Movie Review- The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is the exact movie I wanted it to be. But, afterwards I kind of wish it wasn’t. From what I’d heard around the film after its win at the Cannes Festival for Best Screenplay, the movie completely captured the awkward, eerie atmosphere that I crave.
The performances in this movie are I n c r e d I b l e. I mean, I honestly feel like this movie’s success has to hand most of it to the actors, how erratic, enigmatic, strange and innocent they were all appearing at once. This is especially true for Barry Keoghan, who played Martin. Every time he was on screen he immediately made me feel intrigued yet uncomfortable, his facial expressions and delivery of lines constantly leaving shivers. At times this is how I also felt towards Colin Farrel’s character, yet I admit to having more sympathy for Steven. A man who made a mistake has to pay the price. This constantly left me, personally, in suspense. How unnerving these characters are. I mean, it can’t really be avoided, the sense of unease and uncomfortableness. The movie at all times building up intensity surrounding the mystery of the characters, who is playing mind games to who? The constant reminder of justice and revenge in this movie was also incredible, the theme of playing God and Devil an element I’m not alone in loving.
I wouldn’t have trusted Kim, daughter of Dr. Steven and Anna Murphy, as far as I could throw her. The time she was on screen I was seriously begging Steven to chose her (which I think is both due to the incredibly script writing and work that went into making her character as selfish (?) and craving as she was, but also due to Raffey Cassidy’s amazing performance). If you have watched the movie (or even if you haven’t, and are going to) the MP3 scene with her brother Bob... just not cool with me. Bob, on the other hand, really tugged my heart strings. Unlike the other characters, I couldn’t put my finger on his agenda. The only time he seemed to attempt to save himself was when he cut his hair off, trying to please Steven and to win him over.
Yet, even though the movie was full of its complexities, strange events, mysterious characters and more, I couldn’t help but be dissatisfied at the ending. I felt like not only was I feeling void, but the movie was. But, I have read some theories and connections to the greek play Iphigenia at Aulies by Euripides, that made the movie feel more whole and interesting.
Also, I probably shouldn’t be shocked at this anymore, but Nicole Kidman is excellent.
I feel like this entire review is messy, which is slightly annoying for my first one on this blog, and I have so much more to say than I have. But, I’m going to end there before I explode into a hot mess. I watched this movie two days ago and I wanted to plant my initial reactions and thoughts as soon as possible. I feel like this is definitely a movie to dwell on for the rest of the year.
