The Killing of a Sacred Deer
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Pick #675

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos · Ireland, U · English, French

One of the many weird entries in director Yorgos Lanthimos' career

7.3 Our score

2017 Movie Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Prime Video HBO Max Plex Hoopla Kanopy Amazon Video Apple Itunes Youtube

Our take

This is a really weird movie starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman. They play a wholesome and well-off couple where Farrell is a heart surgeon. The movie starts with him taking care of a teenager called Martin, who’s not related to him or seems to have any real connection with him. It later turns out that Martin shares a special bond with the surgeon, a bond that will threaten his family in unexpected ways. The camera work and direction by Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Favourite) offset the weirdness to offer an intriguing experience.

What it won

Awards

Cannes

1 win · 1 nom

Won: Best ScreenplayNominated: Palme d'Or

Spirit Awards

2 noms

Nominated: Best CinematographyNominated: Best Supporting Male

European Film Awards

3 noms

Nominated: European ActorNominated: European DirectorNominated: European Screenwriter

The story

What happens

Dr. Steven Murphy is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who presides over a spotless household with his wife and two children. Lurking at the margins of his idyllic suburban existence is Martin, a fatherless teen who insinuates himself into the doctor's life in gradually unsettling ways.

Elsewhere

What the critics said

Notable Critics

"You end up slightly awestruck at the imaginative confidence behind this film."

— Trevor Johnston

"With uniformly great performances throughout the cast and Lanthimos' stunning eye for detail and composition, this is one of the most unforgettable films of the year."

— Brian Tallerico

The details

About this pick

Year
2017
Type
Movie
Director
Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast
Barry Keoghan, Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy
Language
English, French
Country
Ireland, U
Rated
R

Streaming arrival

  • HBO Max
  • Kanopy
  • Plex
  • Prime Video
  • Hoopla
  • Pluto TV
  • Tubi
  • Showtime
  • Fubo

Who picked it

About the author

Bilal Zouheir

Bilal Zouheir

Bilal Zouheir is the founder of A Good Movie to Watch. He is based in the US and a member of the Nevada Film Critics Society. He grew up in Morocco, where he learned English from watching movies. Bilal's work with A Good Movie to Watch is focused on offering an alternative to streaming algorithms, which are often used as commercial tools by streaming services.

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