"The Killing of a Scared Deer" Review by Tim Hellman

'THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A psychological horror flick directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, and written by Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou (the duo also performed the same duties on such critically acclaimed indie hits as 'THE LOBSTER' and 'DOGTOOTH'). The story revolves around a doctor who befriends a teenage boy, and then later learns that the boy wants revenge for the death of his father, years earlier, on the doctor's operating table. It's based on the ancient Greek play 'Iphigenia at Aulis', by Euripides. The film stars Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone and Bill Camp. It's received mostly positive reviews from critics, and it's now playing in indie theaters. I found the movie to be incredibly creepy and disturbing, but it's also undeniably effective and well made.

The story revolves around Steven Murphy (Farrell), a very skilled surgeon, and his wife Anna (Kidman), and their two kids (Cassidy and Suljic). Steven has befriended a young teenage boy, named Martin (Keoghan). Martin's father died ten-years earlier, and Steven was the operating surgeon. It's soon revealed that Martin blames Steven for the death of his father, and he wants revenge. He explains to Steven that he's put a curse on the Murphy family, and Steven's wife and children will die, unless Steven picks one of them to kill first. Steven at first does not believe Martin, but after the symptoms of the illness Martin described begin coming true, the whole family becomes frantic for survival.

The movie is so dark and disturbing that my friend, who I was watching it with, had to leave the theater three different times. I'm used to really creepy and horrifying movies like this, but it even got to me a bit. It's definitely not a happy or pleasant movie at all, but it is effective at what it sets out to do. Which is to just make the viewer completely uncomfortable and disturbed the entire time. So I have to give it a good rating just for that. Keoghan's performance in it is also outstanding as well (it's arguably Oscar worthy). I'd definitely recommend the movie to film fans, and especially horror movie lovers, that can handle disturbing subject matter that is.

Hoilday Themed Promo for the Upcoming Thriller "The Killing of a Scared Dear"

A24 recently released a clip for their latest film "The Killing of a Scared Dear. The upcoming thriller stars Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Bill Camp and Alicia Silverstone.

"The Killing of a Scared Dear" hits VOD to own on December 19th and to rent on December 26th.

Plot Synopsis:

Dr. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell) is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon presiding over a spotless household with his ophthalmologist wife Anna (Nicole Kidman) and their two exemplary children, 12-year-old Bob (Sunny Suljic) and 14-year-old Kim (Raffey Cassidy). Lurking at the margins of his idyllic suburban existence is Martin (Barry Keoghan), a fatherless teen who Steven has covertly taken under his wing. As Martin begins insinuating himself into the family’s life in ever-more unsettling displays, the full scope of his intent becomes menacingly clear when he confronts Steven with a long-forgotten transgression that will shatter the Murphy family's domestic bliss.

Lanthimos has crafted a sensational thriller brimming with unsettling humor and creeping dread, steeped in Greek tragedy, existential horror, Hitchcockian psychodrama, and riveting suspense. Darting confidently between genres to subvert our expectations at every turn, The Killing of a Sacred Deer firmly cements Lanthimos in the pantheon of world-class auteurs and marks him as a cinematic provocateur without precedent.

"The Killing of a Scared Dear": Film Promo

"The Beguiled" Blu-Ray Review by Anthony T

When I first heard of “The Beguiled”, I was interested in seeing this because of the talent involved in the project. When you have Nicole Kidman, Kristen Dunst, Colin Farrell and Sofia Copploa directing, I had to check this film out.

The film takes place during the civil war where a solider lies nearing death in front of a girl’s boarding school. The headmistress of the school takes him in so that he can recover from his wounds. Soon, the girls at the school start to take a liking to him. This leads to tension and danger that may turn grim for everyone at the boarding school.

I was hoping that this would be a good film considering that I like Sofia Copploa’s previous work including films like “The Virgin Suicides” and “Lost in Translation”. After watching “The Beguiled” I was surprised that I ended up feeling disappoint with the screenplay considering that I thought the directing and acting was good.

Sofia Copploa’s directing here was very good. She does a very good job with making sure the film moves at a good pace through her direction. Whether it was the way the film was shot to making sure the performances are good, everything somewhat makes up for the film’s screenplay. The other thing that she does very well is to make sure she gets the performance that she needs. It made the film worth sitting through as she makes sure that the performances are strong enough that you’re kept interested in this film.

Speaking of the performances, I though Kristen Dunst, Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell were very good in their roles. I liked how each of them are able to make sure their performances fit the era in which this film takes place. They made sure that they had chemistry with each other to keep the scenes moving and make the characters interesting enough to keep my interest even though I wasn’t happy with the film’s screenplay.

Speaking of the screenplay, I thought this was one of Sofia Copploa’s weakest screenplays. One of things that doesn’t make this work was lack of tension in most of the scenes. The felt like it was going on one note for most of it as it felt it wasn’t connecting with me. If it wasn’t for the performances, the film would be much worse. It was until the third act where the tension picked up and made it interesting. I wished there was more of that in the beginning as it would’ve make it more an interesting film. I really wanted to like “The Beguiled” as the performances were very good here and the direction was solid. But, a weak screenplay hurts whatever good this film has. If you’re into the performance and directing aspects, this is worth watching. But if you’re into story and dramatic action, this film lacks that for two thirds of it. The film’s disappointing screenplay ruin any chance of “The Beguiled” from being one of the year’s best.

The special features on the disc is light as there are only two short featurette on the disc. Both “A Shift in Perspective” and “A Southern Style” both were good. They both go into the filming of the film and the locations that were used to create the time period that the film takes place. My only complaint was that I wished they were longer and went more in depth.

Review Rating: Three Stars

Extras: Two Stars

Sofia Coppola's "The Beguiled" Lands on DVD and Blu-Ray

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment recently send us information their upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray release of Sofia Coppola's "The Beguiled". The film stars Colin Farrell (In Bruges), Academy Award® winner Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies) Golden Globe Award® nominee Kirsten Dunst (Fargo) and Elle Fanning (Maleficent).

Special features on the DVD and Blu-Ray includes A Shift in Perspective (Filmmakers and cast discuss how this version of The Beguiled is a departure from the novel of the same name and its earlier film adaptation. Screenwriter/director Sofia Coppola describes how the talented cast helped bring her vision to life.) and A Southern Style (Discover how costumes, hair, and many other elements came together to create an immersive experience not only for the audience but also for the actors.).

"The Beguiled" hits VOD on September 26th and retail on October 10th.

Press Release:

AcademyAward® winner Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) unleashes the atmospheric thriller The Beguiled, coming to Digital on September 26, 2017, and Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on October 10, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The winner of the Best Director award (Sofia Coppola) at the 2017 Cannes International Film Festival, the Focus Features film showcases exceptional performances by the outstanding ensemble cast of Golden Globe Award® winner Colin Farrell (In Bruges), Academy Award® winner Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies) Golden Globe Award® nominee Kirsten Dunst (Fargo), Elle Fanning (Maleficent), Oona Laurence (Bad Moms), Angourie Rice (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Addison Riecke (The Thundermans), and Emma Howard (Transparent).

The Beguiledunfolds during the Civil War, at a Southern girls' boarding school. Its sheltered young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events.

Featuring never-before-seen content, The Beguiledon Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital comes packed with exclusive featurettes taking viewers behind the scenes of the alluring and intense drama and exploring Sofia Coppola's unique vision.

"The Lobster" Review by Tim Hellman

'THE LOBSTER': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A very dark dystopian comedy-drama flick; about a world where single people are required to find romantic partners, within 45-days, or be turned into animals. The film was directed by Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos (in his English-language film debut) and it was written by Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou; the duo also performed the same duties on 2011's 'ALPS' and 2009's 'DOGTOOTH' (which is an outstanding flick). It stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Lea Seydoux, John C. Reilly, Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman, Jessica Barden and Angeliki Papoulia (who also costarred in 'DOGTOOTH'). The movie has been a critically praised indie hit, and I think it's a near masterpiece.

The film is set in a dystopian world; where single people are sent to a special hotel, once they become single, and they're required to find romantic partners there (within 45-days). If they fail to do so, they're turned into an animal, of their choice, and released into the woods. People who escape the hotel are known as loners; they live out in the woods, as their own community. Loners have similar strict rules (to the contrary); prohibiting any romantic (or sexual) relations. Single people are sent into the woods, to hunt the loners down; if they're successful, they're given an extra day to find a partner. The story revolves around David (Farrell); who was recently dumped by his wife, for another man, and he's sent to the hotel (as the movie begins). David is guided through this stressful process, by his brother; who's now a dog.

The film is extremely odd, and funny; but it's also very disturbing. It's shockingly brutal, and sexual, at times. It's also an excellent social commentary, on the world we now live in. That's what I like most about the film; it's definitely exaggerated (in a very dark satirical way), but it's also a great analysis of our society's obsession with not being single. Single people our often ostracized, and severely looked down upon (by the rest of society). This movie isn't really that far off, in the way it illustrates how couple's often harshly treat singles. It's also true that most people follow very strict (and severely superficial) guidelines, in finding romantic partners. Most relationships are formed out of desperation, necessity and drastic conformity. Genuine companionship, and true love, is extremely rare. That's why this movie is so brilliant; it's a nearly perfect examination on life (I'd say). It will be seen as far too weird, slow and harshly critical; for most viewers though.