This is fucked up and I kinda loved it. It is surprisingly funny in a I'm a terrible human being way. Matt Dillon is great.
Pretentious crap. Drags a lot. But still better than any serial killer's diary type of movie I've watched. The most horrifying thing was the runtime.
1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
.5 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
.5 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
1 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 stays with you
.5 / 1 misc
6.5 out of 10
Where it failed: The co-narration, and all the disposable scenes that came with it. Blair Witch style shots just to use a different medium (I don't care if this fits one of the themes, it wasn't done well). And of course, the final 15 minutes. Fucked up the pacing, the intensity, the story... basically took everything that was enjoyable about the movie, and removed it for the ending. Thanks a lot. My first and probably last Trier movie.
Without the narration scenes, and with a re-edited end, it could be a solid 90 min movie. (fanedit)
“You want me to show you to the next whisky bar?”
After giving it some thought, I’m still lost and filled with thoughts.
How do I talk about the most polarizing movie of 2018. The movie that caused such a uproar at Cannes with 100 people walking out, which I bet made Lars sip on his warm tea with delight. This kind of noise only boosted my excitement even more. Actually, I was anticipating it, but also feared it, because here’s the question: Will it live up to the hype?
Well...
‘The House That Jack Built’ is a horrible and cruel movie that examines the worst in humanity….but I kinda liked it. Ugly, yet strangely beautiful. The cinematography, editing, and the handheld camera work is all fantastic. Very hard to digest, yet very hard to forget.
Matt Dillon is absolutely terrific as the devilish artist with an eye for perfection. It’s a real shame he won’t be getting any award recognition, because it’s one of the best performance of his career. His black eyes and dead booming voice only names a few traits. An architect who destroys what he creates. Concrete, bricks and wood simply won’t do, but flesh and bone is considered. Still, a serial killer with OCD? Hit the road Jack!
Even the supporting cast, despite they minuscule screen time, still gave stellar performances. The screens between Bruno Ganz and Matt Dillon are the most fascinating aspects of the film. Ganz being the audience member, listening and debating with Jack.
Now Lars Von Trier isn’t a stranger when it comes to controversy. Right from the beginning, I could tell he made this movie for himself. A narcissistic and prejudice statement on art and icons. Basically the main character is a metaphor of him, hence why I would consider this his most personal work and perhaps his last. A genius director with a bad sense of humor.
The portrayal of violence is absolutely brutal and definitely not for the faint of heart. What’s even worse is you feel every kill - it’s that’s effective. I actually gasp at one scene. None of it came off as edgy or anything like that. Although grizzly and bitter, yet strangely comedic - something you wouldn’t expect coming from a movie that caused many walkouts.
There’s plenty of symbolism and discussion on different topics that defines Jack; especially Nazi’s. Probably the most talked about scene involves a mother and her two children, if you know what I mean. The scene itself reflects the crazy Nazi army who threw baby’s in the air, and shoot them like target practice. Another scene where Jack kidnaps and ties up a group of men ready to execute them with one full metal jacket bullet - similar to a experimental technique used by Nazi's. I find it suspicious Von Trier has such knowledge on the Nazi army after the infamous ban at Cannes.
For issues: The movie can get a bit arty-farty and halfway through shifts focus on two characters narrating about anything. While those conversations serve as interesting little trivia, but felt like filler.
Putting aside my critiques, I would like to address my deepest concern for Von Trier's mental state. He looks incredibly unwell and without a glimpse of happiness. He’s always been very open about his health and expressed it through his art. I can imagine him sitting alone with flakes of grey in his beard, contemplating the reality of the situation - nobody wants to help.
Oh Lars.
Up until this I had never seen a Lars von Trier film. I kinda wish I could still say that. This 2.5 jerk sesh is self indulgent to say the least. Look, if you cut out 45 minutes of It's A Wonderful Life style voice over and very, very embarrassing Bob Dylan homages, you'd have a pretty tight little fucked up movie about a serial killer with an absolutely awesome finale. Instead, we've got a guy in a red robe, commanding a boat pushed by naked people. Was stoked for this movie...that is no longer the case.
Dark, ambitious and unconfortable to watch at times, this is von Trier's best work since Dogville. A must watch for all fans of the controversial danish director.
"Some people claim that the atrocities we commit in our fiction are those inner desires which we cannot commit in our controlled civilization, so they're expressed instead through our art. I don't agree. I believe Heaven and Hell are one and the same. The soul belongs to Heaven and the body to Hell. - Jack." Or is it Lars? ;D
I LOVED this movie. Adored it! And then the last twenty minutes or so happened and oh boy it lost a lot of points for that.
This is a Lars Von Trier film so don't expect the usual serial killer schtick. The director punches you in the face with violent acts, some of which have rightfully offended critics and audiences alike. There is a point to the film - the movie artfully makes you confront your relationship with Hollywood violence - but it is sometimes guilty of revelling in the same violence that it is trying to make you think twice about. It's a good movie, although there are some scenes that are almost too disturbing, so I wouldn't recommend it to everybody.
I'm ashamed for buying a cinema ticket and I funded his next job . Disturbed mind
he's just a silly man
How this went under my radar for so long I don't know, but worth the wait.
First and foremost, this movie is fucked. You will see things that are disturbing, not_necessarily_ gory, but disturbing nonetheless. Seriously, you've been warned.
That aside, this was a ride, one that had me tensing my legs and clenching my jaw until the inverted credits started to roll (hey, just figured out why they're inverted now that I'm typing this). Dillon is superb, in both his acting and more so his narration. Supporting cast also great, but Dillon really carries this one. His stoic and monotone demeanor are terrifying once you see what he's capable of.
Fast paced and fluid, The House That Jack Built has a lot of re-watch value. The cuts to archival footage are long enough to be interesting and short enough to not be tedious, giving you a brief reprieve (at times) from the last "incident" you viewed.
Self-indulgent? Absolutely. Disturbing? Partly. Hilarious? Definitely
Ostensibly a psychological horror/serial killer film, in reality the latest from professional provocateur Lars von Trier is more a dark comedy about the nature of art, capped off with a quite literal descent into Hell. As much an interrogation of his own dark psychology as an "up yours" to his detractors and the oft-levelled accusations of misogyny and nihilism, von Trier all but dares you to be offended, whether by the violence done to a duckling, the cold-blooded murder of children, the verbal degradation of a woman, the critique of the :pound_symbol:MeToo movement, the celebration of Albert Speer, or the mockery of American gun culture. Partially self-reflexive in nature, the film suggests a parallel between murder and artistic creation, with von Trier offering more of an apologia than an apology for his oeuvre. When he's really on his game - Breaking the Waves (1996), Dancer in the Dark (2000), Dogville (2003), Antichrist (2009), Melancholia (2011) - von Trier is capable of depicting horrific violence alongside psychologically complex characters and scenes of devastating emotional veracity. House, which is far too long and tends towards self-indulgence, doesn't come anywhere near those heights, and is thus more open to accusations of empty provocation, but von Trier has definitely tapped into 'something' here, and, love it or hate it, you will react to it.
For my complete review, please visit: https://boxd.it/AgPOH
Very hard-to-digest movie. After a short time, I realized that I sympathize with the murderer here. Try to understand him. In the end, I was just completely exhausted. Nevertheless, a well-made movie.
How? How?! How the crap did I get sucked into watching another LvT movie?!? I’ll tell you. Some bullshit media site threw an article together with a bunch of keywords that got my attention. This film had plenty of keywords. Then, they left out who made the film. I stupidly added it to my queue, made some time in my very busy life and started it. I see LvT float across the screen. I cringe and grind my teeth. ‘They can’t be all wrong. I must be the one that’s wrong. I’ll watch another...’
Fuck! Had again. Almost three hours of my life I will never get back. Fucking art films and fucking LvT. Garbage. Absolute garbage. There isn’t any thing in this “film” that isn’t laughable. Whatever social justice statements it’s attempting to make, whatever world statements it trying to make, whatever ANYTHING statements it’s trying to make, it’s not. It’s a terrible piece. It has almost no redeeming value. With 2 exceptions: [Spoilers?] Lady 2 being dragged by Jack’s bus is hilarious. It really got me rollin’. And the “House that Jack built” of bodies...pretty cool. Ridiculous, but great eye candy.
Do not waste your time here. If you’re a LvT fan...I feel sorry for you. Art house = garbage. Leave your friend’s couch, grow up and get a job. No amount of preening will ever make his movies actually good.
Gotta give it to Lars on the music score ha ha ha!
This movie about a mass murder is not too bad. At 2hr 30 mins in length it goes completely off the rails at the 2 hour mark, just switch it off. Seriously... it becomes completely detatched, irrelevant and just dumb at the point he returns to the warehouse and goes inside. That's the point it goes into the toilet and doesn't come back out. For the first 2 hours I'd give it a 7.5/10. The last half hour 0/10
I'm a sick fuck, I like a sick flick.... My ol'lady was like oooo look a thriller bahahaha she made it 25 minutes and was like fuck this I'm going to bed
Well that was different, very disturbing, arty, confusing at times, just full on WTF! but also had a little sense of humour. A clumsy serial killer with OCD? come on! just me? A good performance from Matt Dillon.
What a giant pile of dung. Boring, uninteresting, no thriller or horror aspect, stupid ending, did I mention BORING?
"The House that Jack Built" has been marketed as a horror movie or a thriller, but I found it way more enjoyable as a pitch-black comedy and character study. Overall, the style and structure are essentially the same as "Nymphomaniac", just with an OCD psychopath taking the lead this time. Each story is a mere excuse for Jack to digress in self-indulgent philosophical contemplations on life, death, and art, drawing obvious comparisons with Lars von Trier's career as a controversial and provocative artist. Again, archival footage and visual cues are imposed over the dialogues, reminding me of old-school "Metal Gear Solid" FMVs.
Whatever you think of von Trier, this is extraordinary filmmaking. Controversial yes, disturbing yes. But it's also a visceral, ascerbic, stunningly created movie that dissects lots of topical subjects such as Trump's America / empowerment / self reflection. Matt Dillon was perfectly cast as the protagonist.
There are some really chilling, squeamish scenes. If you can get through them, the final 15 minutes really is some beautiful cinema to look at even if the subject matter is downright shocking. And the late Bruno Ganz is brilliant.
7.4/10
Disturbing and horrible. I don’t understand the need to show everything like that. No thank you.
Dark & Disturbing
Too long and becomes boring at times.
Characters 7/10
Story 6/10
Pacing 5/10
Visuals 7/10
Rewatchability Factor 3/10
Enjoyment or Emotional Value 5/10
Average Score 5.5/10
Mhhhhh, very strange, very good BUT VERY STRANGE, like... It's strange, a lot
What a hilarious riot. Thoroughly enjoyed witnessing Jack’s growing pains. Only slight criticism was the abrupt end, but overall still a great ride.
"You know, I take it all back. What I said earlier about you looking like a serial killer... You're way too much of a wimp to murder anyone."
Disturbing, sickening, controversial, arty-farty. Some of the darkest comedy you'll ever find and it does a good job at making you feel guilty for laughing. Some moments cross the line of comedy though and that effects the tone, I just didn't know when to laugh anymore. It's pretencious as fuck but that just goes with the character, he's pretencious so it works in bringing you into his world. I didn't like the shaky cam at first but in some parts it gives it a documentary/reality TV feel but without the fourth wall breaking—worked for me but I doubt that was intended. Enjoyed the first half more than the second. It was too long and I would have cut out the long over-explaining scene (the one a little bit passed the middle). Not sure how to digest the last 15 minutes, totally different but unsatisfying because of how different it was from the rest. Matt Dillon was excellent. Some very shocking stuff, this one's for the twisted souls!
Verge: Let me put it this way: very few make it all the way without uttering a word. But do carry on merrily. Just don't believe you're going to tell me something I haven't heard before.
Yeah, well, yeah. That sounds about a prophecy about this movie experience. Trier does his Trier thing; innocent women tortured, academic references and some arthouse twist to it. But for myself, it's not quite enough with the unsurprising shock effects and some clever discourse on his own artistry. It's become stale, formulaic even.
Unless it's a self therapy piece where the ending reflects Triers own inability to escape his own artistry, then it's almost a bit interesting again.
Great movie but the last 20 minutes keeps it from being that much better. I swear it's like it was a different movie, director, writer, and most of what the hell happened. Im like dumbfounded. The ending just pisses me off but the rest so damn good.
I liked it up until the ending
“If you feel like screaming, I definitely think that you should.”
- Jack
A dark twisted deranged film that brought back memories of “Henry: portrait of a serial killer”. It has been a long time sense I felt that type of gritty feeling in a serial killer movie.
:fire::knife::wind_blowing_face:
Using Mat Dillion as a psycho ensures your success. For the rest, elucidations of Lars Von Trier
152 minutes of my life wasted :) what a pile of nonsense ...
Lars, you son of a bitch, you've done it again. For the record, Nymphomaniac is still my favorite, but you can see the evolution and maturity(?) of Lars' work through the years. Don't be mistaken, it's certainly still a mind-f*#k movie. If you only watch about the first 15-20 minutes, you can still turn back; no-harm-no-foul. But, if you decide to continue, you're in for a ride/treat. Don't worry, he'll give you a satisfying resolution... but you'll have to earn your way to that point.
The film has an approach that pretends to be original, and in part it is, but that does not get that at times of feeling that it lengthens unnecessarily, and above all, it is not uniform in the final result
Macabra, espeluznante, bizarra y humor negro. Lars Von Trier arruinó mi noche de sueño.
This was a good film.. The Ending Killed That Big Momentum the movie provided in the earlier stages.. Matt Dillon was legendary in his role as "Jack" In the End my rating was a 7.5/10
Seen a lot of people ripping into von Trier about this one and I get the criticism, but Lars is gonna do what Lars does. I'm not terribly offended by his movie so much as I'm offended by Matt Dillon's performance.
A purely philosophical film ... My feelings disturbed the scene of the killing of the children and their mother, ,, good film .
very interesting, amazing work again, a must see of 2018
You've got to love dark comedies. I found it to be quite enjoyable I particularly enjoyed Lars' take on Dante's Inferno. However, it is apparent that Lars used this movie to indulge himself, perhaps a little too much.
Reminds me of belgian cult movie "C'est Arrivé Près De Chez Vous" from 1992
A loved it so much. So funny and sick. The end was so interesting.
A fucked-up portrait of evil nature with sadistic violence, disturbing imagery and a bizarre epilogue with quite stunning visuals. In all of that, a film that you should only watch once or just avoid completely if you are not a von Trier fan.
A horror movie where the horror is replaced by artsy rhetoric about art. At least the horror part was engaging.
Shout by TorgoVIP 6BlockedParent2021-09-25T12:36:56Z
It was alright, I guess.