding and the result are squashed, contorted renditions of otherwise striking visuals.
November 5, 2025
cool to read after watching the movie!
July 2, 2019
I’ve never witnessed a film be so incredibly scary and so incredibly sad at the same time, yet the two qualities never seem to struggle against one another; the family’s genuine grief is not cheapened by the demonic or supernatural elements, nor do the grief or the mental illness themes dampen the horror and violence which they produce. The only slight issue for me is the unanswered question of whether Charlie was ‘really’ Paimon the whole time or whether she was also the family’s daughter — I think the loss is more genuine if there was a girl actually in there, even if the director has said that Paimon was there since her birth and the girl was ‘displaced’ (what this means exactly is not entirely clear to me).
I am fascinated by the fact that this was not originally a horror film, and would love to see the original draft of a pure family drama. I wonder if the ‘hereditary’ factor in the form of mental illness was originally meant to be genuine, and what sort of form it would have taken (I dislike it when media labels characters as simply ‘crazy’ without further explanation, as it tends to be lazy writing and is not a realistic take on what mental illness is actually like). I also wonder how the relationship between Annie and Ellen would change if Ellen’s behaviour was more outside her control (i.e. if she was really mentally ill and not in deliberate conflict with Annie for the sake of her objectives).
I enjoyed the Greek tragedy fatalist aspect the most: that the family, like Annie’s miniatures, had no real control over what happened and were entirely manipulated from the outside. The conflation of the ‘real’ house and the miniature opens and closes the film, making it clear that they were always subject to that role. However, on the question of setting, I’m still not sure why the treehouse was so significant. I understand that it’s a demonic chapel, but I’m not sure why this space in particular was singled out? And what was the significance of the northwest? I’m sure some of these questions are intentionally left unanswered, but I suppose it provides further illustration to the cult’s beliefs and how particular everything had to be.
As you read the script, it really underlines how much of the shock and horror is crammed towards the end: I think the polarisation around this film may come down to an attention span issue. So many of the most traumatic and memorable scenes are contained in the last few moments before the very end. As a result, I would also like more on the ‘endgame’ of the cult: we see them go to such great lengths to have Paimon manifest in Peter’s body, but it’s not clear what the actual purpose of this is (was he not more powerful after the séance anyway?). A lot of horror films seem to end inconclusively. I suppose the culmination of chaos and lack of control or logic (at least for the family as subjects) as themes means that the ending must be left open. In the end, no amount of rationalisation or puzzling out works, and we have to accept that there’s no reason for demonic entries to operate on a human understanding of logic.
I am fascinated by the fact that this was not originally a horror film, and would love to see the original draft of a pure family drama. I wonder if the ‘hereditary’ factor in the form of mental illness was originally meant to be genuine, and what sort of form it would have taken (I dislike it when media labels characters as simply ‘crazy’ without further explanation, as it tends to be lazy writing and is not a realistic take on what mental illness is actually like). I also wonder how the relationship between Annie and Ellen would change if Ellen’s behaviour was more outside her control (i.e. if she was really mentally ill and not in deliberate conflict with Annie for the sake of her objectives).
I enjoyed the Greek tragedy fatalist aspect the most: that the family, like Annie’s miniatures, had no real control over what happened and were entirely manipulated from the outside. The conflation of the ‘real’ house and the miniature opens and closes the film, making it clear that they were always subject to that role. However, on the question of setting, I’m still not sure why the treehouse was so significant. I understand that it’s a demonic chapel, but I’m not sure why this space in particular was singled out? And what was the significance of the northwest? I’m sure some of these questions are intentionally left unanswered, but I suppose it provides further illustration to the cult’s beliefs and how particular everything had to be.
As you read the script, it really underlines how much of the shock and horror is crammed towards the end: I think the polarisation around this film may come down to an attention span issue. So many of the most traumatic and memorable scenes are contained in the last few moments before the very end. As a result, I would also like more on the ‘endgame’ of the cult: we see them go to such great lengths to have Paimon manifest in Peter’s body, but it’s not clear what the actual purpose of this is (was he not more powerful after the séance anyway?). A lot of horror films seem to end inconclusively. I suppose the culmination of chaos and lack of control or logic (at least for the family as subjects) as themes means that the ending must be left open. In the end, no amount of rationalisation or puzzling out works, and we have to accept that there’s no reason for demonic entries to operate on a human understanding of logic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2020
Much like “The Witch” screenplay book that A24 released, I found it interesting to read the movie on paper and see all the differences between the original script and the finished film. However, I take a star off because of the way the cinematography section of this book was produced. Many of the shots included were shots where the actor or point of focus were centred, which doesn’t work when the binding of the book is also in the centre. I also didn’t love the author commentary from Leslie Jamison as much as I did when I read the addition from Carmen Maria Machado in “The Witch” screenplay book. Overall, this was still an enjoyable read but there are things that definitely could have been done better.
November 13, 2023
“I think it’s more tragic, because if it’s all just inevitable then that means that the characters had no hope, that they never had hope because they’re all just hopeless, they’re all pawns in this horrible hopeless machine” (15:00)
January 2, 2024
Such an amazingly effective screenplay. It’s one thing to experience the drama and horror on screen, but to feel equally terrified while reading the action and dialogue on a page is rare, at least to me.
April 29, 2022
Obviously the script, like the film, is great. There are a lot of lines and whole scenes cut from the final product, so it was nice to get more of the movie from the script! Also, the book is meant to be like a "coffee-table-centerpiece-collectors-item-deluxe-exclusive-hardcover-experience" and it is, the book itself is very nice and great quality... But the section with double page spreads showcasing the cinematography is laughable, most of what the pages are trying to show you have things happening in the center... Which for a book means they're going to be either cut off a little, or just warped strangely, and warped it is. Other than that, the additions and the script are great, there was just a lack of thought at how those spread pages would look like in a printed book.
September 15, 2020
Ari Aster’s script is brilliant and haunting. Read in one sitting with the film’s superb soundtrack playing on repeat. While the extras leave much to be desired, Aster’s screenplay alone is worth the five stars—and perhaps, for some, the inordinate price of the book itself. I loved it.
August 27, 2020
While my understanding and appreciation of Hereditary was enlarged and enriched by reading the screenplay and re-watching the film, I’m not happy with the book. The extras offer very little. Ho’s introduction is just four paragraphs long. Jamison’s less than 15 and is more autobiographical than analytical. Frankly, I was hoping for more.
The frames, however, are an epic fail because you’d literally have crack the binding open to see the entire image. Not once or twice, but every time. This is what happens when people with little experience designing books proof something on screen. Someone lost their job over this.
Ultimately, I feel pretty foolish for having shelled out so much money for a book I’ll probably never open again. Next time I see a book I want on Instagram, I’ll do my homework first.
I wrote more about the screenplay itself here: https://jimruland.substack.com/p/hail...
The frames, however, are an epic fail because you’d literally have crack the binding open to see the entire image. Not once or twice, but every time. This is what happens when people with little experience designing books proof something on screen. Someone lost their job over this.
Ultimately, I feel pretty foolish for having shelled out so much money for a book I’ll probably never open again. Next time I see a book I want on Instagram, I’ll do my homework first.
I wrote more about the screenplay itself here: https://jimruland.substack.com/p/hail...
January 20, 2020
Por mucho tiempo no quise ver la película. Hasta que vi Midsommar y me animé.
Hereditary es dura y difícil. Después de ver la película, de inmediato leí el guion. Y leer la intención del autor/director luego de ver la película es un ejercicio necesario para los que estudiamos y trabajamos en creación de historias.
Excelente película. Aunque difícil de ver. Espectacular guion, aunque el autor/director dirige en su escritura y eso no es buen ejemplo para los que no somos ni queremos ser directores.
Hereditary es dura y difícil. Después de ver la película, de inmediato leí el guion. Y leer la intención del autor/director luego de ver la película es un ejercicio necesario para los que estudiamos y trabajamos en creación de historias.
Excelente película. Aunque difícil de ver. Espectacular guion, aunque el autor/director dirige en su escritura y eso no es buen ejemplo para los que no somos ni queremos ser directores.
October 3, 2018
The screenplay was a bit different from the movie. Its so utterly disturbing and fascinating that I got obsessed enough with it to read the screenplay. I don't want to discuss it though.
February 16, 2020
Fantastic movie, near perfect, terrifying script.
December 31, 2022
no way i’m this scared bc of a script
December 18, 2023
It is incredibly easy to see what drove A24 to this script. It's incredible, tense, routed in strong emotion, and just delightfully creepy with true moments of shock and horror.
I can't wait to read Midsommar after reading this. Damn Ari Aster has got some serious writing chops to have two such epic and fantastical works under his belt. All of the characters in Hereditary stand on their own as complicated people dealing with grief in their own ways that work on pulling the family apart.
Starting the book with them mourning Annie's mother without us ever getting to meet her was a strong way to engage us from the start. As we solve the mystery of who Annie's mother was we are exposed to further horrors of the past and an undercurrent of forces that have been in action for decades finally coming to ahead.
If you're a horror fan or liked the film, I highly recommend checking out the script. It was fantastic. My only regret is I kept getting distracted with life and didn't finish this one sooner.
I can't wait to read Midsommar after reading this. Damn Ari Aster has got some serious writing chops to have two such epic and fantastical works under his belt. All of the characters in Hereditary stand on their own as complicated people dealing with grief in their own ways that work on pulling the family apart.
Starting the book with them mourning Annie's mother without us ever getting to meet her was a strong way to engage us from the start. As we solve the mystery of who Annie's mother was we are exposed to further horrors of the past and an undercurrent of forces that have been in action for decades finally coming to ahead.
If you're a horror fan or liked the film, I highly recommend checking out the script. It was fantastic. My only regret is I kept getting distracted with life and didn't finish this one sooner.
June 23, 2021
This is a nice book for any fan of the film. The film is a masterpiece and probably the best horror film in the last 10 or 20 years. The book comes with the script - which is remarkably similar to the final film. It was interesting seeing what ended up getting cut out. I always enjoy comparing a script to the final film and trying to decipher what lead them to the decisions they made in editing.
The photo gallery captures some of the stunning cinematography. There is a very brief essay praising the film's themes of motherhood. Finally there is the shot list for a single scene which is an interesting, if scattered, peak behind the scenes at the pre-production.
Overall it feels like a nice collector's piece, very well put together with a premium feel, but pretty slim on content. I would have loved more behind the scenes information, other info from Ari Aster directly, or additional essays on the film. What you get is pretty barebones, but still quite enjoyable as a piece of memorabilia for a great film.
The photo gallery captures some of the stunning cinematography. There is a very brief essay praising the film's themes of motherhood. Finally there is the shot list for a single scene which is an interesting, if scattered, peak behind the scenes at the pre-production.
Overall it feels like a nice collector's piece, very well put together with a premium feel, but pretty slim on content. I would have loved more behind the scenes information, other info from Ari Aster directly, or additional essays on the film. What you get is pretty barebones, but still quite enjoyable as a piece of memorabilia for a great film.
December 19, 2024
I loved the movie. I’m not a fan of the paranormal as I don’t believe in any of that woo woo stuff, but that aspect was the least of the horror. Bong Joo Ho’s forward makes that apparent. There are some bits missing from the film that I think would’ve been nice to see, but it doesn’t make the film any less of a masterpiece. If anything it makes the screenplay that much more enjoyable. This is a beautiful hardcover to have as well be it on your shelf or on the coffee table for guests to realize what kind of host they’re dealing with.
Hail Paimon.
Actually…another user made a very good point about something that annoyed me and somehow completely forgot. The cinematography, while beautiful, should not span 2 pages. I know bigger is better with stills, but the movie has so many shots of symmetry and low light that are ruined by the binding. The book cuts straight through the scenes. I would’ve preferred they rotate them to fit them on the page, or made them fold out (last resort).
So for that…I give it a 4.5 but will give it a 4 to bring down the average closer to 4.5
Hail Paimon.
Actually…another user made a very good point about something that annoyed me and somehow completely forgot. The cinematography, while beautiful, should not span 2 pages. I know bigger is better with stills, but the movie has so many shots of symmetry and low light that are ruined by the binding. The book cuts straight through the scenes. I would’ve preferred they rotate them to fit them on the page, or made them fold out (last resort).
So for that…I give it a 4.5 but will give it a 4 to bring down the average closer to 4.5
August 29, 2020
Yes, I’m aware of the twitter thread with the poorly cut photographs. Maybe it’s because I love coffee table books, but I wasn’t bothered by it. This may also be because the photos were my least favorite part.
I loved it. The forward by Bong Joon Ho and the piece be Leslie Jamison were both impeccable, and brought to mind the heart of this film’s effectiveness, family trauma.
Ari Aster’s shot list was amazing! This is exactly how I communicate (and souls block scenes), so to see that translated here was so interesting.
My biggest takeaway is that I need to rewatch the film. Several things popped out at me reading this that I didn’t notice and I would love to rewatch it with that in mind.
Definitely a fan of the book format here, issues aside, and going to break open my copy of The Witch next.
I loved it. The forward by Bong Joon Ho and the piece be Leslie Jamison were both impeccable, and brought to mind the heart of this film’s effectiveness, family trauma.
Ari Aster’s shot list was amazing! This is exactly how I communicate (and souls block scenes), so to see that translated here was so interesting.
My biggest takeaway is that I need to rewatch the film. Several things popped out at me reading this that I didn’t notice and I would love to rewatch it with that in mind.
Definitely a fan of the book format here, issues aside, and going to break open my copy of The Witch next.
November 4, 2020
I absolutely loved reading through the original script, and this book is well worth it for that alone. I do have to remove a star for the fact that everything else is a slight let down.
Bong Joon-ho's preface is incredibly short and doesn't really say a lot. The photos are completely ruined due to the binding. When the focal point is the middle of the page but that's also where the binding is, you lose the entire image. I don't understand how that design was green-lit. Also, I would have happily read another 20 of Leslie Jamison's essay. As is, it's incredibly short and felt like an introduction to a much longer detailed piece, so that was a let down.
Still, I'd recommend it, but some aspects are a little disappointing. Still worth having if you love the movie, regardless.
Bong Joon-ho's preface is incredibly short and doesn't really say a lot. The photos are completely ruined due to the binding. When the focal point is the middle of the page but that's also where the binding is, you lose the entire image. I don't understand how that design was green-lit. Also, I would have happily read another 20 of Leslie Jamison's essay. As is, it's incredibly short and felt like an introduction to a much longer detailed piece, so that was a let down.
Still, I'd recommend it, but some aspects are a little disappointing. Still worth having if you love the movie, regardless.
December 26, 2021
the way ari asters work translates from page to screen is kind of amazing. it was so interesting to read this tbh there are so many little details in the screenplay that just didn’t make it to the movie. a lot of stuff with Steve the dad. in the movie i felt like he was kinda bland but i think if they’d kept in the scenes from the original screenplay i wouldn’t have liked him- he becomes patronizing and useless instead of kind of sweet and useless. this is the first time i’ve read just an entire screenplay and i loved it and it kind of emphasized how great of a job toni collette did. also “love and terror” by leslie jamison was a little essay they included at the end and that was also amazing.
April 16, 2023
This was an incredible read. To have that much detail and vision even from an early draft? Incredible. The story itself is so twisted and layered. It’s amazing to see the prompts for the actors. I was literally watching the entire movie in my head as I read it. The 24 frames in part two was so powerful. And the shot list?????? I know that’s one of the ways Aster convinced Colette to do the film but wow. So specific. Such incredible detail to his dolly shots and how he wanted the scene to be revealed to the audience. Amazing.
December 25, 2021
an incredible insight into the writing process for the script as well as shot creation. wonderfully drawn out and the symbolism is so so so cool. i love seeing what did/didn't make the cut and connecting it to what i know. reading the script really gave me more things to think about in terms of the characterization of steve and peter especially which was so cool. one of the greatest films ever, now one of the greatest books ever
shoutout bong joon ho and leslie jamison!!! awesome pieces :)
shoutout bong joon ho and leslie jamison!!! awesome pieces :)
November 3, 2025
The first script I’ve read for pleasure and I was met with vivid details and insight into the world/characters that the movie can’t make you privy to. There is a quote where Steve chalks up Charlie’s accident to being an act of God, and I wish they kept that line in the movie. It wasn’t any one person’s mistake, it was just an intersection of horrible, uncontrollable factors. Of course then you find out that it was actually an act of Satan’s most faithful cult.
September 5, 2021
I don’t know if this counts as a proper book but it was a really interesting read!
I read it along with the movie so I could notice the differences and there’s actually some things that are different - longer scenes, scenes that are switched (the order) and some that are completely erased.
Yeah, I was fascinated by everything!
I read it along with the movie so I could notice the differences and there’s actually some things that are different - longer scenes, scenes that are switched (the order) and some that are completely erased.
Yeah, I was fascinated by everything!
November 6, 2023
I absolutely love this movie/screenplay. It dives deep into the feelings of grief and family trauma using horror to help shine the intensity of its story and theme. The one thing I look for while watching or reading horror entertainment is if it is scary; and that it is. Ari Aster is able to scare their audience while also being able to deliver a complete story. 10/10
August 2, 2021
my only complaint is these fools did full-bleed spreads where the most important part of the image was in the center??? in the crease?? where the close-up face shots make the humans look like aliens???
anyway, liked reading the scenes that were not included in the final cut of the movie
anyway, liked reading the scenes that were not included in the final cut of the movie
March 29, 2022
The boy wants to live a normal life. His kid sister is weird. His dad is trying to keep the family on track. His mom’s hiding secrets. The deadly kind. The kind that come to life and then just rapidly start to take over your life.
October 21, 2024
The final cut of the movie is quite different than the screenplay. There are extra scenes and dialogue that would have spoiled/lessened the tension and would have given Joan a bit more nuance than her character deserves. The forward and ending essays were a really nice touch as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews