Review of The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) by Legitsalt — 06 May 2020

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a weighty movie, in presentation and delivery. So much hangs on each decision that the world around the characters perpetually threatens to crash around them. The lofty weight that these hovering decisions bear is shown directly through the camera work.

Each shot leaves vast amounts of the screen empty above the characters. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is technically sci-fi but is very bound within reality. The somatosensory ailments that the characters suffer from follow suit with existing conditions, only differing in their exaggeration.

Colin Farrell (Steven Murphy) and Barry Keoghan (Martin) carry the film. The supporting cast of characters, especially Sunny Suljic, help create a fleshed-out experience, but Farrell and Keoghan are the film’s heavy hitters.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer explores the morality of medical science and long-standing grudges. Throughout the film the characters are revealed to be less trustworthy than they let on, even spinning dangerous lies.

This web of lies end up entangling Steven and Martin and the former is forced to confront his relation to the latter. Lanthimos proves with this film that he can explore concepts as they currently exist and as their likely future forms.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is an abysmal and solemn piece that leaves a burden weighing down even after its end.