From the director of The Lobster comes The Killing of a Sacred Deer. This psychological thriller film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, written by Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou, and loosely based on the ancient Greek tragedy Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides. Dr. Steven Murphy is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who presides over a spotless household with his wife and two children. Lurking at the margins of his idyllic suburban existence is Martin, a fatherless teen who insinuates himself into the doctor's life in gradually unsettling ways. Soon, the full scope of Martin's intent becomes menacingly clear when he confronts Steven with a long-forgotten transgression that will shatter his domestic bliss forever.
By late August 2016, Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone, and Bill Camp were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and took place in Cincinnati, Ohio. The film was shot on film with the Arricam LT and Panavision Primo camera, with the Super Speed, Ultra Speed, Zeiss Master Prime and Angenieux Optimo Lenses, in the 1.85 : 1 aspect ratio. The Heart surgery scenes are real. They were filmed during an operation on a real patient who was undergoing quadruple bypass surgery which Farrell attended.
The film stars Farrell, Kidman, Keoghan, Cassidy, Suljic, Silverstone, and Camp. The cast, headed by Farrell, gave terrific performances that added to the dark, existential and surreal nature to this ultimately disturbing tale.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is definitely an acquired taste - but for viewers with the fortitude to crack through Yorgos Lanthimos' offbeat sensibilities, it should prove a savory cinematic treat. The film is an atypically rich and substantial thriller. The film is visually stunning, narratively bold, and totally singular. It opens one's eyes to a new way of storytelling. If you're open to embracing a film that declines to pander to expectations, you should definitely make a date with this film. Lanthimos forgoes easy sentiments about the transformative power of death; this may turn off some viewers, but there's a certain liberation and even some relief in knowing that societal pressure to continue existing can be just as cruel as death itself. Lanthimos's unsettling tour de force reminds us of how chained death is to both our private and public level. Highly original and mordantly terrifying. Perfect for fans of Franz Kafka, Charlie Kaufman and other bleak surrealists. A stunning story of dread that will have you internally screaming while also throwing you into an existential crisis. It is a film that fits this "genre" of features that are considered must-see because they offer some highly appreciated artistic elements but are equivalently branded "hard to watch" for one reason or another. The film is an elegant and eccentric in Lanthimos' familiar style. Though he doesn't quite deliver all the way, but he sticks his landing mightily and whets appetites for whatever he decides to do next. It is one of his most accessible and purely enjoyable film yet.
Simon says The Killing of a Sacred Deer receives:
No comments:
Post a Comment