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Trailer

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

2017Movie2 h 1 minR

DramaThriller
72
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.0Letterboxd3.7/5Metacritic736.9Rotten Tomatoes79%63%

A nerve-racking, deeply unsettling drama movie about family and the mind, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

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Not for warmth, comfort or uplift.

Movies with

Story

A brilliant surgeon is forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart.

Dr. Steven Murphy is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who presides over a spotless household with his wife and two children. Lurking at the margins of his idyllic suburban existence is Martin, a fatherless teen who insinuates himself into the doctor's life in gradually unsettling ways.

Feels like

  • Psychological Horror Drama
  • Greek Tragedy Adaptation
  • Unsettling & Uncanny
  • Cold Clinical Aesthetic
  • Moral Dilemma
  • Atmospheric Dread
  • Stilted Dialogue
  • Aural Dissonance
  • Family Destruction
  • Arthouse Thriller

Cast

17 of 17

Crew

Directed by
Yorgos Lanthimos
Written by
Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
Produced by
Yorgos Lanthimos, Ed Guiney
Music by
Yorgos Mavropsaridis, Jean McGrath, Caoimhe Doyle

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 20, 2017 · 2 h 1 min · R

Released
October 20, 2017
Runtime
2 h 1 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Original language
English
Also spoken
French
Made in
United Kingdom, United States, Ireland
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$11 million
Available in
56 countries

Tropes

Grey-and-Gray Morality, Abusive Parents, Ambiguous Situation +9

  • Grey-and-Gray Morality
  • Abusive Parents
  • Ambiguous Situation
  • Big Sister Bully
  • Infodump
  • Mama Bear
  • Fictional Fan, Real Celebrity
  • Cold-Blooded Torture
  • Never My Fault
  • Silent Credits
  • Bound and Gagged
  • Love at First Note

12 of 57 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Killing of a Sacred Deer?"

Questions about The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Killing of a Sacred Deer?

HBO MaxCinemax

In the United States, The Killing of a Sacred Deer streams on HBO Max and Cinemax. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 34 other countries.

Is The Killing of a Sacred Deer worth watching?

72
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 72 (IMDb 7, Letterboxd 3.7 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 79%, and Metacritic 73).

Will I feel good after watching The Killing of a Sacred Deer?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for bleakness and 9 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Can I half-watch The Killing of a Sacred Deer?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for ambiguity and 8 for philosophical.

Was The Killing of a Sacred Deer a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$11 million

Yes: it cost about $3 million to make and earned $11 million worldwide, 3.6 times its budget.

What tropes does The Killing of a Sacred Deer use?

Grey-and-Gray MoralityAbusive ParentsAmbiguous SituationBig Sister BullyInfodumpMama BearFictional Fan, Real CelebrityCold-Blooded TortureNever My FaultSilent CreditsBound and GaggedLove at First Noteand 45 more

TV Tropes lists 57 tropes for it, including Grey-and-Gray Morality, Abusive Parents, and Ambiguous Situation.