Review

Controversial filmmaker Lars von Trier (Antichrist, Melancholia) returns with this dark and violent anti-hero story of a serial killer.

Split up in to chapters, we're first introduced to the protagonist – an unnerving performance by Matt Dillon – as he helps a stranded woman who antagonises him saying he looks like a serial killer. We don't know whether he is or whether this triggers him, but as the movie progresses we're shown more and more of his despicable acts and obsessive thought process.

The violence is graphic and unglorified - each subsequent murder becomes harder and harder to watch. The evil acts are conflicted with the mild demeanor, which only add to the cognitive dissonance of the character.

Throughout the movie, the murderer is talking with an unknown person, discussing his acts and their context. There is a lot of allegory and religious symbolism. This person is revealed in the epilogue, although I felt it relatively obvious who the character was.

Aside from the in-your-face intellectualism and the epilogue which wasn't needed, this is a worthy watch if you can stomach it.