New Horror Film 'Midsommar' Criticized for Its Portrayal of Bipolar Disorder
Editor's Note
This article contains spoilers for the horror film “Midsommar.”
If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.
If you love horror movies, a trip to a “sinister, dread-soaked nightmare” pagan commune in a faraway land may be the terrifying escape you need. For many viewers, however, the real horror of the film “Midsommar” was how it portrayed bipolar disorder.
• What is Bipolar disorder?
Written and directed by Ari Aster, “Midsommar” follows Dani (Florence Pugh), a psychology graduate student, and her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor). While Christian wanted to use his anthropology research trip to Sweden as an excuse to dump Dani, he ends up bringing her along to study a remote Swedish village and pagan commune.
Christian’s change of heart comes in the first 10 minutes of the film after Dani’s sister, who has bipolar disorder, murders their parents and then dies by suicide. “Midsommar” was quickly criticized by viewers on social media for its stigmatizing, dangerous and problematic portrayal of bipolar disorder in the film.
“Really disappointed that @MidsommarMovie decided to use my same bipolar disorder diagnosis as a lazy story writing plot device,” Alice Elizabeth Boyd tweeted. “Bipolar is severely misunderstood and already struggles with immense stigmatisation.”
Really disappointed that @MidsommarMovie decided to use my same bipolar disorder diagnosis as a lazy story writing plot device. Bipolar is severely misunderstood and already struggles with immense stigmatisation. #mentalhealth #bipolar #Midsommar
— Alice Elizabeth Boyd ????????????️???? (@AliceEBoyd) July 6, 2019
Others added their thoughts on Twitter as well:
I very much enjoyed Midsommar but I don’t fully get why the sister had to be bipolar? What did that have to do with anything? It wasn’t an accurate reason for her actions because that’s not how bipolar people act anyway???
— BURY THE LEDE COMIC OUT OCT 8 ????️???? (@gabydunn) July 15, 2019
Just finished watching Midsommar and have many thoughts but mainly felt the first 10-15 minutes was v problematic from a mental illness perspective. The portrayal of bipolar disorder just feels like a major step back, fuelling further stigma for ppl living with it.
— Tasha Hinde (@tashahinde) July 10, 2019
not a spoiler, or if it is I wish I had known going in, but jk the worst part of midsommar was actually the treatment of disabled people + bipolar disorder! the awful bipolar portrayal is only relevant for the first 15(?) mins but Oof It’s 2019 How About We Not
— Kels (@KelseyPhalen) July 9, 2019
I haven’t really seen anyone mention this but I really didn’t like the depiction of bipolar in Midsommar. I’m still processing everything, but god I wish someone had warned me.
— Catherine Garbinsky (@mrsgrrrbinsky) July 13, 2019
speaking of midsommar though it would be cool if filmmakers didn’t keep using “bipolar” as a blanket term to describe anyone who commits a random violent act whose behavior they don’t feel like actually taking the time to explain in the movie they wrote. could be cool, just sayin
— rachel claire (@rachie_claire) July 11, 2019
we should address the shitty thing Midsommar did at one point by making it so a bipolar woman committed a murder suicide and that was the explanation for it. That she’s bipolar.
— roxana (@roscemi) July 9, 2019
???? SPOILER ALERT MIDSOMMAR ????
Why did it have to start with a bipolar character committing murder/suicide?
Seriously unnecessary character trait that further stigmatizes people with bipolar disorder.
— Well… (@alynes) July 14, 2019
Surprised I haven’t seen more guff about the truly wack bipolar stuff in MIDSOMMAR. Representations of mental illness have a troubled history in horror, but to use a bipolar character in that way, in what amounts to a shocking plot device and nothing more, feels v irresponsible
— Kevin Marus (@kevbot30002) July 11, 2019
Still processing the whole movie, but I will say this: The opening of Midsommar is incredibly irresponsible, inaccurate and exploitative in its supposedly depiction of bipolar disorder. I’m sick of seeing suicide SHOWN ON SCREEN as a plot point for simple shock value.
— Katie Waldron (@drainladyspeaks) July 7, 2019
As viewers pointed out online, portraying people with mental illness as violent perpetuates stigma with real-world consequences. In a 2006 study, for example, researchers found viewers exposed to mental illness stereotypes were more likely to support criminalizing people with mental illness. About a third of people with mental illness included in the study said loved ones acted differently around them following negative media coverage.
People with mental illness rarely commit violent crimes but are 10 times more likely to be a crime victim compared to the general population. Those living with bipolar disorder also have a higher risk of dying by suicide as opposed to hurting others. Negative portrayals of mental illness in film and TV can prevent people from seeking help, which The Mighty’s Mental Health Editor Juliette Virizi discussed in her article, “How ‘American Horror Story’ Profits Off Mental Health Stereotypes“:
The way horror films depict psychiatry is such a big deal because these stereotypes don’t stay confined to the film genre. People carry these stereotypes with them — whether they realize it or not — and it can have an effect on help-seeking behavior.
“Midsommar” director Aster focused on mental illness in his previous horror film “Hereditary,” which was released in 2018 and stars Toni Collette, best known for her role in “United States of Tara,” a TV series about living with dissociative identity disorder (DID). The plot of “Hereditary” centered around a family with inherited mental health conditions, and some fans questioned its portrayal of mental illness as well.
Advocates work to bring more accurate information about people living with mental health issues, but as Twitter users pointed out, “Midsommar” is evidence that mental health stereotypes are still alive and well in the horror genre.
“Mental illnesses like bipolar, psychosis, and personality disorders are CONSTANTLY being used as validation for dangerous characters in horror films,” Ana tweeted, adding:
Not only is this factually incorrect, but it really doesn’t help with the stigmatization of these issues. People with these types of disorders are way more likely to hurt themselves than the people around them. Also speaking from personal experience, I have never once felt unsafe around my friends with bipolar. To portray someone who is ill as a murderer was fucked up in Midsommar.
People with these types of disorders are way more likely to hurt themselves than the people around them. Also speaking from personal experience, I have never once felt unsafe around my friends with bipolar. To portray someone who is ill as a murderer was fucked up in Midsommar.
— ana (@apathetic_ana) July 12, 2019
The Mighty has reached out to Ari Aster for comment and has yet to hear back.
Header image via “Midsommar” Facebook page
Renée Fabian was the features editor at The Mighty. She has also written for The Washington Post, VICE, Healthline, Talkspace, The Fix, The Establishment, The Culture Trip, and GRAMMY.com, among others. Renée was named a 2019 AHCJ Comparative Effectiveness Research fellow, a 2020 USC Center for Health Journalism California fellow, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. You can follow her on Twitter @ryfabian.
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