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The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) N
A surgeon has been meeting a 16-year-old boy whose father was his patient before he died. Eventually he introduces the boy to his family and everything seems to be fine. Then the surgeon's son gets sick and things take more sinister turn.
I didn't know anything about the film before watching (except the good reviews it's got) and it's the first Lanthimos movie I've seen. I was expecting a horror-drama (it's listed as a horror on the streaming service I used and I remember it being mentioned in relation to Hereditary). I suppose it's fair to say that I didn't get exactly what I expected.
The very first thing that hits me (and keeps hitting until the end) is the acting and dialogue. I don't understand why Lanthimos wants his actors to recite their lines without emotion or why the dialogue is completely insane and out of place. What's the point of turning the tragedy into (unintentional?) comedy by making skilled actors woodenly blather about water resistance of clocks or armpit hair?
I like the cinematography and soundtrack but the awkward acting and stupid dialogue ruin the whole story. I don't think tragedies benefit from generating facepalms and bursts of laughter. Maybe Lanthimos could find another signature for his films or just make comedies because he seems to visually proficient director.
All the points are for the visuals, soundtrack and few good laughs. As a tragedy the film is a failure.
A surgeon has been meeting a 16-year-old boy whose father was his patient before he died. Eventually he introduces the boy to his family and everything seems to be fine. Then the surgeon's son gets sick and things take more sinister turn.
I didn't know anything about the film before watching (except the good reviews it's got) and it's the first Lanthimos movie I've seen. I was expecting a horror-drama (it's listed as a horror on the streaming service I used and I remember it being mentioned in relation to Hereditary). I suppose it's fair to say that I didn't get exactly what I expected.
The very first thing that hits me (and keeps hitting until the end) is the acting and dialogue. I don't understand why Lanthimos wants his actors to recite their lines without emotion or why the dialogue is completely insane and out of place. What's the point of turning the tragedy into (unintentional?) comedy by making skilled actors woodenly blather about water resistance of clocks or armpit hair?
I like the cinematography and soundtrack but the awkward acting and stupid dialogue ruin the whole story. I don't think tragedies benefit from generating facepalms and bursts of laughter. Maybe Lanthimos could find another signature for his films or just make comedies because he seems to visually proficient director.
All the points are for the visuals, soundtrack and few good laughs. As a tragedy the film is a failure.