By Faiza Qureshi
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
WHOAAAA! What a way to start a film! Open heart surgery!
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a new take on the old Greek tragedy of Agamemnon and Artemis, in which the latter demands the former’s daughter’s life after Agamemnon accidentally snuffs out a sacred deer and offends Artemis, who just so happened to be the Goddess who could guarantee him the safe passage he needs to get to Troy.
Cut to modern day, and an odd young kid, Michael (Barry Keoghan), having befriended Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell), who was the heart-surgeon who held the knife when Michael’s dad died (are you following?), assumes the part of the slighted queen. Michael’s revenge is to worm his way into Murphy’s life, and slowly destroy it with a curse on his two children. First his young son, Bob (Sunny Suljic), is paralysed, then his 16 year old daughter, Kim (Raffey Cassidy), having fallen – somewhat unbelievably – in love with the tortured and deranged Michael. The upshot of the curse is that Michael demands that Murphy kills either of his children in order for it to be lifted.
This film can be described as many things, and uncomfortable, creepy and bizarre, are a few of them. It is disturbing indeed. Nicole Kidman, as Murphy’s wife, Anna, goes against all previous castings and is as disturbed(ing) as the rest of the cast in this odd-ball thriller. Keoghan leaves the viewer truly uncomfortable with his portrayal of Michael, calm under the brutality of the torturous Murphy trying to save his family, while, Kidman aside, the rest of the cast play in support of his character. Kidman, Keogh and Farrell all deliver solid performances, and as difficult as the film is to watch, it has its moments, disturbing as they may be.
However, overall I’m not a huge fan. In a similar vein to Man Bites Dog, this film draws you into the violence, then leaves you wondering how you got there.