Antichrist

Lars von Trier’s films have frequently been criticised for their misogynistic undertones. There are no misogynistic undertones in Antichrist – a hatred and disgust for women pulses through the very core of this film. An unnamed couple (Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) retreat to their woodland cabin following the death of their son, only for madness and violence to ensue. Von Trier’s exploration of female sexuality and mental illness implies that there is some inherent evil, not just in Gainsbourg’s character but in the very nature of being female. Even putting such offensive politics to one side, the tone of the film fails to be consistent, wavering from disturbing to comedic (look out for the talking fox). On top of this the scenes of graphic genital mutilation only work to disrupt any coherence in tone that the director was aiming for. Despite this, there is some merit to the atmospheric cinematography which saves Antichrist from being completely unwatchable. [Gail Tolley]