The Killing of a Sacred Deer, written by Efthymis Filippou and Yorgos Lanthimos, directed by the latter

The Killing of a Sacred Deer, written by Efthymis Filippou and Yorgos Lanthimos, directed by the latter

                What an unorthodox scenario!

Nevertheless, when we consider that the Killing of a Sacred Deer is the work of Efthymis Filippou and Yorgos Lanthimos, we should reconsider

                These are the filmmakers responsible for:

                Kynodontas and The Lobster

One critic has said that the Killing is actually mainstream…when compared with the aforementioned peculiar films.

Peculiar?

                Much more than that!

               

To state the obvious, this is not everyone’s cup of team, indeed, the undersigned was not thrilled.

The critics have mostly loved this motion picture that has a Metascore on IMDB of 73, whereas this viewer would just give it 45, maybe.

Trying to make a forced, absurd joke…this film has a Sophie’s Choice moment, if in an absurd register.

Steven Murphy aka Colin Farell is a successful, adroit surgeon that makes a mistake and kills a patient.

That was Martin’s father and in the aftermath of that death, the surgeon and the sixteen year old form a strange relationship.

Strange, but not in the context of a narrative that suggests that this teenager has some outré, supernatural powers.

It is unclear why Dr. Steven is making lavish, expensive gifts and what is the reason for this abnormal bond.

One thought was that the doctor might have pedophile inclinations, but it all has to do with the day when he had operated on a patient, after he had drunk and that has affected his ability to do his job.

Martin becomes close to Kim Murphy, the daughter of Anna aka Nicole Kidman and Steven, but it might be better said that the girl has a peculiar, strong interest in the teenager that would cause such havoc in the family.

Because of his feeling of guilt, Steven accepts to come to Martin’s house, where the boy’s mother talks about the extremely beautiful hands that the doctor has and then…starts kissing them.

Furthermore, the surgeon is under pressure from the son, who keeps talking about how good looking his mother is (Alicia Silverstone) and how well they look as a couple, hence Steven must leave his family.

Steven Murphy is trying to explain that he loves his wife and children and this scenario is illusory.

Well, if you think so, your family will die!

So the script becomes both weird and frightening.

Because, if it sounds as a preposterous threat from a despondent teenager, who wants his mother to find closure and deal better with adversity and her trauma, events confirm the powers of this boy.

Evidently, if it is not a coincidence between the prophecies and occurrences.

First, the son of the family, Bob, cannot use his legs one morning and the test results show there is nothing wrong with him

Therefore, we can conclude...this is what? Witchcraft, superpowers?

Kim has the same symptoms and both children have to lay in bed, where they experience exactly what Martin has predicted or menaced.

Steven tries to kidnap and make the person responsible for all this change the fate of his family.

Then comes Sophie’s Choice- a parent has to decide what member of his family he would sacrifice…

A relative of this viewer enjoyed this movie very much, but it could be hard to find merit in a very bizarre tale.