The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Wow. This movie is great. it is sick. It is disturbing. But also, it is great. Probably one of the best movies of this year, most definatley one of the top 10 candidates. But also so hard to describe without spoilering that I won't even get into it. Just this much: It's a movie about dark secrets, revenge, blackmail and some strange notion of justice.

The story is especially in the beginning, totally strange, and only after some time you'll start to understand who's who and what's happening. However, from the first moment on you get the notion of "something's not right", which is conveyed in so many ways - the dialogues, the way the people talk with each other, the strange relations they have. There is also some small symbolism to find, but not as much as with other movies of this kind, e.g. Nocturnal Animals.

The storytelling is absolutely great, the movie is totally atmospheric and unsettling from the first scene onwards - I mean, wow was that intro intense - classical music, church-themed, and the close up of an open beating hearth at an operating table - uncomfortably long, hard to look at, even harder to look away. Cut. Discarding of rubber gloves and the scrubs from the operation. Cut. Mundane dialogue of the two doctors that walk down a frightening and disturbing looking long corridor, with the camera being far away and moving in the same pace as the two doctors. Cut.

Especially the camera is also quite interesting - it doesn't matter which scene, which shot, which setting - somehow it is always frightening and unsettling. Wow. What great skill in this shootings. The soundtrack is also absolutely strange and uncomfortable - switching from the imperfect singing of a child that in its way is totally scary (see the trailers), to classical music to a soundtrack that is absolutely grotesque and that bears a lot of resemblance to the soundtrack of the Hannibal series.

The cast is great as well - we have Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman who are absolutely great - but the star is probably Berry Keoghan, who is creepy as hell.

After watching this movie you'll feel the urge to discuss it with other people and it'll keep you occupied for hours and days afterwards (at least if you are open to such thoughts about movies and their meanings) - and this is something that I love in movies - there are many ways a movie can be really good. But to be a great movie it'll have to keep me occupied with it. This one does, so it's already clear that I'll consider it to be a great movie. It is however not for everyone. I think it can be best categorized with movies such as Nocturnal Animals, Enemy or mother! - if you loved those, you'll probably also like this one. If you, however hated those, I don't see any chance for you liking this one.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer will keep you questioning what is happening the entire movie, then leave you wondering what you just watched. There are no happy endings here, or even happy moments - just downward spiral into a pitch black, gripping story with a multitude of layers to peel back. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a fascinating ride through psychological torment.

Would have been a 10, if not for one thing: Lanthimos does not understand tragedy. It is not a catharsis, as was the goal of this film; but, rather, an integration of the Apollonian and Dionysian. Indeed, as far as the film goes, in this regard, it tends towards the former over the latter – not a fault, per se; though one wishes that Iphigenia was killed instead of the accidental deer.

Yorgos Lanthimos is a genius. The eerie story of a young boy's relationship with a doctor and his family unfolds into one of the most unusual and gripping films you will ever see. This film will stay with you long after you see it. Gripping performances by the entire cast. The lead role is played masterfully by Barry Keoghan. Nicole Kidman is captivating.

"A surgeon never kills a patient. An anaesthesiologist can kill a patient, but a surgeon never can".

"The Killing of a Sacred Deer" is a mixture of horror, comedy, thriller, and mystery all wrapped up in one bizarre, but brilliant crafted film. Even when you don't fully follow what going on, it at least keeps you interested and engaged. The audience reaction to this was the highlight. Everyone cringed at the brutal parts.

Unpredictable is the best compliment I can say. I literally had no idea where it was going and kept surprising me with each scene. I'm kinda lost words with this one. This is me still progressing.

The score was brilliant. Having this blast of a roar which shook up the room and was really eerie. The intensity continues to grow as the film moves on, but has it's fair of moments for dark humor. Even the camera work had a Stanley Kubrick vibe.

This might be my favorite film from Yorgos Lanthimos.

Yorgos attempts a Kubrick and succeeds beyond belief.
This is one of those films people rewatch and realise is flawless.

I'm giving this a "9" (Superb) rating on here only because of (what I consider) its merits as a psychological thriller. The storyline was definitely twisted, and the entire creepy feeling from start to finish (sit all the way through the ending credits; there are no "Easter egg" surprises but the lack of a musical score combined with the eerie silence just adds to the entire bizarre feeling of this film) was superb for what it was: a psychological thriller. I had seen this listed several years ago on some weird list of "horror" movies, and while this certainly has a dark feeling and some horrific parts to it, this is not what I would consider "horror". I have to give major props, though, to Colin Farrell: I've seen him in other movies and watching him with the stiff, formal dialogue was amazing. I don't know how he pulled that off but the entire thing - the bizarre conversations, the completely emotionless relationships, EVERYTHING - just added to this being one of the weirdest - and most unnerving - films I've sat through. Make no mistake: it wasn't "scary" (at least, not to me) in the slightest; it was just downright WEIRD. You keep waiting for something to happen but nothing does. Nothing EVER happens. At least, not the way you would expect it to in any conventional film. Take it from me: _The Killing of a Sacred Deer_ is anything but conventional...even its title. This was my second time to watch it and I'm glad I did because all I could remember from the first time was the weird "Martin" (played beautifully by Barry Keoghan) and that scene from the front seat of the SUV. (You'll know what I'm talking about.) Everything else was completely "new" to me and I remembered nothing about it so watching it this time was far, FAR more memorable. If you're a fan of "horror" movies - as in _Texas Chainsaw Massacre_ or _Saw_, etc - don't look for that kind of "horror" here. This is an extremely unsettling movie but there's very little bloodshed (and no gore) here; this just sort of mangles your mind and leaves you twisting in the wind. For what it was, I would call this superb...but definitely not for everyone.

_The Killing of a Sacred Deer_ made me feel like I'd crashed a cool party where I didn't know anyone. The party was fascinating and I left having enjoyed it, but not in any way I understood.

As with the director's previous films, Dogtooth and The Lobster, this is driven by a deliciously dark narrative, with off-kilter performances from an accomplished cast. Not for everybody's tastes, but attune yourself to the strange directorial style, and you may become as absorbed in the film as I was.