Hereditary (2018) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The ending of Hereditary reveals that the Graham family was manipulated by a demonic cult to serve as vessels for the demon Paimon. Annie unwittingly facilitates the ritual by beheading herself, allowing Paimon to fully possess her son Peter. The final scene shows the cult worshipping Paimon in Peter's body, crowned and glorified in the family's treehouse-turned-temple. The film's horror lies in the inevitability of the family's destruction and the chilling realization that their suffering was orchestrated from the beginning.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climax of Hereditary is a harrowing culmination of psychological torment, supernatural manipulation, and familial tragedy. After Annie's discovery of her mother's occult connections and the truth about her daughter Charlie's decapitation, she attempts to burn the evidence-only to be interrupted by her son Peter, who has been suffering from increasingly severe hallucinations. In a frenzied state, Annie levitates, severs her own head with a wire (mirroring Charlie's death), and Peter, in shock, jumps out a window. He survives but is left catatonic, and the cult members-who have been lurking in the shadows-carry him to the treehouse, where they complete the ritual to summon Paimon.
The final scenes confirm that the entire Graham family was pawns in a long-con orchestrated by the cult. Annie's mother, Ellen, was a high-ranking member who ensured Paimon's spirit was transferred into Charlie at birth (though the demon preferred a male host). Charlie's death was not an accident but a necessary step to move Paimon into Peter's body. The treehouse, built by Annie's husband Steve, was unknowingly designed as a shrine for Paimon, and the cult's sigils and effigies are revealed throughout the house. The last shot shows Peter's body, now fully possessed, being crowned as Paimon while the cult bows in worship.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- Was Annie aware of the cult's plans?
- Possible Answer: No. Her sleepwalking and trances suggest she was manipulated, not complicit. Her final moments show horror, not acceptance.
- Why did Paimon need a male host if Charlie was initially chosen?
- Possible Answer: The cult may have miscalculated, or Paimon's preference was misunderstood until Peter became the ideal vessel.
- What was the significance of the miniature models?
- Possible Answer: They symbolized Annie's futile attempt to control the narrative, mirroring the cult's literal manipulation of her family.
- Did Steve's death serve a purpose?
- Possible Answer: Yes-it removed the last rational obstacle to the cult's plans.
Themes & Symbolism
The ending reinforces themes of predestination and inherited trauma. The title Hereditary refers not just to genetics but to the inescapable legacy of Ellen's pact with Paimon. The family's suffering was never random; every tragedy, from Charlie's death to Annie's self-destruction, was a calculated move in the cult's ritual. The treehouse, a place of childhood innocence, becomes a perverse temple, highlighting how evil corrupts the familiar. The film's slow-burn dread peaks in the final moments, where hope is entirely extinguished-a hallmark of cosmic horror.
Personal Opinion
Hereditary is a masterclass in atmospheric horror, and its ending is brutally effective. Unlike many horror films that rely on jump scares, it earns its terror through psychological unraveling and inevitability. The final revelation that the family never stood a chance is devastating, and Toni Collette's performance as Annie anchors the horror in raw emotion. However, the bleakness may alienate some viewers. While I admire its uncompromising vision, the lack of catharsis or moral resolution makes it a difficult film to revisit. It's more an experience to endure than enjoy-which, in this case, is high praise.
Final Thoughts
The ending of Hereditary lingers because it refuses to offer solace. The Grahams were doomed from the start, their fates written in the cult's sigils and Ellen's betrayal. The horror isn't just supernatural but existential: the idea that our lives might be puppeteered by forces beyond comprehension. By leaving no room for hope, Aster crafts a nightmare that feels disturbingly plausible in its cruelty. Whether you love or hate the film, its ending is unforgettable.