Ambiguous Sex in Critical Receptions to Ari Aster’s Midsommar

Abstract

A critically acclaimed horror film, Midsommar has been the topic of considerable debate because of its central sex scene. While most reviewers, who acknowledge the scene, claim it is “unorthodox” or “weird” as far as sex sequences go, a small subset of critics have labelled it as depicting rape. The ambiguous nature of this scene may be viewed as problematic because it blurs the line between consent and sexual assault. In this paper, we provide a detailed description of the scene in question. Then, we elucidate a host of reasons why the scene may be construed as an example of non-consensual or consensual sexual intercourse. Finally, we conclude by discussing the scene’s implications in terms of contemporary Western understandings of consent, sexual assault, and (male) rape myths.