'Antichrist' Movie Review

At fault for the confusion is the ambiguous nature of the plot, which often comes off as pretentious and smugly cryptic. With characters named "He" and "She," it's hard not to view the movie as allegorical, so viewers end up analyzing every surreal, seemingly nonsensical moment (of which there are several) and jumping to unintended conclusions. I'm not saying that everything should be spelled out -- indeed, spurring conversation is a welcome byproduct of any film -- but there's a certain grounding that Antichrist lacks. Is anything real? Should anything be taken allegorically? The title is emblematic of the problem, as there is little ostensible religious element in the film, and there's no readily identifiable evil entity worthy of that label.

Outside of the arguably misogynistic elements, the other causes for scorn -- the graphic sexual and violent content -- are jarring but explainable. Antichrist is a sort of post-modern The Exorcist, upping the ante of the gasp-worthy, taboo references spewed by Linda Blair in 1973 by actually showing it all (and more) in order to embody the unnamed wife's own form of possession -- either by an evil force or by her own extreme depression. The juxtaposition of sex and violence in both movies is uncomfortable at best and shockingly offensive at worst -- although those familiar with von Trier's often edgy work shouldn't be too surprised, given his 1998 film The Idiots likewise featured explicit sexuality.

Whatever you feel about the film's controversial content and purpose, though, Antichrist remains unpredictable and challenging and features moments of striking artistry, combining grand shots of vast landscapes with the sort of intimate, hand-held minimalism that's characterized von Trier's work of the past decade. It paints lurid scenes full of ambient sound that, in a traditional horror movie, could prove terrifying, but in von Trier's hands are just another piece in an admirable, if uneven, puzzle.

• Acting: B- (Gainsbourg is over the top, but the material calls for it.)
• Direction: B (Often-gorgeous cinematography melds with jarring ugliness, although some scenes feel superfluous.)
• Script: D (Admirable in its originality and attempt at insight, but often feels too self-conscious and smugly cryptic.)
• Gore/Effects: B+ (Disturbingly realistic.)
• Overall: C+ (Not for the squeamish -- or for a certain segment of the non-squeamish, for that matter -- but achieves a level of provocative artistry that few genre films can claim.)

Antichrist is directed by Lars von Trier and is not rated by the MPAA. Release date: October 23, 2009.