Antichrist

Name: Antichrist
Genre: Drama
Released: October 23, 2009
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Willem Dafoe

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 227 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 227 Ratings

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Antichrist

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: October 23, 2009 | Not Rated

Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Willem Dafoe

Summary: Lars Von Trier is back with the beautiful, terrifying, and altogether engrossing Antichrist. The talk of 2009 Cannes Film Festival, where star Charlotte Gainsbourg took home the award for Best Actress, the full, unedited version of this eagerly-awaited film promises to captivate audiences this fall.
A grieving couple retreat to ’Eden’,Lars Von Trier is back with the beautiful, terrifying, and altogether engrossing Antichrist. The talk of 2009 Cannes Film Festival, where star Charlotte Gainsbourg took home the award for Best Actress, the full, unedited version of this eagerly-awaited film promises to captivate audiences this fall.
A grieving couple retreat to ’Eden’, their isolated cabin in the woods, where they hope to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse. (IFC Films)… Expand

Director: Lars von Trier

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

Marc Savlov

Possibly the best argument against couples therapy ever, Antichrist is a tour-de-force trip inside the mind of a dangerously depressed man. That man is Danish filmmaker von Trier, and he has gone on record as having conceived and executed Antichrist in the wake of a deep depression. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

Very few actors would have the courage to allow von Trier to put them through what Dafoe and Gainsbourg experienced in the name of art. Read full review

J.R. Jones

I can’t deny this is filled with powerfully primal images, but at least one of them--an eviscerated fox that bellows at Dafoe, “Chaos reigns!”--made me burst out laughing. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

The trouble is, it's all too exhibitionistic to ring true. The impotent folly of Antichrist is that von Trier has made it his mission to shock the bourgeoisie in an era when they can no longer be shocked. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Antichrist, which, above all, wants to make pain visceral, is less successful at projecting authentic experience--the shock tactics are ultimately numbing. Read full review

A.O. Scott

The scandal of Antichrist is not that it is grisly or upsetting but that it is so ponderous, so conceptually thin and so dull. Read full review

Dana Stevens

The last 20 minutes are horrifically violent, relentlessly claustrophobic, and irredeemably pointless. Von Trier has us on the hot seat, and he's going to walk us through his most primitive sexual nightmares--not because they'll bring us to a greater understanding of madness or love or grief, but just because he bloody well feels like it. Read full review

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User Reviews

icemaiden

Mar 13, 2011

I'm not a film person and generally can't sit through them but this one is the exception. Yes, there are gruesome images and scenes of a sexual nature but in my opinion it is all within the context of the story. The first few scenes, in extra slow motion, are incredibly powerful. I defyI'm not a film person and generally can't sit through them but this one is the exception. Yes, there are gruesome images and scenes of a sexual nature but in my opinion it is all within the context of the story. The first few scenes, in extra slow motion, are incredibly powerful. I defy anyone not to be moved by the opening images, however, I also think you need to understand depression, anxiety and panic attacks, even have personal experience, to fully appreciate what this film is all about. Although graphic in it's adult content, it's not really a film for entertainment, it's deeply thought provoking, shocking and artistic in the most absurd way. The acting is incredible from both characters. If you're looking for a film for sexual or violent gratification don't bother with this. If intellect is your thing, this is for you.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

Oct 25, 2009

In what will be marked in history as one of the most controversial, literally pornographic & thought provoking pieces of art within the film medium, Lars von Trier has presented an anomaly questioning the foundations of religions themselves, as well as an experience to enmesh the audience In what will be marked in history as one of the most controversial, literally pornographic & thought provoking pieces of art within the film medium, Lars von Trier has presented an anomaly questioning the foundations of religions themselves, as well as an experience to enmesh the audience well into the film. From practically every facet of quality, Antichrist excels in all areas: Regarding special effects, film grain & use of colours; image filtering, characters, soundtrack, artistic literary techniques; dialogue & themes with direct connotations towards the human condition. This is naming but a few of a potential from a most complex myriad.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

AdamM.

Oct 23, 2009

This is without doubt a highly underrated film.

2 of 3 users found this helpful

ryancarroll88

Aug 26, 2010

Enmity grows between a couple after their infant dies and the husband tries to help his wife overcome her grief. Lars von Trier wrote this movie in the peak of a bout of depression, and the result probably his most provocative work to date (which, for him, is saying a lot). It may also beEnmity grows between a couple after their infant dies and the husband tries to help his wife overcome her grief. Lars von Trier wrote this movie in the peak of a bout of depression, and the result probably his most provocative work to date (which, for him, is saying a lot). It may also be his most exquisite - the first half unravels like a demonic, impressionistic dream while the last half turns into a mesmerizing nightmare. Even if the director's previous efforts haven't grabbed your attention, this movie is sure to compel you. Still, von Trier's exposed representation of carnal desire and trauma is a lot to level with for the sake of art - especially for the actors involved.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

FilmVirtue

Feb 15, 2014

One fantastic art film. It was unique and showed plenty of effort. However I'm not always happy with the scenes shown that may be considered Over the top.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Aproxx

Aug 14, 2018

I admit the movie is great at making you feel bad, deppressed (and oppressed) with imagery and visuals, incredible acting from both leads, and graphic and painful scenes.

So that's great. But what Im not so sure is: What's the point of all this? The themes (self hatred, deppression,I admit the movie is great at making you feel bad, deppressed (and oppressed) with imagery and visuals, incredible acting from both leads, and graphic and painful scenes.

So that's great.

But what Im not so sure is: What's the point of all this?

The themes (self hatred, deppression, guilt) are all there, but I feel they lose coherence. Its like it touches so many dark human emotions that it ends in kind of a contradiction.

SPOILERS..............................................................

I felt that a good theme of the movie was how men deal with painful emotions by just abusing women and taking advantage in the more emotional female to let them charge with all the guilt in a given situation of shared guilt (like in this case)... Like a message of how men just reppress those emotions and results in anger against women, explaining misogyny (or whatever)... But if that's a dumb reading of the movie, its just doesn't hold up anyway..… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Aaryan16

Dec 21, 2021

The most boring movie I've ever seen. It starts out at a intense yet slow pace but fails to keep the energy going. Went in this movie expecting intelligent horror but left with a good nap.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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66	#66 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
51	#51 Most Shared Movie of 2009