There are approximately 17,345 versions of the trailer for Lars Von Trier’s scabrous, controversial and genital-mutilating phantasmagorical horror film, “Antichrist” starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Ok, this is patently untrue, but we have already seen what three, four versions so far? What’s one more, right? Now the domestic U.S. edition has arrived for those not entirely exhausted on a film they probably haven’t seen yet. Predictably to capitalize on the infamous buzz, both excoriating and laudatory, IFC, the makers of this trailer are pushing the “oooh, it’s the most controversial movie you will ever see!” angle, which to be fair… they have to try and sell it somehow.
When it was screened at Cannes earlier this year, the scandalizing picture mostly polarized critics. Some loved it and some hated it, but knowing mischievous enfant terrible Lars Von Trier, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Us? We neither adored nor loathed it. The first half is rather haunting and genuinely terrifying (the sound design is incredibly creepy and special kudos for that), and the second half goes off the rails a bit in its nuttiness, to say the least (yes, it just might produce some unintentional laughs, hello talking foxes), but there is still a lot of value to the sometimes-loony film and there are some breathtaking moments to be sure. No matter how much you might want to rail against it, there is artistry and vision in everything Von Trier creates. We will say one thing, the Apple version of this trailer does convey how beautiful the film looks, something slightly lost in the not-quite-as-sharp and crisp international version we’ve seen so far. Also, wonder what Lars thinks about this awesome, snip-snip poster, hee.
“Antichrist” hits U.S. theaters in limited release on Oct 23, but it also hits TIFF now and the New York Film Festival in late September.