Antichrist

Whenever a shocking film with intense scenes is released, people always claim the director is disturbed. It's so absurd. I haven't seen the movie myself, but this type of criticism is nothing new. Open your mind and realize that films like this will always be around!

Being told by a 13-17 year old to open my mind... that's something! I've probably seen far more independent and shocking films than you in my lifetime, but when you see this movie (if you meet the age requirement, of course!), I'm quite certain your critique will match mine (unless you're someone who cries "masterpiece" when they don't understand anything). It's not about being open-minded, but about common sense and taste. I'm well aware that movies like this will keep being made, which is why I watch them regularly and support this industry. Sadly, Antichrist is just bad. Can you accept that I simply don't like a film? Is my opinion so bothersome to you that you need to write to me (a complete stranger!) even though you haven't even watched it yourself? If that's the case, your Saturday nights must be incredibly dull. And incidentally, a director creating a "modern adaptation" of Adam and Eve, feeling justified in including "aggressive" scenes (as you put it so well) to validate his work - that's just absurd! Again, my apologies if my review seemed cliché to you... but anticipate seeing more like it if filmmakers like Lars Von Trier think they can get away with anything in the name of art.

Hello, this is my first time posting in this forum, just to confirm what mimilion19 said. :-) I've seen many films in my life, including classics and works from the most well-known directors, but this film is incredibly boring and so savage that I had to watch it in fast-forward. Lol. The message is convoluted, reminding me of Dogville. :-) The director has made other good films and excellent comedies, but this film? Oh my god, it's simply terrible...

Thanks so much for leaving this comment. At least I know now that I'm not the only one who thought this movie was totally lame!

You're right that this is an intellectual film, as you put it, and it's also very explicit, showing some really raw imagery. But it won't appeal to a wide audience. The acting is good but that alone doesn't make the film. The theme is very well portrayed. However, it's true that this film may not be for you.

WARNING: This comment is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this comment. I get that this movie isn't for everyone, but I think the issue here is that you didn't really get it. The reason for the "mutilation of her husband and her own body" as you put it is pretty straightforward: since she and her husband were having sex when her son died, she blames the sex act itself. She uses sex as an escape, but at the same time feels guilty, because in her mind, sex killed her son. So don't say you have to be some "high-brow intellectual from Cannes" to appreciate the film, you just need to understand it, which clearly you haven't managed to do. The problem might not be the director who's "delusional" or "disturbed", maybe the problem is you...

WARNING: This comment is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this comment. I wonder which of us didn't understand the movie at all. Let me point out that your theory doesn't hold up, because towards the end, it's clear that She saw her son on the window ledge and intentionally did nothing. That's why she claims women are evil and manipulation comes so easily to them. Knowing all this, it's hard to understand her true motives now. You could really benefit from watching it again!

Thanks for the punchline. This latest comment is really not strong at all. I know you're going to respond, "I didn't reveal the punchline because there isn't one," but I'll conclude by telling you that you need to accept that some people won't agree with you. You claim the film is terrible. The other person replies that they enjoyed it. It should end there. And thanks again for the punchline.

It's a bit amusing how it says right above the comment, in red and italics, that the comment's content may contain spoilers about the movie. Prout.

Thanks Rosalie for responding on my behalf, as I was getting fed up with all this. The warnings in red are pretty clear, so my apologies if I "stole" the punchline... if there even was one.

By the way, I mentioned the "punch" you're referring to in my original review. Try reading more carefully next time, or just skip ahead when you see the red warning.

Hey there, the movie has content and it packs a punch. Am I speaking to adults here? You can mention that there are graphic scenes depicting extreme violence, and describing one of those scenes reveals the film's content. However, my issue is with you spoiling the movie's ending.

This film evoked emotions in you, which means the director achieved his goal. Lars Von Trier, much like Quentin Tarantino, creates films for himself. It's their passion, their purpose isn't to please the masses, but to express their vision, which usually resonates with a smaller audience, but still allows them to make a living. Antichrist is the type of film showcased in university cinema courses. The film's artistic quality is undeniable, but it's true that a solid background in cinema is necessary to fully grasp its meaning. I'm currently completing a degree in Psychology/Philosophy, and cinema is my greatest passion alongside these two. This film speaks to me because I'm part of its intended audience. My issue with those who criticize is their lack of openness. By open, I mean that 90-95% of films watched by the general public are either American or from countries whose films have found their way into a few Montreal theaters (Antichrist is a prime example). Visit the black box (video club), where you'll discover films from around the globe and see what else exists beyond mainstream cinema. Cinema is akin to food - the more variety we try, the more diverse our palate becomes. Foods we disliked in our youth become staples in our daily meals (thanks to my mother's insistence on eating fruits and vegetables, which I can't live without today!). Cinema works similarly; we may not initially appreciate a particular style or director, but through repeated exposure, we develop an appreciation. I encourage you to broaden your horizons by carefully selecting the films you watch. Join the black box, attend Montreal's numerous film festivals (around ten per year), and you'll encounter films that truly deserve attention. If you limit yourself to Superclub Vidéotron, Blockbuster, and the like, you won't achieve this. It boils down to choice, taste, and time. Do you have the time and desire to fully immerse yourself in cinematic culture? It's not about being an intellectual, but about nurturing your passion. Being open-minded isn't just about accepting violence or sexuality in a film, but about embracing diverse cinematic experiences. Intelligence is irrelevant; you must invest yourself in cinema if it's your passion, otherwise, you'll remain ignorant of its depths. (Apologies for any typing errors; I had only 10 minutes to write and there are no accents.) Sincerely, Max.

Okay, enough already! What made you spend 10 precious minutes giving me advice? You don't even know me! Do you feel like you're on some divine mission? Just so you know, I've been subscribed to the Black Box for years and attend festivals like the New Cinema where I watched Antichrist and other indie films. I think I have a great grasp of culture in general, and for your information, I'm more educated than you. This goes way beyond critiquing a movie; you're preaching at me. Give me a break with your pseudo-intellectual rants... I DIDN'T LIKE THE MOVIE... end of story! On this site, we write our own personal film reviews. It's not a forum for debating other people's ideas. We're just sharing our take on cinema. If your opinion differs from mine, that's great, because we can't all agree on everyone's tastes. But don't message me about how closed-minded I am, how I'm not investing in I don't know what anymore, or that I'll stay ignorant if yada yada yada. I don't get why my opinion is such a big deal to so many people. I'm a random person who didn't enjoy a piece of entertainment, so get over it already! Best regards, a girl who won't be responding to any more messages!

Well... when an adult tells me "Hellooo earth," it's just not interesting. You might as well move on to something else.

I genuinely believe we're all wasting our time attempting to explain the essence of cinema to someone who claims to be "better educated with a strong general knowledge"... Giving scores of 9 to Father and Guns, 9 to Zombieland, 9 to Cruising Bar 2, but only 5 to Funny Games and 2 to Rent Boys is clear evidence that for you, movies are nothing more than mere entertainment. And that's precisely the issue!!!

WARNING: This comment is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this comment. This comment is full of spoilers from the movie. Alright, based on what I've read from you: Enough already! Even if this film seems to have been highly praised by all the intellectuals at Cannes, that doesn't change the fact that it's a bad movie. You claim it's your personal opinion, but you dismiss others' views by saying that. Then, whenever someone shares their thoughts, you find some way to insult them, which is really out of line and irrelevant as time goes on. The reason you're getting so many comments isn't necessarily because you dislike the movie or not, but rather how you're commenting on it and how you're defending your point. (Are you bothered that a 17-year-old is commenting on your post? What's the issue? Maybe this person has seen the movie 2 or 3 times... how is that a problem for you? I find that completely immature... but hey!) In my view, yes, the film does have substance. Like several others who have commented, you seem to view the film as having only one dimension: sadism and sexuality! On that point, I completely disagree with you. (I'm someone who dislikes sadistic or purely sexual movies... I don't care for Saw or gory movies like that... Antichrist is totally different. The woman is despicable. (That's what she believes in her mind... right?) She let her child die. She tries to kill her husband. She's convinced that women are the devil... so in a way, she's acting accordingly. I actually think it's a major psychological issue. She was only like this before she killed her child. As for the sexuality, it's linked to what's left of her human pleasure... It's as if she's trying to suppress these desires (by attempting to kill her husband, by martyring herself)... But she has impulses... The animals, you're making a connection? Because there is one... if you don't see it, go watch it again! Moreover, this film is incredibly well crafted... The music, the cinematography, the unraveling story... And the actors all played their roles brilliantly. There's nothing to criticize there. By the way... I loved the movie for its content, not for the director... before this movie, I didn't even know who he was. We need to stop putting everyone in a box. It prevents comments like the one I just left you. Thank you and have a good day!

Oops! I think the young critic seems better! You seem to have unresolved frustrations... You talk about points of view, but reading your review, it's clear you believe you have the absolute truth. Mature a bit, dear, and look at the bigger picture instead of getting hung up on details. If that went over your head, too bad! A review should be one's personal perspective based on their experiences, not dictatorially imposing their views on others.

I hope you're not a typical example of people your age, especially if you're still in school. Take a good look at yourself, dear. You're trying to control everyone. Talking to you must be like listening to a monologue.

Geez, you're so intense!

I find it amusing that you say a 17-year-old is telling me to open my mind. I'm sorry, but open-mindedness has nothing to do with age! Life experience, values, maturity - yes, those are things we gain with age. But open-mindedness is not related to how old you are; it's simply a state of mind. When someone tells you to open your mind, they're not saying you're unintelligent or stupid. They're just pointing out that if you judge the film solely based on the violent and sexual scenes, you're missing the author's intended vision. In the end, whether you like the film or not is a personal preference. There's nothing wrong with that. Art is difficult to judge because it's all about the emotions it evokes in us. That's all there is to it!

It's been a while since you replied to a message, mimilion19. Do you want me to call an ambulance? Are you alright? As for the movie, forget about it! PS: You're arguing over nothing. Even Lars recently admitted on Danish television that his film was terrible.

I totally agree with you... this movie is incredibly dull!!!

Lolll I totally agree with him... it's terrible!!! That's putting it mildly!!