Rated: n/a (graphic sexuality and violence) | Review date: 19-Oct-2009

Lars von Trier’s “Antichrist” is a nightmarish piece of art following only two characters. Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg share the screen in this twisted dark tale about a couple losing their child, forcing the mother into a great deal of grief. Dafoe plays the therapist husband, who decides he can treat his wife’s grief better than any doctor. In short, he decides to take his wife to a cabin in the woods of Eden, in hopes to confront her fears that he believes are behind this severe grief.

As soon as the opening scene plays out, one knows it’s going to be an artistic and beautiful piece of film. The film exhibits a good deal of astounding slow-motion sequences that really give it a unique and detailed atmosphere. As soon as the film gets into the woods, it gets darker and more mysterious. Visual effects are added to certain scenes to add to the disarray felt by the characters, which also submerge the viewer into the character’s state.

The film displays some very strong graphic moments, but not without reason. The squeamish need be warned; although the graphical sequences are shot in a different manner than those of torturous horror films, they are portrayed with such realism and detail that they’re hard to shake off. Essentially these scenes come when the characters are at their most vulnerable and dark states, and used to illustrate their level of psychological ambiguity. I can’t help but notice a hint of David Lynch tones with these and the other bizarre and disturbing scenes especially; merging a nightmare world with reality.

The overall theme of the movie is based on the mother’s mental state, which has begun to take change as we see later on, as she researches the treatment of women for her thesis. The symptoms of grief amplify this state, and more so when they arrive in Eden. Charlotte Gainsbourg plays the role with such conviction, while Willem Dafoe’s equally chilling performance displays the human essence to the utmost detail. The performances are what really make this movie stand out.

Don’t expect a typical horror movie with “Antichrist.” While some of the images and themes are horrifying, the terror emitted in this film portray human existence and emotion. Combining the stunning performances with a visionary and risk-taking director, we get a dark moody tale that exposes the evils of the mind. In the end “Antichrist” was a beautifully put together work of art, with at times hard to swallow segments, that really effects the viewer mentally more so than entertainingly. While I was bothered by some of the themes in this film, I take that as a good sign that the film worked; and when combined with my admiration for the cinematography, I can’t help but appreciate the work as a whole.

Rating: 6.5 out of 7

Official site/trailer

IMDb

DVD at Amazon (UK – PAL format)

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