At a telling moment in the art house horror flick “Antichrist,” a mangy looking fox turns to one of the characters and says, “Chaos reigns.”
To some, this will seem odd. Others will find it unintentionally funny. If you think it’s profound, then you may be that rare bird that “Antichrist” was made for.
Frustrating, silly, brilliant and unnerving, “Antichrist” is the latest curiosity from Danish filmmaker Lars Von Trier, easily one of the most gifted directors working today.
Von Trier is responsible for the astonishing drama “Breaking the Waves” as well as the remarkable musical “Dancer in the Dark.” He also founded the infamous Dogma movement and is a filmmaker of undeniable talent, integrity and intellect.
In the case of “Antichrist,” Von Trier has made exactly the film he wanted to make. Still, it may not be one that anybody will want to see.
Von Trier claims that making this profoundly off-putting monstrosity helped him come out of a deep depression. That’s fine, but it may put many moviegoers into one.
Willem Defoe (“Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”) plays ‘He’ and Charlotte Gainsbourg (“The Science of Sleep”) plays his wife, ‘She.’
The opening scene is a superbly shot sequence of intimate (and, some might add, explicitly pornographic) lovemaking. As the couple comes to a climax, their young toddler son falls out the window to his death.
Grief and despair overwhelms She, and He (a therapist), ignores the advise of doctors and decides to treat her himself. She reluctantly throws away her medication and the duo retreats to a cabin in the deep woods to recuperate.
His somewhat sadistic treatment of his wife leads the couple into a parade of horror (and, occasionally, boredom) that is hard to stomach.
As the days pass at the forest retreat, He comes to realize that his wife is far more disturbed than he’d ever imagined. Perhaps it has something to do with her thesis project about witchcraft.
As the story progresses, it turns into an orgy of explicit sexual violence, highlighting unforgettable images that will have both men and women crossing their legs in vicarious pain.
One could easily interpret Von Trier’s viewpoint as terribly misogynistic. While there may be some validity in that observation, whatever Von Trier is trying to say is so nebulous that it’s virtually impossible to accuse him of anything besides ambiguity.
Both Defoe and Gainsbourg willingly give Von Trier everything they’ve got, demonstrating impressive bravery. Gainsbourg’s performance is a marvel of unwavering physical and emotional exposure.
But “Antichrist” is an ordeal that only the most ardent fans of Von Trier’s bizarre vision will want to endure. (No MPAA rating, but features material for adults only.) Rating: ***
* Avoid at all costs
** Only if you're bored
*** Good movie
**** Well worth your time
***** Be sure to see it
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