Hereditary – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Hereditary

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2018

18%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Ari Aster's brutally disturbing horror debut about grief and occult terror—critically acclaimed, genuinely scary, absolutely not for kids.

7.3/10

90%

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Hereditary

movie

R, 2018

18%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Ari Aster's brutally disturbing horror debut about grief and occult terror—critically acclaimed, genuinely scary, absolutely not for kids.

7.3

90%

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90%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Hereditary is objectively a brilliant piece of filmmaking. Ari Aster knows how to craft dread, Toni Collette is phenomenal, and it's one of the best-reviewed horror films in years. But this is absolutely, unequivocally not for kids or even most teens.

This is the kind of horror that sticks with you in bad ways—disturbing imagery, shocking violence, relentless bleakness. Common Sense Media says 17+ and they're right. If you're a horror-loving adult looking for something that will genuinely unsettle you, this delivers. If you're a parent wondering if your teen can handle it, the answer is almost certainly no.

The WISE score is low because this is a parenting platform and this film has zero business being anywhere near children. But for adult horror fans? It's worth the watch if you can stomach it.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults 17+ who can handle extremely disturbing horror. Even mature teens who think they're ready probably aren't. This isn't Scream or even The Conjuring—it's genuinely traumatic stuff.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is an extremely dark, disturbing horror film featuring family tragedy, death, grief, burned bodies, severed heads, and deeply unsettling supernatural occurrences. The emotional tone is relentlessly bleak and traumatic. There's nothing wholesome here—it's designed to unsettle and horrify.

Imaginative

Director Ari Aster's debut is genuinely original in the horror space, building dread through atmosphere and family dysfunction rather than cheap jump scares. The film's approach to occult horror and its slow-burn psychological terror show real creative vision. Critics praised it heavily (90% RT, 87 Metacritic) for its inventive scares and disturbing imagery.

Safe

Common Sense Media recommends 17+. Features graphic disturbing content including death, burned bodies, severed heads, seances, ghosts, and deeply traumatic family violence. This is exactly the kind of horror that would be shocking and potentially traumatizing for younger viewers. Not remotely safe for kids.

Enriching

For mature audiences interested in film craft, this is a masterclass in atmospheric horror and grief portrayal. It explores themes of family trauma, mental illness, fate vs. free will, and generational pain in genuinely thought-provoking ways. But it's punishing to watch and offers little uplift—more of an endurance test than an enriching experience for most.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Masterfully crafted atmospheric horror that earns its scares through dread rather than cheap jumps
Toni Collette delivers a powerhouse performance as a mother unraveling
Explores grief, trauma, and family dysfunction in genuinely thought-provoking ways
One of the most critically acclaimed horror films of the 2010s (90% RT, 87 Metacritic)
For horror fans seeking something that will stick with them (maybe too much)

⚠

What to Watch For

Extremely graphic and disturbing imagery including severed heads, burned bodies, and shocking violence
Relentlessly dark tone with no relief—this is punishing horror, not fun scares
Deals with child death and family trauma in deeply upsetting ways
Will likely disturb even adult viewers—not a casual watch
Common Sense Media says 17+ for very good reason

Conversation Starters

"How does the film use grief as the foundation for horror? What does it say about how trauma passes through families?"
"What did you think of the film's approach to fate versus free will? Were the characters ever in control?"
"Let's talk about that dinner table scene—how does Aster build tension through family dysfunction?"
"How does this compare to other horror you've seen? What makes 'elevated horror' different from standard scary movies?"

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