My 10 Favourite Scenes from The Killing of a Sacred Deer
The Killing of a Sacred Deer for me is not the best movie of 2017. It just happened to left the deepest impressions in me. It may not as entertaining like you expected from a popcorn-movie but it could be the one you won’t forget years after. Part of the reasons is the scenes which, Yorgos Lanthimos, as the director paints awkwardly comical and hauntingly beautiful. If you have watched his previous work in The Lobster, you may find the scenes in this movie, colder yet equally magnificent.
1/10
This. As an opening scene. I love this scene because it caught me off guard. Whatever your expectation might be, I think this scene most likely won’t crossed your mind. But the most jaw-dropping part for me is, how on earth they could do that! It must take a time-consuming protocol to thoroughly sterilize all of the shooting equipment, and, to have the permission to shoot the living, beating heart of an actual human being, under an actual surgery. It gave me goosebumps to imagine the production. It also gave the expectation that the movie is delicately treated, which is neat.
2/10
Then, this scene, happened approximately on the 7th minutes. The camera slowly zoomed in to the dining room as if somebody watch them from afar. This scene felt unsettling for me because, even though it is seems warm inside the house, there are dauntingly dark shadows crept around them, waiting to intercept.
3/10
It then followed up by a cut to this scene. A cctv-esque view of the whole family. It further strengthen the tone. The early 10 scenes, is effectively illustrate the whole movie. I don’t want to spoil it, so you could watch yourself.
4/10
You know what about to happen in this scene, right? But kid you not, this is not only what you might imagine. The seemingly uncomfortable resting posture of the gorgeous Nicole Kidman is a beautiful (also literally) plant of her role for minutes after.
5/10
I love how this one of the awkward scenes being illustrated by the desk lamps. The characters framed by the shade between the lights. It seems like they have something bad going on their heads.
6/10
I’ve seen scenes like this a lot on my daily life. At the mall to be precise; to gawking at the strangers from the railing to the escalator. Wondering who they might be and what are their motives. This scene picked what I think a plain view of people as a narrative devices. I fall for this scene right away.
7/10
Before he even spits his dialogue, the angle, light, and color already told me to be cautious, whatever he is gonna say is worth my whole and focused attention. It might be subtle, but the orange-ish light below his chin is easily pretty sinister while remaining as calm as a deer.
8/10
A bird-eye view for an interior scene. It felt the character have some liberty to choose from every options imaginable within certain limit which are out of their control. Helpless yet optimistic, trying to be level headed even tho their heads have been turned upside down. Almost like a limbo, trapped inside their borderless universe. I love how this scene is painted to narrate this part of the story.
9/10
The center of the frame is filtered by a relatively-warm tinted glass. There are sides, there will be an argument. The framing using the hallway, tinted glass, and straightly plain blue is a testament of wit. It is not uncommon to use color and framing to illustrate the contrast between character, but this is just elevate it to up strikingly one level.
10/10
I think this scene is one of the payoffs of the plants from first 10 scenes I mentioned earlier. The character is on the outside of the warm-colored room, now indulged himself within the darkness that once crept the whole family. It is instantly mesmerized me, cool.
I limit myself to only write briefly about what I think is the 10 best scenes from the movie. It is impossible for you excerpt the true experience without watching this stunning movie yourself. I recommend you to watch. I personally was awed by the narrative experience. You might have other opinions. Let’s talk about it.
