ASK a friend to name five famous Greek people and they will probably struggle.
One person that might make that list, however, is director, Yorgos Lanthimos, known for ‘The Lobster’, and now about to release his next animal related title, ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’.
As with 2015’s crustacean creation, Colin Farrell again stars here, this time playing Dr Steven Murphy, a renowned cardiovascular surgeon.
Murphy presides over a successful practice and a spotless household with his ophthalmologist wife Anna (Nicole Kidman) and their two exemplary children, 12-year-old Bob and 14-year-old Kim.
But as the doctor begins to develop an oddly close relationship with a young boy called Martin (a fatherless teen played by Barry Keoghan), things start to career out of control.
And when the full extent of his strange connection with the young teen is revealed, devastating consequences follow for both Murphy and his family.
The film, which won the Best Screenplay award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is another strange offering from Lanthimos.
His movies are nothing if not odd, and he appears to have found the perfect actor in Farrell to represent his peculiar way of viewing the world.
The type of performance that Farrell turns in, (almost not acting) with an incredible deadpan delivery, provides much needed humour amongst the otherwise heavy and sometimes violent subject matter.
Special mention has to go out to young Irish actor Keoghan (‘Dunkirk’) who practically steals the show with a chilling and accomplished performance.
Kidman too is impressive (isn’t she always?), the direction and script are solid with only one small plot hole that may or may not bother you.
This film, like all of the director’s work, stretches believability, but it's a fun journey to the land of make believe that leaves you satisfied with the ride and ultimate destination.
With such an eccentric and odd creator at the helm, this could have been a real ‘Oh Dear’ experience, but instead it really works. We score it an endearing 4 out of 5 stars.
Paul O’Rourke
