I saw over ten films at Cannes earlier this year and out of all of them this is the one I had the strongest reaction to. I hated it when I first saw it - I thought it was incredibly pretentious, mean-spirited and I hated the message it was trying to send. I was also still in shock over the final thirty minutes or so, which (at least in the cut I saw) feature one of the most horrifying and disturbing sequences I've ever seen in a film (audience members actually screamed and gasped, and quite a few walked out). But the more I think about this project the more I appreciate it. It's definitely an arthouse film through and through, and mainstream audiences will instantly be turned off by it - but the film itself is quietly disturbing and really stays with you long after watching it. The direction from Lars Von Trier is excellent, and his technique of dividing the film into different 'chapters' adds to the tension and sense of dread he wants you to experience. The visuals are equally gorgeous and haunting, starting with the shocking prologue and continuing until the chilling finale - many images present here you won't soon forget. Willem Dafoe is incredibly strong here - I found Gainsbourg over-the-top though but it fits with the character she is playing and the transition she goes through. The two actors work very well off one another and this makes the film all the more believable and disturbing. I still have many problems with it and don't agree with some of the storytelling techniques that were used (I hated the use of dead animals throughout and the symbolism each had - it was very overbearing and often came off as goofy instead of chilling), and I'm equally disapproving of the film's blatantly misogynistic tone that it takes near the final act. But there's just too much to admire here and the fact that this film still gets under my skin means it definitely had an effect on me. I don't want to spoil much for those who haven't seen it yet which is why this review is pretty vague, but it's definitely worth checking out when it's released stateside (although I honestly can't see the cut that I saw making it to U.S. cinemas without edits). B

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The segment I mentioned in this film is definitely going to become the scene it is 'known for' and will surely be the moment everyone is talking about after seeing it.

You mean the scissor scene at the end, right?

Overall the movie was pretentious crap through and through. F

thompsoncory
would you please (in spoiler tags) explain what exactly this scene is and why it's so disturbing. I don't think I'll ever get the chance to see the film but I'm intrigued by your description.

You can already download the film.

But there are a few other really gross scenes too one of them involving .

see a vagina in close up? No thanx!

The vagina seen made the audience scream...

It's horrible.

B.

LOL

.

This movie has a message?
From what I've read since I have almost no intention of seeing it, it sounds quite unrealistic and needlessly disturbing.
What is the point, really?
And the director says he was depressed, lol, I wonder why.

I meant the Vagina scene was horrible....lol.

The movie's quite great though.

There has to be a "goddess" character in every Lars von Trier's films I've seen (Bess in Breaking the Waves, Selma in Dancer in the Dark, Grace in Dogville and Mandarlay). The goddess undergoes a good deal of misfortunes during the course of the film and lives a life of sacrifice by succumbing (willingly or unwillingly) to violent and/or sexual sufferings.

Is this true of Antichrist too?

9/10 -> A-

I saw this movie a few days ago and with each passing day I like it more. It's a love or hate it movie. I don't think there's going to be any middle group for this movie. I don't really now what to say about the movie, because it definitely crawls into your skin more than it ever gives you a scene to chat about or comment with someone.

It's beautifully shot, the two actors are great. I was surprised by how much I liked it. I didn't want to see it at all because of the things I read, but a friend wanted to see it, so I said why not. I'm definitely not sorry for watching it.

chaos reigns

A huge disappointment. Well-made but pointless, IMO.

5/10 ( C )

tarkovsky

De Martino's is much better.