This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Published on July 3, 2019, Midsommar, the latest horror/dark comedy/cult pagan ritual film from director Ari Aster, has left audiences stunned. The film's nearly 2.5 hour run time is a testament to Aster's ability to craft a cinematic experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
One scene that stands out in particular is the outrageous sex ritual scene near the end of the movie. The scene, which features full-frontal male nudity, drugs, and symbolic imagery, is a true showstopper. When we spoke to Jack Reynor, the movie's lead actor and focal point of the extravagant sex scene, he singled out the scene as his most notable memory during filming.
"It was pared back an awful lot for the cut that you watched—it was covered from a lot more angles, it was a lot longer, and that really was the thing that I was just like, wow, how many opportunities are you going to get in your career to shoot a scene like this? Not many," Reynor said.
Reynor's experience filming the scene was nothing short of intense. The scene was shot on their very last day of filming, making it a true culmination of the film's drama and insanity. After completing the scene, Reynor celebrated by getting 'fucking hammered drunk' on the way home.
Despite the scene's intensity, Reynor didn't let it scare him off. In fact, he's set out to do something like this in his career. "It was something that I’m glad that I did. I think it was a strong scene, and it was an experience," he said. "I’m in this business to have experiences, and to do crazy things that you don’t really do in your normal life."
