Philadelphia Film Festival 2009

The premise is simple; following a terrible tragedy, a young married couple (played by Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) retreats to a cabin in the woods to cope with their grief. When a series of bizarre and surreal events starts occurring, the couple begins to crack from the stress, threatening their bond forever. In the hands of an auteur, this basic concept becomes something much more shocking. Famous for his uniquely searing arthouse melodramas, von Trier ups the ante yet again, and returning with what is, without a doubt, his most controversial work ever. Like most pieces of thought-provoking art, Antichrist is best viewed completely fresh with little to no prior knowledge of the material. From the first glimpse of its gorgeous black and white opening sequence to the uncomfortable rumble of its perfectly colored climax, the audience is treated to a plethora of brilliant twists and metaphors. For those willing to take the risk, the film offers incredibly beautiful imagery and surgically precise manipulation, but its content makes von Trier’s previous films like Dancer in the Dark look like a walk in the park. Consider yourself warned. –– Michael Lerman