PopHorror Let's Get Scared
What defines a horror movie? Is it how much blood is shed? How big the kill list is? How many jump scares they can pack in? To me, horror is that, but also so much more. There have been many debates over subgenres like psychological horror and questioning if they should even be even categorized in the horror category. In my humble opinion, the answer is a big fat yes. Movies such as Mother!, It Comes at Night, and The Babadook are some of the biggest ones debated by genre buffs. It seems as though if a movie makes you think or has underlying meanings, people are quick to discredit it as a horror flick. However, this is what makes our beloved genre so great. It has many layers and can fit into any other genre. Horror movies can be funny, sad, romantic… The list is endless.
I recently watched a film called The Killing of a Sacred Deer that seems to be catching quite a bit of attention and one that I think falls under the debate of whether it’s actually a horror film or not. People seem to love it or hate it. Was this film a hit or a miss for me? Let’s discuss!
This psychological thriller drama is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos who also co-wrote the screenplay with Efthymis Filippou. The cast includes Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Sunny Suljic, Raffey Cassidy, Barry G. Bernson, Bill Camp, Denise Dal Vera, and Alicia Silverstone.
Official Synopsis of The Killing of a Sacred Deer:
Steven, a charismatic surgeon, is forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart when the behavior of a teenage boy he has taken under his wing turns sinister.
What Works:
While others may find the pacing of the movie slow and boring, I found it to be marvelous and intriguing. Some may call The Killing of a Sacred Deer a slow burn, but I was captivated for the entire 2-hour run-time. The acting was obviously amazing. Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman were superior as always, and in this film, they play dysfunctional and fucked up all to well. However, for me, the real standouts in The Killing of a Sacred Deer are the ones who played the children. Raffey Cassidy (Tomorrowland) portrayed the daughter, Kim. Her acting ability really shone through. She felt so raw and real to me. You could really feel her teenage angst. One scene in particular that keeps popping up in my head, leaving me feeling awestruck, takes place with her on the stairs. She is crazy talented and I see a future Oscar nominee/winner in the future.
The brother, Bob, is played by Sunny Suljic, who will be starring in Eli Roth’s upcoming film The House with a Clock in its Walls. After watching him in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, I am really excited to see what the future will hold for him. Then we have the wonderfully disturbing Martin (Barry Keoghan: Dunkirk). He has this disturbing way of making you feel sorry for him yet hating him all at the same time. His eerie performance was outstanding and will stick with you long after the film is over. Also, there is a nice cameo by Alicia Silverstone. Her character was bizarre, entertaining, and most of all, surprising.
The more I think about it, the more messed up I find this film to be. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is one of those films that leave images stuck in your head forever. I feel that film is a cross between American Beauty and Funny Games, but with a Greek mythology spin. The lack of emotion and the coldness between every character is really what drives this film and will have you saying WTF! to yourself at least 10 times.
What Doesn’t Work:
The Killing of a Sacred Deer highly disturbed me, which is a good thing. The negative that I can see is that some people won’t understand the film, and will therefore rule it out without giving it a chance. They will tell others that it’s a pretentious piece of crap because when a film makes some people think, they wind up judging it too quickly. Don’t assume the film is bad because others don’t like it. Please decide for yourself.
Final Thoughts:
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is brutal on so many different levels and the acting is phenomenal. Writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos does not disappoint! It’s not surprising that the film made many top 20 lists for 2017. Plus, if you are a fan of Greek mythology, I think you will absolutely enjoy this movie. Check it out and let us know what you think!
