Antichrist (2009)

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writer:

Lars von Trier (written by)

Release Date:

20 May 2009 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

When nature turns evil, true terror awaits. (UK)

Plot:

A grieving couple retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.

Plot Keywords:

Nature | Cabin | Cabin In The Woods | Woods | Grief

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Willem Dafoe	...	He
Charlotte Gainsbourg	...	She

Also Known As:

Antychryst (Poland)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Denmark | Germany | France | Sweden | Italy | Poland

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White (some scenes)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby SR

Certification:

Italy:VM18 | Sweden:15 | Denmark:15 | Norway:18 | Finland:K-18 | Poland:18 | France:-16 (with warning) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Germany:18 | Australia:R | Iceland:18 | Brazil:18 | Canada:R (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | USA:Not Rated | Spain:18 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Austria:16 | Portugal:M/18

Filming Locations:

Cologne, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

The story is divided into four chapters, "Grief", "Pain (Chaos Reigns)", "Despair (Gynocide)" and "The Three Beggars", in addition to a prologue and an epilogue, all displayed over abstract designs by Danish artist Per Kirkeby.

Quotes:

She: A crying woman is a scheming woman.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Harald Schmidt: (#4.1)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

'Lascia ch'io pianga' from 'Rinaldo'

Von Trier Masterclass

First I have to make a comment to cynibun from United States who wrote "And if you look at the previous reviewers they are from Denmark, where the director is from. Perhaps you have to be Danish to appreciate the horrific torture pornography, who knows??... Americans have more sense thankfully, and do not call everything art simply because the director is foreign." I have no idea why it should matter where the other reviewers are from. That has nothing to do with "Antichrist" as a film. Some like it and some don't, no matter what country they are from. If I don't like an American film I don't go out and bash on reviewers from America and then state that Danes have more sense - what's that all about? Sense of what? Personally I don't think it makes much sense making movies like "American Pie" or "Hannah Montana", but hey, they produce the films anyway - maybe because they have more sense. Hannah Montana makes a LOT of sense... And you don't have to come from Denmark to like "Antichrist" (though it is a very constructive statement), I'm guessing there is one or two people from Russia or Poland who likes the film also...

Back to Lars Von Trier and "Antichrist". First of all - I don't know why everybody keeps saying this film is a gore fest. "Uhhh it's so brutal, violent and extremely gory". What? Okay, there's more blood than in "Hannah Montana" but if "Antichrist" is a sick and gory film, I don't know what you would call films like "Ichi The Killer", Naked Blood", "Inside" and "Audition"? There is more blood/gore in "Se7en" than in "Antichrist" (or maybe the same amount), so I don't know what all the fuzz is about... Anyway... I loved the film!!! When I left the theater I didn't know quite what to think, but it grows and becomes better and better. It's a fantastic work of art, the cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle is amazing and the whole feel of the film is both beautiful and scary at the same time. Willem Dafoe is at his best in this one.

I guess you have to have an open mind when watching this. The film does not give any answers and is rich on symbolism - guess one could call it "experimental horror-drama". Lars Von Trier is back in his hypnotic visual style and mindfuc*ing storytelling, and this is where he is best! Not a film for the mainstream audiences, but I recommend it if you have an open mind and want something new and different, and have (almost) as much sense as Americans.