Hereditary
Following the death of the Leigh family matriarch, Annie and her children uncover disturbing secrets about their heritage. Their daily lives are not only impacted, but they also become entangled in a chilling fate from which they cannot escape, driving them to the brink of madness.
Despite its limited budget of $10.0M, Hereditary became a commercial juggernaut, earning $87.8M worldwide—a remarkable 778% return. The film's compelling narrative found its audience, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Hereditary (2018) showcases strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Ari Aster's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 8 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Annie's eulogy at her mother's funeral reveals a strained, secretive relationship. The Graham family appears fractured, grief-stricken, and disconnected from one another in their ordinary world of loss.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Annie forces Peter to take Charlie to a party, despite his protests. This reluctant decision sets the tragedy in motion, disrupting the fragile post-funeral status quo.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Annie discovers Charlie's decapitated body in the car. The family enters a new world of unimaginable grief and trauma from which there is no return. The nightmare becomes inescapable., moving from reaction to action.
At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The family séance to contact Charlie goes catastrophically wrong. Steve is possessed and attacks Annie. The supernatural forces reveal themselves fully. What seemed like grief becomes something far more sinister and threatening., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Steve burns to death. Annie is revealed to be possessed and decapitates herself with piano wire. Peter witnesses his mother's headless body floating after him. All hope dies; the family is destroyed., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 102 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Paimon, the demon, fully possesses Peter's body. His attempted escape fails. The revelation completes: his entire life was orchestrated for this possession. He "breaks into" the final demonic reality., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Hereditary's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Hereditary against these established plot points, we can identify how Ari Aster utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Hereditary within the horror genre.
Ari Aster's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Ari Aster films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Hereditary represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ari Aster filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Ari Aster analyses, see Midsommar, Beau Is Afraid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Annie's eulogy at her mother's funeral reveals a strained, secretive relationship. The Graham family appears fractured, grief-stricken, and disconnected from one another in their ordinary world of loss.
Theme
At the support group, Annie states: "I just don't want to be responsible anymore." This articulates the film's central theme about inherited trauma, culpability, and the inability to escape family legacy.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Graham family dynamics: Annie's miniature art career, Peter's detachment, Charlie's strangeness, Steve's attempts at normalcy. The grandmother's death and its unsettling aftermath set up the family's dysfunction and dark history.
Disruption
Annie forces Peter to take Charlie to a party, despite his protests. This reluctant decision sets the tragedy in motion, disrupting the fragile post-funeral status quo.
Resistance
Peter takes Charlie to the party. Tension builds as Charlie eats cake with nuts despite her allergy. The desperate drive to the hospital culminates in Charlie's decapitation. Peter's catatonic return home and the family's discovery of her death.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Annie discovers Charlie's decapitated body in the car. The family enters a new world of unimaginable grief and trauma from which there is no return. The nightmare becomes inescapable.
Mirror World
Annie meets Joan at a support group. Joan represents a seemingly kind mentor figure who introduces the possibility of communicating with the dead, offering false hope and connection.
Premise
The family deteriorates under grief's weight. Annie's blame toward Peter intensifies. Supernatural occurrences escalate. Joan teaches Annie a séance ritual. Annie creates disturbing miniatures. The promise of the premise: a descent into supernatural horror and family disintegration.
Midpoint
The family séance to contact Charlie goes catastrophically wrong. Steve is possessed and attacks Annie. The supernatural forces reveal themselves fully. What seemed like grief becomes something far more sinister and threatening.
Opposition
Annie discovers her mother's occult activities and the conspiracy involving Charlie. Paranormal activity intensifies. Annie tries burning Charlie's sketchbook but Steve burns instead. The demonic forces close in, turning the family against each other with increasing violence.
Collapse
Steve burns to death. Annie is revealed to be possessed and decapitates herself with piano wire. Peter witnesses his mother's headless body floating after him. All hope dies; the family is destroyed.
Crisis
Peter, alone and traumatized, flees from his possessed mother's corpse. He jumps from the window in attempted suicide. He lies broken as cult members gather. The dark night of the soul: Peter has lost everything and everyone.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Paimon, the demon, fully possesses Peter's body. His attempted escape fails. The revelation completes: his entire life was orchestrated for this possession. He "breaks into" the final demonic reality.
Synthesis
Peter, possessed by Paimon, floats to the treehouse. The cult crowns him. Joan and the cult members worship him. The ritual is complete. All elements synthesize: the grandmother's plan, Charlie's death, the family's destruction all serve Paimon's incarnation.
Transformation
Peter, now Paimon, crowned and worshipped in the treehouse with Charlie's decapitated head wearing the crown. Complete corruption: the boy is gone, the demon king reigns. A family legacy of horror fulfilled.