Yer actual Keith Telly Topping blagged himself a freebie to go and see the press-showing of Lars von Trier's controversial new movie Antichrist earlier this week. Well ... that was certainly an experience this blogger is not going to forget in a hurry. Or, indeed, two hours of his life that he'll never get back. To be fair, it is, undeniably, a very well made film, one has to say that up front. It's astonishingly well-acted by Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. In fact, it's got a lot going for it. It's just ... unwatchable. Graphic, gratuitous, disturbing, angry, wretched (in the broadest meaning of the word) and shocking. And, in places, sick. I mean, there is one particular bit in it - and, anybody who has read the plot will know, specifically, the sequence I'm thinking of - where this blogger almost spilled the breakfast that he didn't eat before going to see it. And, I am really not a squeamish man, I once managed to sit through Last House On The Left without even blinking. Tame, compared to this. The closest thing I can think of to compare Anti-Christ to would be something like Passolini's 120 Days Of Sodom; quite possibly a masterpiece, in its own convoluted way, but you really wouldn't want to watch it for pleasure. So, Antichrist - highly recommended. If, that is, your idea of "fun" is genital torture. Otherwise, you may want to give it a miss.Although, admittedly, the talking fox was way-cool!
A necessary PS: This review does not mean, in any way, that this blogger associates himself with the views of the Daily Scum Mail. Just thought I'd point that out in case anyone was wondering. I was also rather amused by the assertion of the reviewer from The Times that the film proves von Trier 'hates women.' I think, if there's one thing that Antichrist proves overwhelmingly it's that Mr von Trier hates pretty much everyone - including himself. (Anti-Everything would've been a much more appropriate title.) And, I - genuinely - don't have a problem with that or with him making films which reflect it, it keeps him off the streets, if nothing else. I just don't particularly want to watch them, that's all.
