Opening with a musical sequence that pulls you in by a commanding overture against a black void. Suddenly it drops into an intense surgical procedure, setting the tone with gravitas and intensity within the genre of drama.
It is a bit mysterious as it chooses every spoken word in the dialogue, every camera angle, in order to control what the director wants you to see or know. There’s a palpable pulse of tension, biting of the tongue and reluctancy to open up between the characters.
Perhaps the title will give the viewer a clue, you may wonder. This is the way of many A24™ production films, and the draw is its esoteric style and bizarre approach to storytelling. You may find yourself scouring the backdrops, lighting or choice of phrases to unveil some underlying meaning, but, to no avail. This will take both time and patience. Wait. See it through.
Why speak so awkwardly? Why have such oddly unbalanced transitions between each weird random thought or question? Seems to be done on purpose and with precision in order to make the audience mildly uncomfortable moment to moment.
Then, there are these standalone artfully filmed scenes that could easily become a stunning still shot. This is the essence of the photographer’s eye within the videographer’s point of view. When you can admire something happening before you in real time and ache to freeze it, just to marvel at its genuine beauty long after its gone.
Suddenly, there’s a crack, a fissure that shows the fragility of something you thought would never happen. Classic A24™ style. Hearkens the eccentricity of Eraserhead, although not as extremely cringeworthy (debatable in a scene or two). You’ll know, because the urge to replay that breaking point, a few times to clarify the horrifyingly shocking event that transpires. You will shudder in disbelief and possibly audibly inquire with profanity.
But wait, there’s more, there always is. And it gets weirder. Check the running time? It’s not even near the end. What seemed to move so slowly is now throwing everything at you, all at once, to process. Pay attention.
Unraveling, it all begins to fall apart in a way you thought was not possible, is now in effect. Questioning reality or why it is so cruel and merciless won’t stop it either. It’s too late. In addition, the cold color palette, distance between you and everyone involved, and their dark dispositions, won’t comfort you either. For me, it pushes me to plead for more logic and reason to apply to my many swirling ideas.
At some points, I feel the claustrophobia and emotional disconnect, like that of Being John Malkovich, or the otherworldliness of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, but this wacky tale is a whole different animal. I’m continuing to deeply analyze it because it’s so thought provoking.
The culminating crescendo climbs into a quick bit of deeply disturbing chaos. There is no denouement, there is no vindication, no sense of solace, save for a passing confirmation (watch closely) of something you’d want to know. Roll title and credits.
the KILLING is a SACRED DEER is most certainly not for everyone. Know this when you see A24™ as the production studio, however, if you want a taste of something truly unique, mildly traumatizing and a mini roller coaster of crazy, jump in and enjoy the ride. I know I did.
Rating: 7.2/10
Through the Looking Glass 