The Killing of a Sacred Deer Review (2017)

The Killing of a Sacred Deer 

 Yorgos Lanthimos is one of those directors that isn't afraid to push limits and make the audience uncomfortable. In fact, it seems like nothing pleases him more than making us cringe. After impressing critics everywhere with the originality of The Lobster last year, Lanthimos has hit another one out of the ballpark.
  I went into this film completely blind and I'm so glad that I did. From the very opening shot (one of the most beautiful opening shots I've ever seen) I knew I was going to absolutely love this film. Every shot by the extremely talented cinematographer Thimios Bakatakis, is slightly off, giving this sense of uneasiness in each frame.
  The Killing of a Sacred Deer draws from Greek mythology and modernizes it. To give you guys a vague synopsis: a curse is put on a family and the only way it can be stopped is if Steven Murphy (Collin Ferrell) makes an impossible decision.
  This film examines our morality and our ideas of justice, diving into the heart of man in a way that is deeply affecting, complex, and original. Another thing I really liked about the film was the dialogue. Lanthimos has this way of deconstructing dialogue in his scripts and showing us how strange our everyday small talk is when delivered in his trademark deadpan style.
  There is so much symbolism, metaphors, and religious undertones here to analyze over multiple viewings, and that is why I have to say that the Killing of a Sacred Deer is one of my favorites of 2017! Apart from the brilliant storytelling and visuals, this film also has some truly fantastic performances. Barry Keoghan (who you might remember from Dunkirk) was absolutely astonishing here, owning the physicality of his character with a maturity beyond his years. All that said, this is definitely not a movie for everyone. It's graphic, sadistic, and in no way marketed toward a commercial audience at all. However, if you are looking for something unique and 100% committed to the unconventional nature of its premise, give this artsy horror film a watch. 10 out of 10 (A Must See)