I love movies, especially when it’s the type of movie that leaves my mind completely shaken. When it comes to these, some might be difficult to watch for those who appreciate simplicity and light-heartedness within films. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) couldn’t be farther away from simple, and that is what makes it so special. I watch movies like this all the time, and although I normally wouldn’t review movies, this one truly deserves the praise.
We can’t really tell what the movie is about from the trailer or the title, and once you press play, it’s likely you will be completely lost for at least the first 30 minutes of the movie; but once you grasp what’s going on, you won’t be able to stop watching. Even if it has characteristics that are not new to the horror movie genre, The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a horror movie like you’ve never seen before. It leaves many things unexplained and presents audiences with a twisted, almost sadistic, view on the meaning of justice.
After The Lobster (2015), this is the second film directed by Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lathimos that I watch. His style is very unique, featuring a variety of one-cut scenes and a camera that tracks each character down even when they seem to be hidden. The color palette creates a dim, gloomy atmosphere, almost as if the days were always cloudy and grey. Everything in the movie seems to be numbingly normal and then, little by little, this begins to shatter.
From the beginning of the movie, there is a set mood that all the characters seem to have, almost as if they were detached from their humanity. The dialogues presented are very superficial and everyday conversations have an uncomfortably dry and awkward tone that makes them difficult to watch, leaving you on edge. Each character has a sort of eeriness to their personality and we know almost nothing about their past because the movie purposefully creates the blanks, except in the brief moments where they talk about past experiences. Even in these conversations, all of them are lies, leaving the spectator to decipher the truth.
The title’s meaning is nowhere to be found directly in the film, allowing viewers to analyze it by themselves, just like with most aspects of the movie. Overall, the film is a masterpiece, but only for those that can appreciate every one of its tiny details. If you want something that will make you sick to the stomach, but that at the same time leaves your mind in complete shock, this is the movie for you. So I suggest you make some popcorn, login to your Netflix, and start watching!