Hereditary (2018) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A grieving mother uncovers her family's dark occult legacy as a cult manipulates her toward a demonic coronation.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

Mourning and Secrets

The Graham family attends Ellen's funeral, where Annie is surprised by the crowd. At a support group, she reveals her strained relationship with her mother, while the desecration of Ellen's grave looms in the background.

Key Events

• Ellen's Funeral — Annie attends her secretive mother Ellen's funeral, surprised by the many mourners. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Cemetery
• Group Confession — Annie reveals her strained relationship with Ellen at the support group. Characters: Annie Graham, Joan Location: Bereavement Support Group

The Unthinkable Loss

Charlie dies in a horrific car accident after eating walnuts at a party. Annie discovers her daughter's headless body, and the family fractures under guilt and resentment.

Key Events

• Charlie's Body Found — Annie discovers Charlie's headless body in the car the morning after the accident. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Charlie's Funeral — The family mourns Charlie; Peter becomes reclusive with guilt. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Cemetery

The Séance and Its Aftermath

Joan befriends Annie and suggests a séance to contact Charlie. The séance unleashes supernatural forces, and Annie experiences terrifying phenomena linked to Charlie's sketchbook.

Key Events

• Joan's Friendship — Joan befriends Annie and suggests a séance to contact Charlie's ghost. Characters: Annie Graham, Joan Location: Bereavement Support Group
• The Séance — Objects move during the séance and Annie speaks in Charlie's voice until water is thrown. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Sketchbook Haunting — Annie sees threatening images manifest in Charlie's sketchbook. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Sketchbook Fire — Annie throws the sketchbook into the fire; her clothes ignite but stop burning when she rescues it. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home

Uncovering the Cult

Annie discovers Ellen's occult past as Queen Leigh, the demon Paimon's plan for a male host, and Ellen's headless corpse in the attic. Joan is revealed as a cult acolyte.

Key Events

• Album Revelation — Annie finds photos of Ellen as Queen Leigh with Joan as an acolyte. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Paimon Book Found — Annie reads about demon king Paimon who wishes to inhabit a male host. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Attic Corpse Found — Annie finds Ellen's rotting headless corpse and occultist runes in the attic. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Attic
• Joan's Ritual — Joan appears across the street from Peter's school and attempts to expel his spirit. Characters: Joan Location: Outside School

Possession and Destruction

Peter is possessed at school, Steve dies in flames when the sketchbook burns, and Annie is taken over by the demonic force. The coven gathers around the house.

Key Events

• Peter's Possession — After Joan's ritual, Peter is possessed and slams his head on his desk, breaking his nose. Characters: Joan Location: School
• Annie Begs Steve — Annie begs Steve to burn the sketchbook, unable to take her own life. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Fiery Death — Annie flings the book into the fire and Steve bursts into flames instead. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Annie Possessed — Annie's expression goes blank as she is taken over by the same force that possessed Peter. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Coven Gathers — Naked coven members gather both inside and around the house. Characters: Annie Graham, Joan Location: Graham Home
• Annie Chases Peter — Possessed Annie chases Peter through the house; he hides in the attic. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home

The Coronation of Paimon

Possessed Annie beheads herself, Peter is revived by a glowing orb, and Joan crowns him as King Paimon in the treehouse as the coven hails him.

Key Events

• Annie Chases Peter — Possessed Annie chases Peter through the house; he hides in the attic. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home
• Annie's Beheading — Annie follows Peter to the attic and beheads herself with piano wire. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Attic
• Peter's Revival — A glowing orb enters Peter's body and revives him after his fall. Characters: Annie Graham Location: Graham Home Exterior
• Paimon's Coronation — Joan crowns Peter as King Paimon as the coven hails him. Characters: Annie Graham, Joan Location: Charlie's Treehouse

Story Breakdown

• A Family in Mourning — The Graham family grieves the death of matriarch Ellen while secrets linger.
  • Ellen's Funeral — Annie attends her secretive mother's funeral, surprised by the crowd.
  • Support Group Confession — Annie reveals her strained relationship with Ellen.
  • Gravesite Desecration — Unknown perpetrators desecrate Ellen's grave.
• Charlie's Tragic Death — A party accident leads to Charlie's shocking decapitation.
  • The Walnut Allergy — Charlie eats cake with walnuts and goes into anaphylactic shock.
  • Fatal Car Ride — Peter swerves to avoid a deer, decapitating Charlie.
  • Annie's Discovery — Annie finds Charlie's headless body in the car.
• Grief Tears the Family — The family fractures under guilt and resentment.
  • Peter's Guilt — Peter becomes reclusive and wracked with guilt.
  • Annie's Resentment — Annie grows bitter and resentful toward Peter.
  • Steve's Mediation — Steve tries to mediate peace between them.
• Joan's Manipulation — A support group friend introduces Annie to the supernatural.
  • The Séance Suggestion — Joan suggests a séance to communicate with Charlie's ghost.
  • The Séance — Objects move and Annie speaks in Charlie's voice.
  • Supernatural Haunting — Threatening images appear in Charlie's sketchbook.
• Occult Revelations — Annie uncovers the cult's dark secrets.
  • Queen Leigh Revealed — Photos show Ellen as cult leader Queen Leigh with Joan as acolyte.
  • The Demon Paimon — A book describes demon king Paimon seeking a male host.
  • Ellen's Headless Corpse — Annie finds Ellen's rotting corpse in the attic.
• Demonic Possession — Paimon's influence takes hold of the family.
  • Peter's Possession — Peter is possessed and slams his head on his desk.
  • Steve's Fiery Death — Steve bursts into flames when the sketchbook burns.
  • Annie's Possession — Annie is taken over by the same demonic force.
• The Final Ritual — The coven completes its plan to host Paimon.
  • Coven Gathering — Naked coven members surround the house.
  • Annie's Self-Beheading — Possessed Annie beheads herself with piano wire.
  • Peter's Revival — A glowing orb revives Peter after his fall.
  • Coronation of Paimon — Joan crowns Peter as King Paimon.

Directed by

Ari Aster

Key Cast

• Toni Collette — Annie Graham
• Alex Wolff — Peter Graham
• Gabriel Byrne — Steve Graham
• Milly Shapiro — Charlie Graham
• Ann Dowd — Joan