History Trivia / Midsommar

* ActorInspiredElement: Christian was supposed to run out of [[spoiler:the fertility ritual wearing the robe he had when he entered]], but his actor Jack Reynor suggested he do it [[spoiler: fully nude, noting how rare it was for males in horror films to be naked before their demise]].

** Ari Aster says that [[spoiler:Josh was hit with the hammer by Pelle after being caught taking pictures of the Rubi Radr]].

** Ari Aster says that [[spoiler:Josh was hit with the hammer by Pelle after being caught taking pictures of the book]].

** Ari Aster says that [[spoiler:Josh was hit with the hammer by Olf after being caught taking pictures of the book]].

** The script also reveals very early versions of [[spoiler:Josh and Simon's deaths]], in which [[spoiler:Christian would've found them both in the chicken coop instead of just Simon. Josh would've been chained to a fence with his liver exposed, covered in feed and pecked at by birds; the reveal that he was [[AndIMustScream still alive]], with him suddenly gasping for air and convulsing, would've been something of a JumpScare. Simon would've been hung by the heels with rope tied between his tendons and bones.]]

* ActorInspiredElement: Christian was supposed to run out of [[spoiler: the rape ritual wearing the robe he had when he entered]]. Jack Reynor suggested he do it [[spoiler: fully nude, noting how rare it was for males in horror films to be naked before their demise]].

** It is set in Sweden but filmed in Budapest, Hungary.

* DawsonCasting: It's said that Maja has just turned the legal age (the slang word "byxmyndig" is used, meaning "old enough to consent to sex"), which would make her fifteen. Her actress Isabelle Grill was twenty. Of course, given that [[spoiler: she strips naked and takes part in a graphic orgy scene]], [[JustifiedTrope casting an older actress is necessary]].
* EnforcedMethodActing: When Christian tries to comfort Dani as she howls in agony at [[spoiler:the news of her family's deaths]], Jack Reynor recalls not having to do anything at all - because his reactions to Florence Pugh's screams are all genuine.

* ThoseTwoActors: Jack Reynor and Will Poulter have starred together in ''Detroit'' and ''Glassland''.

* TypeCasting: Christian is one in a line of aloof or snarky {{jerkass}} characters played by Jack Reynor; other examples include ''Film/WhatRichardDid'', ''Film/ARoyalNightOut'', ''Film/SingStreet'' etc.

** Ari Aster says that [[spoiler:Josh was hit with the hammer]] by Olf after being caught taking pictures of the book.

* DawsonCasting: It's said that Maja has just turned the legal age (the slang word "byxmyndig" is used, meaning "age of consent") - which would make her fifteen. Her actress Isabelle Grill was twenty. Of course, given that [[spoiler: she strips naked and takes part in a graphic orgy scene]], [[JustifiedTrope casting an older actress is necessary]].

** While Ari Aster rejected the initial pitch of the film as a Swedish cult slasher due to having no personal entry point to the story, he found one using a recent bad breakup, basing Dani and Christian on his emotions at the time such that the film turned into what he summarized as a breakup film dressed as a cult horror. After the premiere of the film, Aster said he was "feeling much better".
** Jack Reynor admitted that the scene of [[spoiler: Christian in the fertility ritual]] took its toll on him, and "it really sat on me" afterwards - as they had kept it for the end of the shoot and he'd been getting anxious about it for weeks. He says it's lucky he had to move onto a short film immediately after and have something else to focus on.

* DawsonCasting: It's said that Maja has just turned the legal age (the slang word 'byxmyndig' is used, meaning age of consent) - which would make her fifteen. Her actress Isabelle Grill was twenty. Of course, given that [[spoiler: she strips naked and takes part in a graphic orgy scene]], [[JustifiedTrope casting an older actress is necessary]].
* EnforcedMethodActing: When Christian tries to comfort Dani as she howls in agony at [[spoiler:the news of her family's deaths]], Jack Reynor recalls not having to do anything at all - because his reactions to Florence Pugh's screams are all genuine.

* OutOfHolidayEpisode: Swedish fans were annoyed that the film was released there a few weeks after midsummer had ended.

* StarMakingRole: Alongside ''Film/FightingWithMyFamily'', the success of this put Florence Pugh on the map. It was solidified with an Oscar nomination for ''Film/LittleWomen2019''.

* UnderageCasting: Dani turns twenty-seven in the film. Florence Pugh was four years younger when she filmed her part.

* NamesTheSame: There's another horror film set in Scandinavia called ''Midsommer'' (though that one is Danish).

** While Ari Aster rejected the initial pitch of the film as a Swedish cult slasher due to having no personal entry point to the story, he found one using a recent bad breakup, basing both Dani and Christian's characters on the feelings he was having during the relationship, with him explicitly stating that he saw Dani as more of a reflection of him to the extent of being a downplayed AuthorAvatar. After the premiere of the film, Aster said he was "feeling much better".

* TypeCasting: Jack Reynor often ends up as aloof or snarky {{Jerkass}}es - such as ''Film/WhatRichardDid'', ''Film/ARoyalNightOut'', ''Film/SingStreet'' etc.

** The script also reveals very early versions of [[spoiler:Josh and Simon's deaths]], in which [[spoiler:Christian would've found them both in the chicken coop (instead of just Simon). Josh would've been chained to a fence with his liver exposed, covered in feed, and pecked at by birds; the reveal that he was [[AndIMustScream still alive]], with him suddenly gasping for air and convulsing, would've been something of a JumpScare. Simon would've been hung by the heels with rope tied between his tendons and bones.]]

** Ari Aster says that [[spoiler: Josh was hit with the hammer]] by Olf after being caught taking pictures of the book.

-->'''interviewer Tatiana Hullender''': It also seems like there’s an undercurrent of racism or xenophobia in the story, in terms of how the way that Connie, Josh and Simon are treated is different from the way that Dani and Christian are – even if the end result is one. So what was it you wanted to say with that? Was that a conscious choice you made?
-->'''Ari Aster''': That was a very conscious choice, and I tried to sort of weave a lot of things into the periphery of the film. I think it’s there, and I’m reluctant to be too explicit about it. But it is there, and I’m glad you noticed that, and it’s a very important part of the film.
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Aster said that he wrote the film during a bad breakup and based both Dani and Christian's characters on the feelings he was having during his own relationship, with him explicitly stating that he saw Dani as more of a reflection of him to the extent of being a downplayed AuthorAvatar. After the premiere of the film, Aster said he was "feeling much better".

* DawsonCasting: It's said that Maja has just turned the legal age (the slang word 'byxmyndig' is used, meaning age of consent) - which would make her fifteen. Her actress Isabelle Grill was twenty. Of course, given that [[spoiler: she strips naked and takes part in a graphic orgy scene]], casting an older actress is necessary.

* ThrowItIn:
** Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor were allowed to improvise a few of their conversations, and one of their improvised arguments made it into the final cut.
** When Dani is howling in agony at the news of her family's deaths, Jack Reynor recalls not having to do anything at all - because his reactions are all genuine to Florence Pugh's screams.

--> "There was a psychological toll making this film for sure..."

* CreatorBreakdown: While Ari Aster rejected the initial pitch of the film as a Swedish cult slasher due to having no personal entry point to the story, he found one using a recent bad breakup, basing both Dani and Christian's characters on the feelings he was having during the relationship, with him explicitly stating that he saw Dani as more of a reflection of him to the extent of being a downplayed AuthorAvatar. After the premiere of the film, Aster said he was "feeling much better".
* DawsonCasting: It's said that Maja has just turned the legal age (the slang word 'byxmyndig' is used, meaning age of consent) - which would make her fifteen. Her actress Isabelle Grill was twenty.

* CreatorBreakdown: While Ari Aster rejected the initial pitch of the film as a Swedish cult slasher film due to having no personal entry point to the story, he found one using a recent bad breakup, basing both Dani and Christian's characters on the feelings he was having during the relationship, with him explicitly stating that he saw Dani as more of a reflection of him to the extent of being a downplayed AuthorAvatar. After the premiere of the film, Aster said he was "feeling much better".

* CreatorBreakdown: While Ari Aster initially rejected the initial pitch of the film as a Swedish cult slasher film due to having no personal entry point to the story, he found one using a recent bad breakup, basing both Dani and Christian's characters on the feelings he was having during the relationship, with him explicitly stating that he saw Dani as more of a reflection of him to the extent of being a downplayed AuthorAvatar. After the premiere of the film, Aster said he was "feeling much better".

* CreatorBreakdown: While Ari Aster initially rejected the initial pitch of the film as a Swedish cult slasher film, he found an in to the story using a recent bad breakup, basing both Dani and Christian's characters on the feelings he was having during his own relationship, with him explicitly stating that he saw Dani as more of a reflection of him to the extent of being a downplayed AuthorAvatar. After the premiere of the film, Aster said he was "feeling much better".