The creepy girl in Hereditary is Charlie Graham, played by Milly Shapiro. Charlie’s unsettling demeanor and disturbing habits contribute significantly to the film’s chilling atmosphere, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. From her unusual physical features and mannerisms to her pivotal role in the film’s terrifying plot, Charlie embodies the unsettling nature of inherited trauma and the horrors that can lurk within seemingly ordinary families. But who is Charlie, really? And what makes her so uniquely terrifying? Let’s delve into the character’s portrayal, the actress who brought her to life, and her role in the film’s intricate and disturbing plot.
Milly Shapiro: The Actress Behind the Creepiness
Before we dive into Charlie’s character, it’s essential to understand the actress who brought her to life. Milly Shapiro, a talented young actress with a background in Broadway theater, delivers a captivating performance as Charlie 1. Her ability to convey both vulnerability and eeriness is crucial to the character’s impact. Shapiro’s portrayal of Charlie is not reliant on jump scares or special effects; instead, she uses subtle facial expressions, body language, and that unforgettable tongue click to create a truly unsettling character 2.
It’s worth noting that some of Charlie’s unusual physical characteristics are related to Milly Shapiro’s real-life condition, cleidocranial dysostosis. This condition affects the development of bones, particularly in the skull and collarbone 3. While this adds another layer to the discussion of her appearance and how it contributes to the character’s unsettling nature, it’s important to approach this topic with sensitivity and avoid language that could be perceived as insensitive or exploitative.
A Deliberate Choice
Shapiro’s approach to the tongue-clicking sound, one of Charlie’s most disturbing habits, was deliberate and carefully considered. She worked closely with director Ari Aster to develop a specific click that would be both unique and unsettling for viewers 5. This attention to detail highlights Shapiro’s commitment to the role and her understanding of the character’s impact on the film’s overall atmosphere.
Charlie’s Unsettling Persona
From the moment she’s introduced, Charlie is clearly not your average child. Her large, expressive eyes, quiet demeanor, and unusual habits create an aura of unease. This is further amplified by her odd habits, such as making clicking noises with her tongue 6 and crafting disturbing toys from found objects, including animal heads 7. Charlie’s unsettling nature is heightened by her apparent lack of social skills and her inability to fully express her emotions 8.
The Tongue Clicking
One of the most memorable and unnerving aspects of Charlie’s character is the incessant clicking sound she makes with her tongue. While it might seem like a simple tic, this sound serves a deeper purpose in the film’s narrative. According to director Ari Aster, the tongue clicking is a manifestation of the demonic entity Paimon’s presence within Charlie 6. It’s a subtle yet effective way of highlighting the character’s possession and foreshadowing the terrifying events to come. This tic, combined with her often blank expression and unnerving stare, creates a sense of unease and foreshadows the darkness that lies within her.
Disturbing Toys and Artwork
Charlie’s artistic inclinations also contribute to her unsettling persona. Instead of creating typical childhood crafts, she constructs disturbing figures from discarded items and animal remains. This macabre hobby reflects her connection to the occult and foreshadows the film’s themes of death and sacrifice. Charlie’s sketchbook also plays a significant role in the film, serving as a conduit for communication with the spirit world and a visual representation of the family’s unraveling 9. As the family’s situation deteriorates, the sketchbook fills with increasingly disturbing images, including drawings of Peter being scared and crossed out, foreshadowing his eventual fate.
Chocolate and a Lack of Concern
Adding to her unsettling persona is Charlie’s love for chocolate and her seemingly careless attitude towards her nut allergy 10. This disregard for her own well-being further emphasizes her detachment from reality and foreshadows the tragic consequences of her actions.
A Glimpse into the Supernatural
In one particularly eerie scene, Charlie encounters her deceased grandmother in the woods 9. This encounter, while brief, adds to the mystery surrounding Charlie and her connection to the supernatural, hinting at the sinister forces at play in her life.
Charlie’s Pivotal Role in the Plot
Charlie isn’t just a creepy kid in the background; she’s a pivotal character in Hereditary‘s intricate and disturbing plot. Her seemingly innocent existence hides a dark secret: she has been possessed by the demon king Paimon since infancy 6. This revelation adds another layer of complexity to her character and explains her unusual behavior.
A Family Curse
Charlie’s possession is part of a larger plan orchestrated by her grandmother, Ellen, the leader of a cult that worships Paimon 7. Ellen’s goal was to bring Paimon into the family and eventually transfer him to a male host, her grandson Peter 7. To achieve this, Ellen and the cult manipulated the family, using Charlie as a temporary vessel for the demonic entity. This manipulation included subtle influences on the family’s decisions and actions, ultimately leading to Charlie’s tragic demise.
A Tragic Demise
Charlie’s death, tragically caused by an allergic reaction to nuts and a car accident, serves as a catalyst for the film’s descent into chaos and sets the stage for Paimon’s transfer to Peter 6. While driving Charlie to the hospital after she consumes cake containing nuts, Peter swerves to avoid a deer in the road, causing Charlie to stick her head out the window and be decapitated by a telephone pole marked with the cult’s symbol 11. This gruesome scene highlights the pre-planned nature of her death and the extent to which the cult was willing to go to achieve their goal. The next morning, Annie discovers Charlie’s headless body in the car, a horrifying image that further amplifies the film’s sense of dread 10.
The Changeling Child
Charlie’s role in Hereditary draws parallels to the mythical concept of the changeling, a creature that replaces a human child 12. While Charlie is not literally a changeling, her possession by Paimon transforms her into something other than human. This concept adds a layer of folklore and mythology to the film’s already complex narrative. The changeling myth also reflects societal anxieties about children with disabilities and the fear of the “other,” highlighting the discomfort and fear that Charlie evokes in those around her.
Grandmother’s Influence
Adding to the complexity of Charlie’s character is the revelation that her grandmother, Ellen, had a significant influence on her upbringing. Annie reveals that Ellen “wouldn’t let me feed you” when Charlie was a baby, suggesting a possessive and controlling relationship between grandmother and granddaughter 12. This detail further emphasizes the extent to which Charlie was manipulated and controlled by external forces, even from a young age.
Charlie’s Impact and Legacy
Charlie’s character has had a significant impact on the horror genre, solidifying her place among the most memorable and terrifying children in film history. Her unsettling presence, combined with the film’s exploration of grief, mental illness, and family trauma, creates a truly haunting experience for viewers.
A Lasting Impression
Charlie’s death scene, in particular, is both shocking and unforgettable. The suddenness and brutality of her demise leave a lasting impression, forcing viewers to confront the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of unforeseen events 10. This scene, combined with the discovery of her decapitated head, is a pivotal moment in the film, marking a turning point in the family’s descent into madness.
Psychological Trauma
Beyond the supernatural elements, Charlie’s behavior can also be interpreted as a manifestation of childhood trauma and neglect 8. Her withdrawn nature, odd habits, and lack of emotional expression could be seen as symptoms of a child struggling to cope with a dysfunctional family environment and the manipulative influence of her grandmother.
Comparisons to Other Horror Characters
While Charlie is a unique creation, she shares similarities with other creepy children in horror films. These characters tap into our primal fears of the unknown and the uncanny, reminding us that children, often seen as symbols of innocence, can also be sources of terror.
| Character | Film | Creepy Traits | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regan MacNeil | The Exorcist (1973) | Foul language, violent behavior, supernatural abilities | Represents the loss of innocence and the corruption of youth |
| Damien Thorn | The Omen (1976) | Blank stare, sinister aura, connection to the Antichrist | Embodies the fear of evil disguised as innocence |
| The Grady Twins | The Shining (1980) | Identical appearance, eerie voices, ghostly presence | Represent the uncanny and the haunting power of the past |
| Samara Morgan | The Ring (2002) | Disturbing appearance, supernatural powers, ability to curse viewers | Embodies the fear of technology and the consequences of repressed trauma |
| Esther Coleman | Orphan (2009) | Adult woman disguised as a child, manipulative behavior, violent tendencies | Represents the fear of deception and the subversion of expectations |
| Beth Raymond | One Missed Call (2008) | Ghostly appearance, haunting phone calls, ability to predict death | Embodies the fear of technology and the inevitability of mortality |
| Courtney Collins | Sinister 2 (2015) | Ghostly appearance, manipulative behavior, connection to a malevolent entity | Represents the corruption of innocence and the cyclical nature of violence |
| Pandora | Sleepy Hollow (2015-2016) | Demonic origins, manipulative behavior, supernatural powers | Embodies the fear of the unknown and the seductive nature of evil |
These characters, like Charlie, challenge our perceptions of childhood and tap into our deepest fears about the vulnerability and potential for darkness that exists within all of us.
Conclusion
Charlie Graham, the creepy girl in Hereditary, is more than just a disturbing presence; she’s a complex and tragic character who plays a crucial role in the film’s exploration of family secrets, grief, and the terrifying power of the occult. Milly Shapiro’s nuanced performance brings Charlie to life, ensuring her place among the most unforgettable and unsettling characters in horror movie history.
The film’s ending, where Peter is crowned as King Paimon in Charlie’s treehouse, surrounded by the headless corpses of his family and the chanting cult members 13, offers a chilling commentary on the cyclical nature of trauma and the inescapability of fate 7. This scene suggests that the Graham family was destined for tragedy from the start, their lives manipulated by forces beyond their control. Charlie’s tragic fate, a consequence of both supernatural manipulation and familial neglect, serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary families and the enduring power of inherited trauma.
Works Cited
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2. I think Milly Shapiro’s facial acting in Hereditary should be recognized as an all time great creepy kid performance. You can see the difference in BTS shots vs the film – she actually goes from looking like a normal kid to a haunted/disturbed child, especially in the eyes. : r/A24 – Reddit, accessed January 27, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/A24/comments/1egfojc/i_think_milly_shapiros_facial_acting_in/
3. Hereditary (2018) used an unfortunate looking little girl to creep us out. That’s her real face, is that actually cool? : r/movies – Reddit, accessed January 27, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/e7dt1v/hereditary_2018_used_an_unfortunate_looking/
4. Milly Shapiro – Wikipedia, accessed January 27, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milly_Shapiro
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8. Hereditary (2018) by Ari Aster – Cinematary, accessed January 27, 2025, https://www.cinematary.com/writing/2018/6/18/hereditary-2018-by-ari-aster
9. Hereditary (2018) KILL COUNT – YouTube, accessed January 27, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFHiKAfPpGk
10. This Disturbing Hereditary Scene Will Haunt You – Refinery29, accessed January 27, 2025, https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/06/201405/hereditary-movie-charlie-head-cut-off-car-scene
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13. Hereditary (film) – Wikipedia, accessed January 27, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary_(film)