Art house horror by Lars von Trier

"Antichrist"
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Grade: B+

To call Danish film-maker Lars von Trier a maverick at this point in his career would be a monumental understatement. I remain speechless after I have viewed his latest effort, a film that left audiences and critics flabbergasted at this years Cannes film festival. There were booes, cheers, and even reports of audience members throwing up during the film.

Now that months have passed and the film has shifted into a limbo of sorts, it now makes its way around the festival circuit until its eventual release in late October. A film which will probably only garner attention from art-house theaters has only helped its cause with all of the criticism and banter stemming from Cannes.

The narrative is pretty straightforward, a grieving couple played by Dafoe and Gainsbourg head to a cabin in the woods called "Eden" to grieve the loss of their young son. We see his death in the stunningly beautiful black and white prologue that serves as one of the haunting bookends to the film. From what I've seen of von Trier's work, this may be his best shot film. Shot by Oscar winning DP Anthony Dod Mantle, Antichrist includes stunning visuals to accompany a bleak vision from von Trier who may have crafted his darkest film yet.

Dafoe and Gainsborgh's characters only called he and she, have made this journey into the woods to heal and call attention to the fears of Gainsbourg's emotionally unstable, and rightfully so character. Dafoe plays a therapist who tries to map out his wife's frustration and fears, while in the surroundings of nature, and specifically the idea of the nature of humans and women, a theme that von Trier touches on throughout the film.

The couples experience goes from bad to worse, to say anymore would cheat the audience. Most reviews that came after the Cannes viewing, revealed way too much about the film and its grisly tone. Plot details in a von Trier movie are irrelevant, its the visceral experience that must be felt. This film for me doesn't fall in any genre, it looks to be marketed as a horror film, but it will disappoint those who know about the film, or nothing about von Trier, who has said he made this film while in a deep depression.

The film deals with heavy themes, and symbolic tones are sprinkled throughout. The performances must be mentioned, as Dafoe and Gainsborgh are forces that have exposed themselves to an unmatched extent in this film. While the future remains murky for this film, it will not be forgotten, von Trier has reached to the depths of despair to craft an unforgettable experience.