Film Review: Antichrist

Film Review: Antichrist

I just finished watching Antchrist (which is available as of this post to watch instantly on Netflix).

I really enjoyed it! The cinematography was absolutely stunning. Just about every scene looked like a moving painting, worthy to have hung in any art gallery in the world. Even some of the more grotesque and shocking scenes would work well in one of those 'shock' galleries the cool kids hang out at.
The pacing of the film was spot on. I loved how they separated the film into little chapters. Each one seemed to have a different aesthetic which worked out well.
The acting was also a highlight. Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg both delivered strikingly realistic portrayals of a couple in the midst of a terrible tragedy. Apparently Gainsbourg's agents refused to allow her to take the role due to its shocking subject matter, but she insisted.
The entire film has a sense of mystique to it, and it seems every shot holds a deeper symbolic meaning. I personally am not too sure how I feel about the story, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge on the religious undertones. I enjoyed it for what it is and can definitely recommend a viewing, although it is not for the squeamish or those offended by sexually explicit material.