My first reviewed Lanthimos: THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

From the director of Dogtooth & The Lobster comes another weird, 

whacky & wicked concept.

Unravelling its plot with patience, 

with an air of mystery & a sense of foreboding, 

infused with a warped sense of humour, 

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a crazy, demented & uncomfortable psychological horror

 that’s consistently engaging, 

thoroughly unnerving 

& fiendishly amusing.

The story follows a cardiac surgeon 

who secretly develops a deep & empathetic bond with a teenage boy, 

acting as a father figure to the young kid with whom he shares a past connection. 

The two even invite each other to meet their respective families 

and all appears to be going well for the time being. 

Things, however, take an unexpected turn 

when one of the surgeon’s kids falls mysteriously ill one day, 

but if he is to save his family, he must confront a past mistake and make an unthinkable sacrifice.

Co-written & directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, 

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is as bizarre as his previous works.

 Lanthimos takes his time to set up the premise.

He focuses on establishing the secretive relationship between the surgeon & the young kid 

without offering any details about the origin of their bond.

 Nevertheless, an uneasy feeling is detectable in those moments, clearly conveying that something is about to go wrong.

The script packs a simple, straightforward revenge plot 

but what makes it such an intriguing sit 

is its peculiar tone & ominous vibe. 

Character interaction is zany, lines are spoken with deadpan expression, 

and it brims with a discomforting quality. 

Its eccentric wit is another element that makes you laugh & feel disgust at the same time. 

It has a very polished look & feel. 

Cinematography encapsulates the film with a sinister atmosphere.

Camera is manoeuvred in a very controlled fashion.

Its use of colour palette & excellent lighting is worth a mention as well. 

Editing keeps things tense & gripping throughout its 121 minutes runtime.

The film features a faithful cast in Collin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic & Alicia Silverstone, and all of them play their idiosyncratic characters with sincerity. 

On an overall scale, 

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is as fascinating & compelling as it is disturbing & surreal. 

The film is not without its shortcomings though, f

or there are moments that linger on longer than required,

 and few dialogues exist only for their effect instead of serving the plot.

 I found it more accessible & involving than Lanthimos’ last film which for me was dull & sterile. 

Those who are familiar with the director’s filmography know what to expect. 

As for the newcomers, they are in for a hellacious ride too. 

A deranged, haunting & upsetting delight, The Killing of a Sacred Deer is worth your time .

giulia dobre