.Kael B. Austria

As the sun sinks behind the Santa Cruz Mountains, a group of people mill about outside the Winchester Mystery House. A white-haired man at the gates urges them to go no further, for they will likely never return. Based on the silver flask he's white-knuckling, it's safe to assume he's seen some things he'd prefer to forget.

The moments depicting drug use initially allude to Paddy Brethnach's Shrooms, with hallucinogens becoming the film's catalyst. But Aster's subtle, unnerving visions imitating a psychedelic trip are executed so the drugs don't play too big of a role or steal the show. If anything, the psilocybin trips provided a few lighter moments in this summer's most terrifying film.