PubHound 8 -This movie was a blast for me, both bone-chilling and stomach-turning, but at the same time profoundly rich in meaning. Aside from prologue and epilogue, so "delicately" filmed and edited, the main dish is often too brutal, both visually and conceptually, delivering a truly unforgettable experience. Both an omage to horror movies and a beast of its own, Antichrist will sure leave you shocked.

CinemaClown The first entry in Lars von Trier's Depression Trilogy is an increasingly disturbing but consistently gripping experimental horror that's unnerving, unsettling & unforgiving in its depiction of grief, pain & despair but it doesn't dig deep into those depressive elements to make a lasting impression.The story of Antichrist follows a grieving couple who, following the loss of their only son, retreat to a cabin in the woods in order to recover from the tragedy and repair their broken marriage. But as days pass, the husband starts experiencing strange visions while the wife manifests increasingly violent behaviour.Written & directed by Lars von Trier, the story is narrated in chapters, each covering a depressive stage that gets more n more intense as plot progresses. One element Trier captures perfectly is that suffocating feeling & tendency to blame when not in a stable state of mind, and takes the premise into a horror territory in a very controlled fashion.Characters & their situation is relatable at first, which makes their breakdown even more disquieting to watch. Cinematography employs numerous filming techniques, from ultra slow-mo, black-n-white prologue & epilogue that are accompanied by an aria, to the handheld camerawork that provides a sense of discomfort with its erratic movements.Editing employs a text book narrative style, starting with a prologue that beautifully sets the stage for the main plot which unfolds in 4 chapters, gradually escalating to a harrowing finale, and concludes with an epilogue that exhibits the same serenity as its prologue. But the pacing is a bit on the slow side as the story meanders a lot in between, and isn't going to satisfy all.Coming to the performances, both Willem Dafoe & Charlotte Gainsbourg carry the entire film on their own and deliver strong inputs, both individually & as the couple. Dafoe is calm & composed in his role as the husband & therapist who tries to help his wife move on. Gainsbourg is even better as the wife whose condition goes from bad to worse before all hell breaks loose in the final act.On an overall scale, Antichrist turned out to be better than what I initially expected, for it packs a plot that, despite a few pretentious artsy touches, remains accessible for the most part. Definitely not a film for all & certainly not for the easily distressed, Antichrist is merciless once the cruel side of nature takes over and though still not very rewarding in the end, the interest at least is never lose. Worth a shot but better be wary of what you are getting into.

rdoyle29 A couple have sex while their infant child falls to his death. She suffers from immense and powerful grief. He works as a therapist and against all reasonable advice decides to treat her grief himself. He is egotistical, controlling and condescending. He insists on taking her to their cabin in the woods, the root of a terrible fear she is experiencing. He pays a terrible price for having the temerity to believe he can control life by force of reason and will. This movie is ... a trial. I love it.

grantss Lars van Trier's works teeter on the brink between a masterpiece, and being a piece of pretentious crap of the highest order. Dogville fell in the former category (despite starring Nicole Kidman - imagine how superb it would have been if she was not in it). Unfortunately, Antichrist falls in the latter category.The movie consists of long drawn-out dialogues and imagery that go nowhere, interspersed with the occasional scene that is there purely for shock value. Tedious pretentiousness parading as some sort of great essay on the human psyche, or human relationships, or dealing with grief - who knows, pick one.A total waste of time.