THE INNOCENT

Milly Shapiro plays Charlie

What is it about Hereditary that makes it such a uniquely scary film?

I think what makes it really unique is it doesn’t focus on horror, it focuses on the relationships and the family drama. Because while scary things do happen, it’s not the only thing you’re watching the film for. If all the horror was taken out, it’d still be a great movie.

Charlie comes across as pretty disturbed. How would you describe her as a character?

I would describe her as... innocent and otherworldly. Because she doesn’t really understand why the world works like it does and she doesn’t really connect with other people. She’s very distant.

How did you approach that “innocence” in scenes where, for example, she’s cutting a bird’s head off?

I talked to Ari [Aster] about it and we kind of came to the conclusion that to her all the creepy things she does are just normal. She doesn’t really get the consequences of what she does. It was hard to think in that way as the character, because any normal person would be like, “Stop cutting a bird’s head off!”

Without spoiling it, what was your initial reaction to “the thing” which happens halfway through the script?

The first time I read it I audibly gasped really loudly and my dogs were really confused! I remember being so startled because it just happens so fast and it’s really unexpected. As soon as I read it I really, really wanted the part...