As a genre, horror is meant to make audiences feel uncomfortable. Whether it’s the skin-tingling suspense when viewers anticipate a terrifying scare just around the corner, or the sickening sensation elicited by a disturbing visual on screen, horror can generate some of the most visceral reactions from its audience. More importantly, it can powerfully convey whatever themes a director wishes to explore without reserve.
Stanley Kubrick’s eerie, slow-burning *The Shining*, William Friedkin’s overwhelming depiction of evil in *The Exorcist*, and John Carpenter’s groundbreaking use of prosthetics in *The Thing* all stand as shining examples of horror successfully unnerving viewers in unforgettable ways. In modern cinema, Ari Aster has embodied this approach, using the horror genre as a tool to communicate poignant yet disturbing ideas. His debut feature *Hereditary* is widely regarded as one of the best first films by any director.
Aster’s later work, *Midsommar*, was also hailed for its distressing visuals and uniquely creepy folk-horror tone. When one of television’s most famous hosts revealed what made them anxious about watching *Midsommar*, it was for a reason many wouldn’t expect. However, looking a little deeper, this reaction actually highlights one of the more subtle details contributing to *Midsommar*’s dark facade.
### Conan O’Brien Was “Upset” By the Lack of Food in *Midsommar*
Food in film can always be used to powerful effect. Sometimes it’s disgusting, as seen in *The Substance*, and other times it becomes one of the most intriguing parts of a scene—like the famous strudel in *Inglourious Basterds*. In *Midsommar*, many viewers recall the unforgettable moment when Christian (Jack Reynor) unknowingly eats a pie containing Maja’s (Isabelle Grill) pubic hair, as part of a love spell practiced in the village.
However, former late-night and Academy Awards host Conan O’Brien had a very different reason for feeling unsettled by the food in *Midsommar*.
During an interview with A24 and Letterbox for their series *The List*, O’Brien sat down with *If I Had Legs I’d Kick You* director Mary Bronstein to discuss significant films in their lives and their viewing habits. They talked about everything from the first films they ever watched to whether they would watch any movie in the immersive 4DX format.
When asked to name the “Most Stressful Movie You’ve Ever Seen,” Bronstein’s answer was straightforward—Adam Sandler and the Safdie brothers’ *Uncut Gems*. O’Brien, however, chose *Midsommar* for a very unusual reason: the sparse amounts of food on the tables during meal scenes.
O’Brien explained, “Oddly, the thing that probably stressed me the most is whenever they would have those big scenes where they put out food. There’s not enough food. And that upsets me because I come from a large family, and if I had sat there with my brothers and sisters, and they just put out some hazelnuts and some grapes, I’d have started killing people.”
### Understanding O’Brien’s Unique Reaction
At first glance, this might seem like O’Brien just being the typically relatable personality we all know him to be. Although I’m not from a large family myself, I do come from one of big eaters. I can easily empathize with the guessing game families face every year when deciding how much food to prepare—too little or too much—and how it inevitably leads to surplus.
However, there’s another way to interpret O’Brien’s reaction, one that adds depth to the overall tone *Midsommar* establishes. The scarcity of food displayed during the meal scenes subtly emphasizes how something always feels off in the film. This feeling contrasts sharply with the epic scale of the more disturbing moments, such as Dani’s (Florence Pugh) ritualistic maypole dance around the giant tower of flowers.
Moreover, the minimal food draws viewers’ attention to the meals themselves, especially to scenes like the infamous pie-eating ritual—an integral part of the story.
### A New Perspective on *Midsommar*
It’s always fascinating to discover unique reactions to acclaimed films like *Midsommar*, and Conan O’Brien’s stands out as certainly one of the most distinctive. While it’s not unreasonable to assume others might have noticed the same detail, hearing it expressed by someone of O’Brien’s stature in Hollywood highlights an often-overlooked aspect of Ari Aster’s modern classic.
In the end, this observation invites us to take a fresh look at Aster’s work and uncover deeper layers within the film’s mise en scène—details that may have slipped past many viewers during their first watch.
*Midsommar* is currently available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.
https://collider.com/conan-obrien-midsommar-upset-food/
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