The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Stars: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan
Runtime: 121 minutes

Synopsis: 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.

Performances: 10/10
Screenplay: 10/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10

Verdict: Based on Euripides' Greek tragedy "Iphigenia at Aulis", "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" is unlike any movie I've ever experienced. It's disturbing yet funny, unnerving yet intriguing. The balance between dark humor and psychological horror is one perfected by Yorgos Lanthimos, whose vision on justice and responsibility will send shivers down your spine. From the very first interaction, it's made clear that the characters and dialogue are all over-the-top caricatures of what they are meant to represent, but that never took away from the seriousness of the tone. In fact, it only helped emphasize the surreal atmosphere surrounding the events and the themes tackled within it. None of them felt two-dimensional in the least, quite the opposite, and that it thanks to extremely subtle performances by a cast in which Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman and Barry Keoghan played their roles perfectly. "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" makes for a unique experience that will leave you in a state of reflection for a long time. It may not be everybody's cup of tea, especially for those looking for a horror film that follows a specific formula, but for those who are in the mood for an engaging, metaphorical and bizarre psychological thriller, then this one's a must.

FINAL GRADE: 9/10