We knew the day was coming, but we didn't expect it to arrive so quickly. One of the only two A24 horror films currently streaming on Netflix will be leaving the platform very soon. How soon? We're talking next week. After being added in January 2025, it's already time to say goodbye to this horror masterpiece that had everyone talking back when it first hit theaters in 2018. It's the psychological horror Hereditary, and it's set to depart Netflix on Tuesday, April 15.
Since this film isn't a Netflix original but rather a licensed title, we always knew it would eventually be removed. However, we expected it to stay on the platform for at least six months before leaving. It turns out Netflix only secured the streaming rights for a three-month period. With the removal date fast approaching, it's crucial to watch it before it's gone. There’s no guarantee it will return, and it's uncertain where it will stream next, if at all. The only other option is to rent or purchase it on digital platforms. I don't know about you, but I don't want to have to pay for a movie I could've watched with my subscription.
Hereditary is hands down one of A24's best horror movies, and I'm not just saying this. From its tense, unsettling atmosphere to powerhouse performances, it delivers a deeply disturbing experience that stays with you long after the film ends. It's not your typical horror flick that relies on cheap jump scares. Instead, it builds a slow, creeping dread that gets under your skin, making the horror feel all the more real.
And when the movie ends, you're left with this lasting, uncomfortable feeling that's hard to shake. That's how a good psychological horror film is supposed to affect you. You're supposed to be left unsettled and questioning everything. If not, then it hasn't done its job. Fortunately, you don't have to worry about that with Hereditary. This film delivers exactly what a great psychological horror should.
Ari Aster, who is also known for writing and directing the horror films Midsommar and Beau Is Afraid, wrote and helmed this movie. After mostly making short films, he made his feature film debut with Hereditary. The movie had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2018 before being released in theaters that June. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, with several calling it one of the scariest films in years. The horror flick also received a strong response from audiences, with many praising its unsettling atmosphere, slow-burning tension, and top-notch performances.
After its theatrical run came to an end, it managed to make over $87 million worldwide against a $10 million budget. This impressive feat made it A24's highest-grossing film at the time. Everything Everywhere All at Once has taken that title now, but the psychological horror is still one of the indie production company's highest-grossing horror films of all time.
The movie follows a mourning family as they begin to uncover chilling truths about their lineage following the death of the secretive matriarch of the family. As strange and disturbing events occur, they come to suspect that they've inherited more than emotional scars. Something sinister may be rooted deep within their bloodline.
Here's the film's official synopsis via the A24 website:
"When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited."
Many of the cast members you will recognize right away, like Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd, and Gabriel Byrne. The other talented cast members are Milly Shapiro and Mallory Bechtel. As expected from an Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Collette gives an outstanding performance, portraying a mother’s descent into grief and madness. Wolff, Shapiro, and the rest of the cast also shine, each bringing depth and emotional complexity to their roles.
Time is running out, and April 15 is right around the corner. If you've been holding off watching this horror film on Netflix, here's your reminder to stream it while you still can!