The House That Jack Built (2018)
Lars von Trier again proved that he’s the enfant terrible of the Cannes Film Festival when his 2018 serial killer drama The House That Jack Built ignited storm of controversy due to its graphic violence.
Von Trier’s psychological horror film, which he also wrote, stars Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Sofie Gråbøl, Riley Keough, and Jeremy Davies.
Its plot follows Jack (Dillon), a serial killer who, over a 12-year period from the late 1970s into 1980s, commits numerous murders in the U.S. state of Washington.
Utilizing Dante’s Inferno as a metatext, the film is structured as a series of flashback vignettes relayed by Jack to the Roman poet Virgil, during which Jack attempts to make an argument for his crimes.
Originally conceived as a TV project by von Trier, The House That Jack Built debuted at the Cannes Film Fest, marking von Trier’s return to the festival after more than six years.
The House That Jack Built received polarized feedback from critics and negative response from the opening night’s viewers.
Matt Dillon’s serial killer mutilates and strangles his victims, wh are mostly women. The child murders scene sent many audience members walking.
Among several gory scenes, there is one in which a duck’s legs are cut off and another in which the murder of two children is depicted through the lens of a sniper.
More than 100 people walked out of the film’s premiere, and there were audible boos throughout the screening.
By the time the end credits had rolled, the balcony of the theater was half empty.
