The Killing of a Sacred Deer
dir. Yorgos Lanthimos · 2017
The experience of being alive often involves confronting the consequences of one's actions and the moral dilemmas that arise from them.
"The Killing of a Sacred Deer" is a haunting exploration of guilt and moral complexity, where the lines between familial love and sacrifice blur in a chilling narrative that demands a harrowing choice. With its stark visual style and unsettling atmosphere, this film invites viewers to confront the darker aspects of human nature.
After the untimely death of 16-year-old Martin's father on the operating table, little by little, a deep and empathetic bond begins to form between him and the respected cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Steven Murphy. At first, expensive gifts and then an invitation for dinner will soon earn the orphaned teenager the approval of Dr Steven's perfect family, even though right from the start, a vague, yet unnerving feeling overshadows Martin's honest intent. And then, unexpectedly, the idyllic family is smote by a fierce and pitiless punishment, while at the same time, everything will start falling apart as the innocents have to suffer. In the end, as the sins of one burden the entire family, only an unimaginable and unendurable decision that demands a pure sacrifice can purge the soul. But to find catharsis, one must first admit the sin.
