Robotically delivered lines, unsettling camera angles, elements of fantasy and characters that never bother asking why or how. Love it or hate it, these are the features of Lanthimos' work and I believe he has succeeded once again with his formula.
Be the kafkaesque elements of characters living in an apparently rational world filled with beings that behave very much like children precisely because of how blindly they follow abstract bureaucratic rules or the dry and satirical Roy Anderson type of humor, in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, illogic becomes plausible, guilt goes unexplained, and brutal punishment is doled out.
Constant unexpected turns in the plot often joined by an overly dramatic soundtrack (which consists mainly of baroque and classical pieces) make for a more intense ride than his previous movies, especially giving the sense of urgency the characters face. Like in The Lobster time is of the essence, unlike it though, the comical moments here are few. Do not be fooled by the colorful palette either, this is by far Lanthimos' most violent and dark movie (it has been produced by A24 afterall).
If I were to criticize anything about the movie it would have to be Nicole Kidman. Not her role nor her acting, but herself. Simply put, she does not fit the overall aesthetic of the movie, she feels out of place.
While it's true that watching characters facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible pain may seem like a weird way to spend your leisure time, I will go out on a limb here (as an attempt to reply to some of the haters in the comments as well) and say that whilst Lanthimos makes use of make-believe elements, underneath it lays realism. How different is the curse that haunts Steven's family from, let's say, cancer? - Or any other illness for that matter. What about the unhinged and disjointed family connections? How often are we also not the victims of unmeasurable irrationalities in a supposedly well reasoned society?
Maybe it's precisely the epic perspectives and narratives that allows us to best see our lives for what they truly are, a chaotic mess. In this disenchanted world of ours, not only is this movie entertaining but also a refreshing way to remind us of how far from rational life can sometimes be.
Be the kafkaesque elements of characters living in an apparently rational world filled with beings that behave very much like children precisely because of how blindly they follow abstract bureaucratic rules or the dry and satirical Roy Anderson type of humor, in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, illogic becomes plausible, guilt goes unexplained, and brutal punishment is doled out.
Constant unexpected turns in the plot often joined by an overly dramatic soundtrack (which consists mainly of baroque and classical pieces) make for a more intense ride than his previous movies, especially giving the sense of urgency the characters face. Like in The Lobster time is of the essence, unlike it though, the comical moments here are few. Do not be fooled by the colorful palette either, this is by far Lanthimos' most violent and dark movie (it has been produced by A24 afterall).
If I were to criticize anything about the movie it would have to be Nicole Kidman. Not her role nor her acting, but herself. Simply put, she does not fit the overall aesthetic of the movie, she feels out of place.
While it's true that watching characters facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible pain may seem like a weird way to spend your leisure time, I will go out on a limb here (as an attempt to reply to some of the haters in the comments as well) and say that whilst Lanthimos makes use of make-believe elements, underneath it lays realism. How different is the curse that haunts Steven's family from, let's say, cancer? - Or any other illness for that matter. What about the unhinged and disjointed family connections? How often are we also not the victims of unmeasurable irrationalities in a supposedly well reasoned society?
Maybe it's precisely the epic perspectives and narratives that allows us to best see our lives for what they truly are, a chaotic mess. In this disenchanted world of ours, not only is this movie entertaining but also a refreshing way to remind us of how far from rational life can sometimes be.
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