I’m going to start with some quotes here, and let’s see if you can guess which film I’m talking about. “Haters never bring it up.” Okay. “I should never have watched it.” What’s this about? “Disturbing, direct to the point, short, & weird.” Disturbing, you say? “Vulgar auteurism.” Oh, wow. Let’s get one more. “A psychopath film.” Well, that’s comforting. In fairness, these remarks could apply to any number of releases, though there’s one specific film I’m spotlighting here.
Any guesses? Well, those quotes are attached to a short film helmed by one of the most successful mainstream horror filmmakers of our era. We all know Midsommar. We all know (and love) Hereditary. Heck, even Beau is Afraid won me over, and Eddington had a lot going for it. So, yes, while Ari Aster has always been provocative, his feature-length work is still broadly accessible. Not so with his short film The Strange Thing About the Johnsons, a film so disturbing, it’s almost taboo to even talk about it. If you’re curious, it’s now streaming free. Just keep it on the quiet touch. This is between you and your ISP.
Per IMDB: A dark domestic-horror drama about the ties that bind–and the ties that really bind.
Ari Aster got his start in short films before making his feature debut with Hereditary. The Strange Thing About the Johnsons was his second short, followed later by Munchausen and The Turtle’s Head, both of which I enjoy considerably more. Because, well, while The Strange Thing About the Johnsons is provocative and groundbreaking, it’s not really something for an audience to enjoy. It’s an oddity. A dare. Something you see to say you’ve seen it, to appreciate Aster’s burgeoning filmmaking talent, and then try to forget as quickly as possible, lest it linger in the recesses of your mind for years. That’s what it’s been doing to me, despite my best efforts to shake it.
After all, the film features some suggestive, disturbing incest and violent content. Nothing explicit, and there’s nary a touch of nudity anywhere, but the incestuous implications of the eponymous familial relationship are still unrelentingly disturbing. I’m having a hard time just thinking about it. If you’re brave enough to stomach it, the short film is streaming here. Yeah, watch it below:
Ari Aster haters always forget to bring up The Strange Thing About the Johnsons
— alex lei (@alexL_E_I) April 10, 2025
What the fuck did I just watch? The Strange Thing About the Johnsons is disturbing, direct to the point, short, & weird. A good visual representation na if pwede mangyari sa babae/nanay (like some cases irl), ay pwede rin sa lalake/tatay.
— lou (@lou_samsonnn) October 26, 2025
the strange thing about the johnsons vulgar auteurism
— alice moody (@alicemoodyy) July 19, 2025
The strange thing about the Johnsons is such a weird / psychopath film .
— Don Stylo💚 (@Don_styl0) September 23, 2025
What do you think? Any plans to check the film out? If you do, let me know what you think over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
Categorized: News
