“Deeply disturbing” horror movie Antichrist goes viral

Antichrist, a “deeply disturbing” horror movie with a real sex scene (and that’s just the half of it) has gone viral, highlighting the film’s controversy that led to it earning an “anti-award.”

If you’re a seasoned horror fan, chances are you’ve perused a Horror Iceberg or two in your time. For the uninitiated, these Reddit creations take the form of an iceberg diagram that categorizes horror movies – starting at the top, above water, with films like Child’s Play and Friday the 13th and descending to the murky depths where you’ll find mentions of compilation mixtapes of real-life snuff footage. 

In short, you don’t want to go Googling the bottom tier unless you don’t mind being added to some sort of list. To give you perspective on just how deep these lists go, Lars Von Trier’s movies – many of which are too disturbing to bear for “regular” film lovers – usually only make it to the third rung down of the eight-stage rankings.

That includes arguably his most disturbing film, a visually stunning yet stomach-churning foray into the depths of human misery, one that shocked the world when it arrived in 2009 – and continues to get people talking to this day.

Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist isn’t for the faint of heart

Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist has gone viral this week due to the fact that it features unsimulated sex (the director used adult film actors as doubles) – but this is far from the only reason the 2009 film sparked controversy. The story itself is simple – a couple, featuring Willem Dafo and Charlotte Gainsbourg in some of the most compelling performances of their careers, head to “Eden,” a cabin in the woods, following the death of their son. 

The couple, referred to as “He” and “She,” attempt to confront and work through their grief, but the isolated setting and their psychological struggles lead to a descent into madness and violence. We won’t tell you how far it goes; let’s just say, you’ll be watching it cross-legged.

But there’s so much more to Antichrist than the violence – visually, it’s a stunning tour de force, while the narrative confronts its taboo subjects with complexity, ruminating on the nature of evil, the intersection of sexuality and violence, and the psychological impact of grief. In short, it’s a mind-bending masterpiece, but one that is not worth watching if you’re not in the right headspace – or if you’re squeamish. 

This was the mistake made by so many in the past after stumbling upon Antichrist not knowing what they were getting themselves in for. A number of viewers hailed it the most “deeply disturbing” movie in recent horror history, and even today people head to social media to share what they’ve just witnessed. As said by one on Reddit: “I have never watched Lars von Trier’s works, so I tried Antichrist. And it was just.. really chaotic. I’m still confused what was happening.”

Another said, “It made me so uncomfortable,” while a third asked, “What did I just watch?” But perhaps the best summary of all arrived a year ago when a Redditor said, “I don’t know if I love or hate Antichrist.”

Say what you want about the film – there’s no denying it’s divisive. At the time, the Guardian asked if Antichrist was “a work of genius or the sickest film in the history of cinema?”

IFC Films

While Variety said: “Most of the director’s usual fans will find this outing risible, off-putting or both.” This split opinion is reflected in its Rotten Tomatoes score, which currently sits at 54% and 55% from critics and audiences, respectively. 

It’ll come as no surprise that Trier’s work caused a huge stir when it premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, causing mass walkouts due to its explicit gore. But there were just as many audience members who enjoyed it, sparking a varied reaction ranging from laughter to applause to boos. 

It’s for this reason the film was awarded a specially made “anti-prize,” with the Ecumenical Jury hailing it “the most misogynist movie from the self-proclaimed biggest director in the world.” However, Cannes festival director Thierry Fremaux wasn’t too happy about the accolade, telling AFP at the time that it was a “ridiculous decision that borders on a call for censorship, (it is) scandalous coming from an ‘ecumenical’ jury.”

How to watch Antichrist – is it streaming?

If you’ve read all that and you still want to give it a go – or if you’re a fan who fancies a revisit – Antichrist is available for streaming on The Criterion Channel’s streaming service. 

It is also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, which you can sign up for here – but don’t say we didn’t warn you. 

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