Killing of a Sacred Deer is weird and gets its own entry

Hmm soo

I can't decide how I feel about this one. There's an MST3K quote for every occasion, and this time it's "Emotions are for ethnic people." These people are so white, stilted and spooky I kept expecting Get Out to break out. It's like everyone in this movie is a glass facade; touch them and they'll shatter.

Except for Martin, they're not spooky in a threatening or typical horror-movie way - it's just that they all talk like Vicki the robot from Small Wonder. Every character, a flat monotone. I don't understand this choice in what is otherwise a beautifully-made and compelling film. Why cast Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman and Alicia Silverstone only to have them not talk like people? Why are they talking about watches? What could possibly be more irrelevant in 2017? Is that the point, they're so out of touch they only talk about superfluous things? Okay I guess, but it takes relatability out of the equation.

The story here is very interesting, and somehow manages to be suspenseful despite my not feeling anything for the characters. I never lost interest and wanted to see how it ended (and it was worth it). It could have been shorter, but it was paced well and the storytelling was so effective I can't really complain. I'm not gonna spoil anything because I do think this should be seen.

This is a beautiful-looking film with some very artistic shots. Maybe the characters are the way they are to let the visuals and score do more of the talking? I don't know. It's a good movie that could have been better. Maybe it would have lost some of its odd punch if the characters acted like people, but it was so unnatural that at times it took me out of the movie.

I can see how it works as a Mood, but it's a two hour long Mood. There's nothing but Mood. Just one character to relate to, to ground the movie a little, would have been nice. Like they could have made the daughter more emotional. Just someone to remind you "yes, these are for sure humans from planet Earth." (Nicole Kidman's character might very well have been an alien. WTF was wrong with her?)

I admire this film more than I like it, I guess. It's unrateable for me, but it is a recommendation for the storytelling, powerful conclusion, and some beautiful cinematography.