The Killing of a Sacred Deer

If you liked this

The Lobster2015

Lanthimos's other great deadpan nightmare, dating turned into bureaucratic horror where failure means literal transformation into an animal. Same flat delivery, same absurd rules enforced without mercy.

But The deliberately robotic dialogue and dry humour can feel alienating rather than funny, and the tone barely shifts across two hours.

Dogtooth2009

Lanthimos's earlier, rawer film about a family sealed off from the world by rules only the father understands — the blueprint for the controlled dread and blank performances Sacred Deer perfects.

But Rougher, stranger, and more shocking than the polish of his later work; several images are genuinely upsetting.

Hereditary2018

A family slowly discovers a debt was incurred before they were born, and that they'll pay it whether they understand it or not — dread built from dinner-table tension rather than jump scares.

But Explicit horror imagery and a much louder final act than Sacred Deer's cold restraint.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Cast

• 
  Colin FarrellSteven Murphy
• 
  Nicole KidmanAnna Murphy
• 
  Barry KeoghanMartin Lang
• 
  Raffey CassidyKim Murphy
• 
  Sunny SuljicBob Murphy
• 
  Bill CampMatthew Williams
• 
  Alicia SilverstoneMartin's Mother
• H
  Herb CaillouetEd Thompson (Hospital Director)
• B
  Barry G. BernsonDr. Larry Banks
• 
  Denise Dal VeraMary Williams
• D
  Drew LoganPrincipal
• M
  Michael TresterElderly Man

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