Rent Antichrist (2009)

Spoilers follow ... - Antichrist review by NP

Lars von Trier’s unofficially titled ‘depression trilogy’ of films begins with this, continues with ‘Melancholia (2011)’ and concludes with the mammoth and quite excellent ‘Nymphomaniac (2013)’. ‘Antichrist’ isn’t easy viewing.

Rutting like animals, He (Williem Defoe) and She (Charlotte Gainsbourg) fail to notice their toddler son Nic climb onto the open window ledge and fall from the balcony to his death. Subsequently, understandably consumed by grief, the couple hike to an isolated cabin in Eden woods, far from anywhere. The husband is a therapist and feels he can manage his wife’s at times uncontrollable misery.

What follows is their story in four chapters, each one highlighting different levels of their ‘journey’. This often involves manic sex and masturbation in a bid to escape the pain of sadness, woodland animals in throes of death and various scenes of discomfort (graphically shown), the disembodied cries of a child (possibly Nic), violence, and ultimately terror.

I found this a good deal less engaging than the substantially longer ‘Nymphomaniac’, and approach the final film in the trilogy with an open mind. The story begins on one level of graphic imagery and despair, and remains at that level throughout. There is no real let-up or drifting away from the overwhelming intensity of it all – which becomes less intense because of its ubiquity. Defoe and Gainsbourg are excellent throughout – you really get the impression actors suffered in the creation of these roles. Director Frier has said that ‘the film was finished without much enthusiasm’ due to his fragile mental state at the time, and while the acting betrays no such lack of commitment, the overall effect sadly in accordance with Frier. I should add, the direction here is magical, if perhaps a little heavy-handed.

The antithesis of something worth watching - Antichrist review by ME

So utterly tedious that even when suddenly confronted with either scenes of graphic sexual depravity, or the scenes featuring some of the gorier sides of nature, I felt no emotional response.