Okay I'm currently taking a break from CV (which will continue for some time) but this is a topic about two movies I love, the latter of which I've thought a lot about, and so I will comment on this thread.
I think it's safe to say that if I was an actual victim of either cult, the Paimon Cult would be far more terrifying. And there's a few reasons for this. The first is that they are an actual supernatural cult that can summon demonic forces. Secondly, and more importantly, the Paimon Cult did not brainwash their victims like the Harga. They emotionally tormented Peter until he was vulnerable enough for possession.
That being said, from an audience member's perspective, I find the Harga far more disturbing for two main reasons. The first reason is that the Harga are a great example of how cults operate in real life in terms of brainwashing and isolating potential members from the outside world. Secondly, Aster's depiction of the Harga clearly demonstrates the allure of neofascism. I could talk a lot about this aspect of Midsommar, but I don't want to spend too much time here, so here's a great video essay that discusses it at length. I highly recommend checking it out.
Also, both are fantastic films, and Midsommar is no doubt amongst my all-time favourite films of any genre.
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