Ari Aster's Early Shock: The Johnsons' Disturbing Secret

Filmmaker Ari Aster, known for the 2018 horror hit "Hereditary," had already established a reputation for unsettling audiences with his 2011 short film, "The Strange Thing About The Johnsons." This early work, which focused on a boy's taboo sexual relationship with his father, originated from discussions among friends about deeply unfathomable subjects. The short served as Aster's thesis project at the American Film Institute's graduate program. It has since become infamous online, often cited by viewers who regret experiencing its disturbing content. The film's exploration of deeply unsettling themes foreshadowed Aster's later directorial endeavors. His feature film debut, "Hereditary," and subsequent works like "Midsommar," continued to delve into dark psychological territory. While "Hereditary" explored themes of grief and loss through the disintegration of a family under demonic influence, it also contained memorably disturbing scenes. Aster's stylistic influences for "Hereditary" include Nicolas Roeg and Stanley Kubrick. He has often cited Roeg, particularly the 1973 film "Don't Look Now," as a spiritual inspiration.