Note: This piece contains spoilers related to Hereditary.
Ari Aster’s groundbreaking debut film, Hereditary, reinvigorated the horror genre upon its release in 2018. Set against the serene backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains, the film chronicles the devastating disintegration of the Graham family, led by the powerful performance of Toni Collette as Annie Graham. The film’s idyllic settings initially convey a sense of normalcy, yet they spiral into chaos as the story unfolds, revealing underlying supernatural elements intertwined with grim family tragedies.
Key locations, such as the high school attended by siblings Peter and Charlie, as well as the nondescript funeral home tied to Annie’s mother’s death, contribute to the film’s relatable atmosphere. However, the seemingly ordinary world is shattered when a tragic deer accident sets the stage for the harrowing and graphic death of Charlie—a motif that recurs with unsettling frequency as the narrative progresses.
The Graham Family Home: A Genuine Location near Salt Lake City
Exterior Shots of the Graham House: Authentic and Eerie
The Graham family’s primary residence is a real, wooden house located near Park City, Utah, nestled in a picturesque area beloved by winter sports enthusiasts. Though initially inviting, this home becomes the stage for horrifying seances and gruesome manifestations as the plot deepens. Aster has indicated that while the indoor scenes showcasing intense horror were constructed on a soundstage, the Graham house itself is a tangible site, embodying the film’s unsettling ambiance. Notably, the exterior scenes of Charlie’s treehouse were also created on set, as affirmed by miniatures supervisor Steve Newburn, with much of the filming occurring in Toronto (source: MovieMaker).
Adjacent to this location is a real structure that serves as Annie’s mother Ellen’s friend Joan’s house, where revealing elements of a cult devoted to the demon Paimon begin to unfold.
Filming Locations: A Real Funeral Home and a High School
Authentic Settings Grounding the Narrative
Moreover, real-life locations contributed to the chilling authenticity of Hereditary. The funerals of Charlie and her grandmother Ellen unfold in an actual funeral home, Larkin Sunset Gardens, situated in Sandy, Utah. This establishment, renowned for its stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains, offers an eerie yet fitting backdrop for the film’s pivotal funeral scenes.
Additionally, the high school sequences were also filmed in real educational settings. While the interior shots were captured within an authentic high school in Salt Lake City, the exterior visuals were crafted using the Grand Building at Utah State Fairpark.
The Ambiguous Setting of Hereditary
Despite making extensive use of Salt Lake City and its picturesque surroundings, Hereditary stops short of specifying its exact setting. This deliberate choice adds a layer of universality to the film, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the aesthetic and atmospheric qualities of the Wasatch Mountains without being tethered to specific geographical confines.
Ari Aster’s omission of geographic identifiers, such as Utah or Salt Lake City, invites the audience into a realm where the tragedies faced by the Graham family could resonate anywhere, thus enhancing the film’s psychological depth. By doing so, Aster enables a broader interpretation of the film’s themes, allowing the breathtaking landscapes to remain mere timbres against the horror that unfolds rather than factors influencing it.
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