The House That Jack Built (2018)

The story follows Jack, a highly intelligent serial killer, over the course of twelve years, and depicts the murders that really develop his inner madman.

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writers:

Lars von Trier (screenplay), Lars von Trier (story)

Stars:

Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman

10 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Dillon	...	Jack
Bruno Ganz	...	Verge
Uma Thurman	...	Lady 1
Siobhan Fallon Hogan	...	Lady 2
Sofie Gråbøl	...	Lady 3
Riley Keough	...	Simple
Jeremy Davies	...	Al
Jack McKenzie	...	Sonny
Ed Speleers	...	Ed - Police Officer 2 (as Edward Spleers)
David Bailie	...	S.P.
Mathias Hjelm	...	Glenn
Ji-tae Yu	...	Man 2
Emil Tholstrup	...	Young Jack
Marijana Jankovic	...	Female Student
Carina Skenhede	...	Little Old Lady

Storyline

USA in the 1970s. We follow the highly intelligent Jack over a span of 12 years and are introduced to the murders that define Jack's development as a serial killer. We experience the story from Jack's point of view, while he postulates each murder is an artwork in itself. As the inevitable police intervention is drawing nearer, he is taking greater and greater risks in his attempt to create the ultimate artwork. Along the way we experience Jack's descriptions of his personal condition, problems and thoughts through a recurring conversation with the unknown Verge - a grotesque mixture of sophistry mixed with an almost childlike self-pity and psychopathic explanations. The House That Jack Built is a dark and sinister story, yet presented through a philosophical and occasional humorous tale.

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Plot Keywords:

severed breast | serial killer | animal mutilation | psychopath | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong disturbing violence/sadistic behavior, grisly images, language, and nudity.

Details

Official Sites:

Curzon Artificial Eye [United Kingdom] Official Facebook

Country:

Denmark France Sweden Germany Belgium

Language:

English German Italian

Release Date:

17 October 2018 (France)

Also Known As:

The House That Jack Built

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Box Office

Budget:

EUR8,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,273, 16 December 2018

Gross USA:

$258,106

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,172,763

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zentropa Entertainments, Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image, Copenhagen Film Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

152 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39:1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character with red gown "S.P." acted by "David Bailie" is a animated character of Lars Von Trier's first short movie "Turen til Squashland" when he is 11 years old.

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Goofs

In the closing credits, "Miscellaneons Crew" can be seen.

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Quotes

Verge: Why are they always so stupid?
Jack: Who's stupid?
Verge: All the women you killed, strike me as seriously unintelligent.
Jack: I've also killed men.
Verge: But you only talk about the stupid women. Unless you think all women are stupid.
Jack: Well, the stories I've told were selected at random, but...
Verge: You feel superior to women and want to brag. It turns you on, doesn't it Jack?
Jack: No, no. But women are easier, not physically, they're just easier to work with. More cooperative.
Verge: To kill, you mean?
Jack: If you like. Mr. Sophistication...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The director's cut was release in Europe and Canada with a duration of 155 mins. The US censored version is 150 min and are available in Canada and US VOD.

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Connections

Features The Element of Crime (1984)

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Soundtracks

The Four Seasons - Autumn (Violin Concerto in F Major Opus 8, No.3, RV 293)
Written by Antonio Vivaldi
Performed by Takako Nishizaki, Capella Istropolitana and Stephen Gunzenhauser

User Reviews

Murder as Art

I just saw the "one night only" screening of THTJB, and it's surprisingly good. All the press about the outrageous violence is overstated. There's blood and a scene that verges on torture porn, but the levels of violence and gore are far worse in Nymphomanic and Antichrist.

LvT winks and nods. He gives us satire. Murder as art. Architecture and engineering. Uma Thurman with a broken Jack. The jack as a weapon. Blood. Frozen pizza. Glenn Gould. "Stupid" women. Stupid cops. OCD. Luck and fate. Photography. Family. MAGA hats. Guns. A picnic. Predator and prey. Murder as art (but Verge isn't buying it). The sound of wading in water. Nazis. Jacqueline (the feminine Jack). Misogyny. In America no on can hear you scream. Full Metal Jacket. Antiquity. Hell.

I'm curious to see the R rated version of the film because I think it can benefit from some editing. Matt Dillon is fine, sometimes great. The writing struggles at times. But for once there's another LvT film I can't wait to see again.