The Killing of a Sacred Deer
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''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' is a 2017 psychological horror
thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...
directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman,
Barry Keoghan Barry Keoghan ( ; born 18 October 1992) is an Irish actor. He is known for his roles on screen, appearing in independent films and blockbuster films. In 2020, he was listed at number 27 on ''The Irish Times'' list of Ireland's greatest film act ...
,
Raffey Cassidy Raffey Camomile Cassidy (born 12 November 2001) is an English actress. She has had roles in films including ''Snow White and the Huntsman'' (2012), ''Mr Selfridge'' (2013), ''Tomorrowland'' (2015) and ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' (2017). Ea ...
,
Sunny Suljic Sunny Suljic (; born August 10, 2005)16 is an American actor and skateboarder. He is known for his roles as Bob in Yorgos Lanthimos's 2016 drama ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' and as the voice and motion capture actor for Atreus, the son of Kra ...
,
Alicia Silverstone Alicia Silverstone ( ; born October 4, 1976) is an American actress. She made her film debut in the thriller ''The Crush (1993 film), The Crush'' (1993), earning the 1994 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and gained further prom ...
, and
Bill Camp Bill Camp (born 1963/1964) is an American actor. He has played supporting roles in many films such as ''Lincoln'' (2012), '' Compliance'' (2012), '' 12 Years a Slave'' (2013), '' Love & Mercy'' (2015), '' Loving'' (2016), ''Molly's Game'' (2017) ...
. The screenplay by Lanthimos and
Efthymis Filippou Efthymis Filippou ( gr, Ευθύμης Φιλίππου, ; born 18 January 1977) is a Greek screenwriter, known for his collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos. He was the winner of the Golden Osella Award for Best Screenplay at the 68th Venice ...
was inspired by the ancient Greek tragedy '' Iphigenia in Aulis'' by
Euripides Euripides (; grc, Εὐριπίδης, Eurīpídēs, ; ) was a tragedian Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful e ...
, and follows a cardiac surgeon who introduces his family to a teenage boy with a connection to his past, after which they mysteriously begin to fall ill. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in the main competition section of the
2017 Cannes Film Festival The 70th Cannes Film Festival took place from 17 to 28 May 2017, in Cannes, France. Spanish film director and screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar was the President of the Jury for the festival and Italian actress Monica Bellucci hosted the opening and ...
. It was theatrically released in the United States by
A24 A24 is an American independent entertainment company that specializes in film and television production, as well as film distribution. It is based in New York City. A24 was founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges. Pr ...
on 20 October 2017, and in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Curzon Artificial Eye on 3 November. Critical response to the film was mostly positive, and it grossed over $7 million worldwide.


Plot

After performing an
open heart surgery Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to corr ...
, Steven Murphy, a
cardiothoracic surgeon Cardiothoracic surgery is the medical speciality, field of medicine involved in surgery, surgical treatment of organs inside the thoracic cavity — generally treatment of conditions of the heart (heart disease), lungs (pulmonology, lung disease) ...
in
Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
, goes to a diner to meet 16-year-old Martin Lang, whose father died a few years earlier. Murphy then goes home to his wife, Anna, and their children, Kim, who is 14, and Bob, who is younger. Steven invites Martin to meet his family, and Martin gets along with everyone, especially Kim. That night, Martin calls to say he has already told his mother that Steven is coming to dinner the following evening. Martin insists Steven stay to watch
a movie ''A Movie'' (styled as ''A MOVIE'') is a 1958 experimental collage film by American artist Bruce Conner. It combines pieces of found footage taken from various sources such as newsreels, soft-core pornography, and B movies, all set to a score ...
after the meal, but he leaves partway through to go to bed, and his mother gets amorous with Steven. She says Martin wants it as much as she does, and Steven leaves. Martin visits Steven's office, complaining of chest pain he worries is caused by the same condition that killed his father. The
tests Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
Steven runs show nothing wrong, and Martin invites Steven over again, saying his mother finds Steven attractive, but Steven responds that he is happy with his family. After this, Martin's demands for Steven's attention grow increasingly frequent and desperate, and Steven stops responding. He is troubled when Kim tells him that Martin gave her a ride home. One morning, Bob says he cannot move his legs, so Steven and Anna rush him to the hospital. He recovers during his examination and is sent home, but then relapses and is admitted while more tests are done. Martin visits Bob and talks with Steven to explain that, to "balance things" for his father's death, which occurred in Steven's operating room, Steven must kill either Bob, Kim, or Anna, or else, within a few days, they will all die after becoming paralyzed, refusing to eat, and bleeding from the eyes. Steven has Martin escorted from the hospital and is troubled to see Bob refusing to eat. Bob's condition does not improve, but no cause can be found. Kim, who has fallen in love with Martin, collapses and is also hospitalized. She chokes when Steven tries to make her eat, and she and Bob are given feeding tubes. Steven admits his true history with Martin to Anna, as well as that he had two drinks before operating on Martin's father. After witnessing Kim stand up when Martin tells her to do so over the phone and become paralyzed again when he hangs up, Anna is convinced that Martin has some sort of power, so she visits him to ask why she and her children should suffer for Steven's mistake. He says it is the closest thing that he can think of to justice. Eventually, Kim and Bob are sent home. When Anna castigates Steven for both causing and not solving their predicament, he kidnaps Martin and ties him up in his basement. He beats Martin and shoots him in the leg, but Martin is not intimidated. The children argue over whom their father will choose to kill and try to curry his favor. Steven asks the school principal which of his children is "best". Anna tends to Martin's wounds and brings the children to see him, but fails to elicit any sympathy. She then tells Steven that he should kill one of the children, not her, because she can have another child. Kim fails to persuade Martin to heal her so they can run away together and then tells Steven how much she loves her family and offers her life to save theirs. Finally, hopeless, Anna releases Martin. When Bob begins bleeding from his eyes, which Martin said would happen a few hours before death, Steven places him, Kim, and Anna in a circle, bound with duct tape, and covers their heads. Steven pulls a woolen hat over his face, spins around, and fires a rifle. He narrowly misses Kim and Anna, but the third shot kills Bob. Some time later, Martin, his face still somewhat bruised, enters the diner where he and Steven used to meet. The remaining Murphys are inside and promptly leave. Martin watches as they go. Steven avoids his gaze, Anna shoots him an icy glare, and Kim, who is healed, glances back before walking out the door.


Cast

* Colin Farrell as Steven Murphy * Nicole Kidman as Anna Murphy *
Barry Keoghan Barry Keoghan ( ; born 18 October 1992) is an Irish actor. He is known for his roles on screen, appearing in independent films and blockbuster films. In 2020, he was listed at number 27 on ''The Irish Times'' list of Ireland's greatest film act ...
as Martin Lang *
Raffey Cassidy Raffey Camomile Cassidy (born 12 November 2001) is an English actress. She has had roles in films including ''Snow White and the Huntsman'' (2012), ''Mr Selfridge'' (2013), ''Tomorrowland'' (2015) and ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' (2017). Ea ...
as Kimberly "Kim" Murphy *
Sunny Suljic Sunny Suljic (; born August 10, 2005)16 is an American actor and skateboarder. He is known for his roles as Bob in Yorgos Lanthimos's 2016 drama ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' and as the voice and motion capture actor for Atreus, the son of Kra ...
as Robert "Bob" Murphy *
Alicia Silverstone Alicia Silverstone ( ; born October 4, 1976) is an American actress. She made her film debut in the thriller ''The Crush (1993 film), The Crush'' (1993), earning the 1994 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and gained further prom ...
as Martin's Mother *
Bill Camp Bill Camp (born 1963/1964) is an American actor. He has played supporting roles in many films such as ''Lincoln'' (2012), '' Compliance'' (2012), '' 12 Years a Slave'' (2013), '' Love & Mercy'' (2015), '' Loving'' (2016), ''Molly's Game'' (2017) ...
as Matthew Williams * Barry Bernson as Dr. Larry Banks * Herb Caillouet as Ed Thompson (Hospital Director) * Denise Dal Vera as Mary Williams * Drew Logan as Principal * Michael Trester as Elderly Man * Ming Wang as Doctor (Abdominal)


Production

On 11 May 2016, it was announced that Farrell had been cast in the film, with Lanthimos directing from a screenplay he wrote with Filipou, and
Film4 Productions Film4 Productions is a British film production company owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The company has been responsible for backing many films made in the United Kingdom. The company's first production was ''Walter'', directed by ...
and
Element Pictures Element Pictures is an Irish film studio, cinema and television production company
producing. Kidman was cast that June, and Silverstone, Cassidy, Camp, Keoghan, and Suljic joined the project in August. By 23 August 2016, the film had begun
principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...
at The Christ Hospital in
Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
. Shooting also took place in the
Hyde Park Hyde Park may refer to: Places England * Hyde Park, London, a Royal Park in Central London * Hyde Park, Leeds, an inner-city area of north-west Leeds * Hyde Park, Sheffield, district of Sheffield * Hyde Park, in Hyde, Greater Manchester Austra ...
and Northside neighborhoods of the city.


Release

In May 2016,
A24 A24 is an American independent entertainment company that specializes in film and television production, as well as film distribution. It is based in New York City. A24 was founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges. Pr ...
acquired the film's U.S. distribution rights and Haut et Court acquired the French distribution rights. The film had its world premiere on 22 May 2017 at the
70th Cannes Film Festival The 70th Cannes Film Festival took place from 17 to 28 May 2017, in Cannes, France. Spanish film director and screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar was the President of the Jury for the festival and Italian actress Monica Bellucci hosted the opening and ...
, where Lanthimos and Filippou won the
Best Screenplay Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...
award. It began its theatrical release on 20 October 2017 in the United States, and on 3 November 2017 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.


Reception


Critical response

On
review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
website
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
, the film has an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of ; the website's "critics consensus" reads: "''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' continues director Yorgos Lanthimos' stubbornly idiosyncratic streak—and demonstrates again that he is a talent not to be ignored." On
Metacritic Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' was named "one of the best horror movies of the year" by Joey Keogh of Wicked Horror, who called it "horror in its purest, most distilled form, freed from the shackles of jump scares or exposition." Keogh wrote that Keoghan is the film's "ace card", giving "his best, most self-assured performance to date" as Martin, the "supremely frightening yet weirdly charismatic creation who makes even the act of eating spaghetti seem terrifying." Zhuo-Ning Su of Awards Daily wrote that the film is "less complex than anthimos'sprevious work but engrosses and unsettles all the same", adding that it "palpably improves" in its second hour. While praising the cast, particularly Kidman, Su added that Keoghan "shines brightest as the plain but charismatic boy who's somehow not quite right", calling his performance "vivid" and "fully realised". In a mixed review, Nicholas Bell of ION Cinema wrote that the "mysterious, highly metaphorical" film, which he compared to "something from the Old Testament", "finds the director getting a bit too hung up on his own idiosyncrasies." He also criticized Lanthimos's and Filippou's "overtly precise dialogue", which he felt "straitjacketed" the actors, but he praised director of photography Thimios Bakatakis and the "eerie" score. Bell summarized the film as "interesting, but a bit too ambiguous to remain as uncomfortably off-putting as it hopes". Trace Thurman gave the film a five-star review in
Bloody Disgusting Bloody Disgusting is an American multi-media company, which began as a horror genre-focused news site/website specializing in information services that covered various horror medias, including: film, television, video games, comics, and music. ...
, saying it would be "the most unsettling film you see this year" and giving particular credit to Lanthimos's direction and Bakatakis's cinematography, which he said give the film a "surreal, otherworldly quality". Thurman also praised the cast, writing that Farrell and Kidman "deliver their lines with a stilted coldness that sends chills up the spine", and calling the younger actors "equally impressive, with Keoghan being the standout. He gives an eerie performance that you believe to be that of a psychopath". Also writing for Bloody Disgusting, Benedict Seal gave the film a one-star review, stating that it had "none of the escalating intrigue and tension" of '' The Gift'' and ''
The Witch A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft. Witch, WITCH, or variations thereof may also refer to: Animals * Witch (lefteye flounder) (''Arnoglossus scapha''), a Pacific flatfish * Witch (righteye flounder) (''Glyptocephalus cynoglossus''), a Euro ...
'', both released in 2015. Seal added that the film plays out "mechanically" after the reveal in the middle and said the visuals were "striking at times" but became "monotonous and garish", before summing up the film as "the biggest bum note yet from one of the most overrated directors in the art-house world" and "an epic embarrassment".


Accolades


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Killing of a Sacred Deer, The 2017 films 2017 horror thriller films 2017 psychological thriller films 2017 thriller drama films 2010s horror drama films 2010s psychological drama films 2010s psychological horror films British horror drama films British horror thriller films British psychological thriller films British thriller drama films 2017 independent films English-language Irish films Filicide in fiction Film4 Productions films Films about curses Films about dysfunctional families Films about surgeons Films based on works by Euripides Films directed by Yorgos Lanthimos Films set in Cincinnati Films shot in Cincinnati Films shot in Kentucky Irish horror thriller films Irish thriller drama films Modern adaptations of works by Euripides Fiction about sacrifices Works based on Iphigenia in Aulis 2010s English-language films 2010s British films