MOVIE REVIEW: The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Oddball Thriller starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and Barry Keoghan.Â When a suave surgeon, played by Farrell, makes friends with a former patient’s son he thinks that he’s doing the right thing and it’s making him feel better from the outcome of the surgery.Â Soon though the son, Keoghan, makes more and more demands from the surgeon.Â The surgeon cannot keep up with the needs of the young man and soon the Son asks for a terrible sacrifice, one that at first seems like a bad joke, but soon becomes a terrible reality.

Last year I sat in a full theatre with other critics and blow ins that just were there to see a free film to watch The Lobster.Â I’m honest about the fact that I didn’t like the film, I know I’m in the minority of that club, but I have to be honest.Â When I heard that the same Director was working with Colin Farrell again I didn’t hold out much hope of me liking the new film.Â Thankfully I am wrong and I’ve seen this film twice now before release and would happily sit down again, paying my own cash, and watch it.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is one of those films that you don’t know how to place during the first 20 minutes, but the more that the film expands and as the demands expand for time from Keoghan to Farrell you start to think a Stalker film, but then something more paranormal (above normal) happens to one of Farrell’s children and it becomes the film that Mother should have been.Â This is without doubt one of the best supernatural thrillers of the year and probably in years.Â The dialogue at first feels like we’re watching an alien species or dystopian future style film but yet we’re brought back to the feeling that maybe other people do talk like this.Â It’s hard to tell for me as I don’t like talking to people and especially surgeons.

The choice that Keoghan gives Farrell’s character is one that I’m sure crosses the mind of every parent as a nightmare.Â This leads to a story and resistance against the facts that just steps up the feeling of loss and horror that the characters go through.

I like Colin Farrell in films, hate me all you like but his Bullseye was great, and here he once again shows that he is wasted doing the bigger budget Hollywood films as his talent shines through.Â Nicole Kidman is beautiful and sexy, smart and a fighter, her role as Farrell’s wife isn’t just an Any Other Actress role, I can’t imagine anyone else in that role.Â While the breakout star of the film is Keoghan who Irish Audiences have known for a while but this is the first time where he’s really showing the potential of the talent that is laying deep within him.Â The direction and the writing of the characters mean that we’re sitting in the theatre and every scene is something different that what you’d expect.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is not going to be for everyone, in the same way that The Lobster wasn’t for me, but please give it a chance.Â In a time where run of the mill stories and more superhero films that just blow stuff up more than expand the genre this is one film that you have to get out to see in the cinema.Â I will be going again and again, also it will be placed on my wishlist for BluRay.Â Worth your time and cash!

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