Midsommar
Several friends travel to Sweden to study as anthropologists a summer festival that is held every ninety years in the remote hometown of one of them. What begins as a dream vacation in a place where the sun never sets, gradually turns into a dark nightmare as the mysterious inhabitants invite them to participate in their disturbing festive activities.
Despite its tight budget of $9.0M, Midsommar became a commercial success, earning $48.5M worldwide—a 439% return. The film's fresh perspective connected with viewers, confirming 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%)
Midsommar (2019) demonstrates carefully calibrated narrative architecture, 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 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dani lies in bed anxiously trying to reach her troubled sister who sent cryptic emails about killing herself and their parents. Dani's boyfriend Christian is with friends, showing emotional distance from her needs.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Dani discovers Christian has been hiding a trip to Sweden for a festival from her. He awkwardly invites her, not expecting her to accept. She decides to go, seeking connection and escape from her grief.. 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 36 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The group arrives at the Hårga commune during perpetual daylight. They are welcomed with flower crowns and warm hospitality. Dani and the others choose to fully enter this strange new world and participate in the nine-day midsummer festival., moving from reaction to action.
At 73 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Dani wins the May Queen dance competition after outlasting all other women. She is crowned and celebrated, seemingly finding belonging. However, this "victory" marks her full entanglement with the cult and the point where the friends lose agency—they are now being selected for sacrifice., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 109 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Dani discovers Christian naked in the mating ritual with Maja, surrounded by nude women mimicking Maja's sexual movements. She runs out screaming, completely emotionally shattered. This is the death of her relationship and her final tether to her old life., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 117 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. As May Queen, Dani is given the choice of who will be the final sacrifice—a randomly chosen community member or Christian. She understands her power and what she must do to fully belong to her new family., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Midsommar's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Midsommar 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 Midsommar 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. Midsommar takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. 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 Hereditary, Beau Is Afraid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dani lies in bed anxiously trying to reach her troubled sister who sent cryptic emails about killing herself and their parents. Dani's boyfriend Christian is with friends, showing emotional distance from her needs.
Theme
Pelle tells the group about Hårga: "It's a very special place. It's like another world." This encapsulates the film's exploration of alternate family structures and the seductive danger of belonging.
Worldbuilding
Dani's relationship with Christian is strained and codependent. Her sister commits murder-suicide, killing their parents and herself. Dani is devastated and clings to Christian, who considers breaking up but can't. The dynamics of their failing relationship and his anthropology student friend group are established.
Disruption
Dani discovers Christian has been hiding a trip to Sweden for a festival from her. He awkwardly invites her, not expecting her to accept. She decides to go, seeking connection and escape from her grief.
Resistance
The group travels to Sweden and begins their journey to Hårga. They take psychedelics and walk through beautiful landscapes. Pelle acts as their guide to this new world, explaining customs and making Dani feel specially welcomed, though tensions simmer between the friends.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group arrives at the Hårga commune during perpetual daylight. They are welcomed with flower crowns and warm hospitality. Dani and the others choose to fully enter this strange new world and participate in the nine-day midsummer festival.
Mirror World
Pelle tells Dani she seems "held" by the community, contrasting with Christian who "lets her dangle." The Hårga commune represents the alternative to Dani's isolated grief—a place of radical empathy and collective emotional experience.
Premise
The group experiences the beauty and strangeness of Hårga's rituals. They witness the ättestupa ceremony where elders jump to their deaths. Dani is horrified but notices the community grieves collectively. The friends begin their research, take more psychedelics, and participate in feasts and ceremonies, while unsettling elements accumulate.
Midpoint
Dani wins the May Queen dance competition after outlasting all other women. She is crowned and celebrated, seemingly finding belonging. However, this "victory" marks her full entanglement with the cult and the point where the friends lose agency—they are now being selected for sacrifice.
Opposition
The friends begin disappearing. Connie and Simon vanish. Josh is killed sneaking photos of sacred texts. Mark is seduced and murdered. Christian is manipulated into a sex ritual with Maja while drugged. The community's sinister true nature emerges as they systematically eliminate outsiders.
Collapse
Dani discovers Christian naked in the mating ritual with Maja, surrounded by nude women mimicking Maja's sexual movements. She runs out screaming, completely emotionally shattered. This is the death of her relationship and her final tether to her old life.
Crisis
Dani wails in anguish and is surrounded by Hårga women who mirror her cries, screaming and sobbing with her in perfect empathy. She experiences the collective grief she never had for her family. Meanwhile, Christian tries to escape but is captured and paralyzed.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
As May Queen, Dani is given the choice of who will be the final sacrifice—a randomly chosen community member or Christian. She understands her power and what she must do to fully belong to her new family.
Synthesis
Dani chooses Christian. He is sewn into a bear carcass and placed in the temple with the other sacrifices (the four outsiders and four Hårga volunteers). The temple is set ablaze as the community chants. Dani watches, surrounded by her new family, as everything from her old life burns.
Transformation
Dani, crowned with flowers, watches the temple burn with Christian inside. Her face transforms from anguish to a subtle, disturbing smile. She has found belonging and family, but through complete corruption—trading isolated grief for collective madness.