Reaching Out

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I'm convinced that the primary inspiration for this Dante-esque writhing-in-the-forest scene, which is the first-anywhere-image from Lars von Trier's Antichrist, is the menacing-arms-protruding-from-the-wall scene in Roman Polanski's Repulsion. That plus any number of paintings inspired by Dante Alighieri 's The Divine Comedy, I mean. That's Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg front and bottom-center in this still.

Antichrist, which will presumably premiere at the '09 Cannes Film Festival, begins with a married couple (Dafoe, Gainsbourg) grieving over the death of their son. Dafoe's character is a therapist; I don't know what Gainsbourg's character is defined by other than her feelings of woe about their lost child. They retreat to a cabin in the woods and eventually run into all sorts of horrific manifestations, which are at least partly based in their psychologies. Because Lars von Trier doesn't do horror-for-horror's-sake.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 24, 2009 at 4:28 PM

comment #1

shawn says ...

I always thought Polanski nicked that business with the arms from Cocteau's "Belle et la Bete," with the candelabrae that mysteriously light up as Belle passes through the hallways of La Bete's castle.

Posted by shawn at March 24, 2009 5:17 PM

comment #2

arturobandini2 says ...

I spy nods to Zabriskie Point, the censored "rape of Christ" from The Devils, the poster art for A Little Night Music and even Friedkin's evil-tree snoozer The Guardian. Oh yeah, and that weird Polish movie where Isabelle Adjani gets nailed by an alien octopus. Possessed?

Posted by arturobandini2 at March 24, 2009 5:54 PM

comment #3

raygo says ...

The plot (and sex) remind me of Don't Look Now.

Posted by raygo at March 24, 2009 6:40 PM

comment #4

BurmaShave says ...

I'm glad Dafoe is being rewarded for staying in shape.

Posted by BurmaShave at March 24, 2009 8:04 PM

comment #5

D.Z. says ...

No props to Evil Dead?

Posted by D.Z. at March 24, 2009 8:15 PM

comment #6

Killraven says ...

"Oh yeah, and that weird Polish movie where Isabelle Adjani gets nailed by an alien octopus. Possessed?"

arturobandini2: yes, you're thinking of the (in)famous Possession (1981) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possession_(1981_film)

Posted by Killraven at March 24, 2009 8:20 PM

comment #7

corey3rd says ...

look like my last camping trip with Nick Frost - except he kept his socks on.

Posted by corey3rd at March 24, 2009 9:22 PM

comment #8

arturobandini2 says ...

Thanks, Killraven. God, that movie is so deranged. If there's one scene in movie history guaranteed to get that last party guest to leave, it's this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLM-66W0yFA

(The fun starts around 2:48 and goes on for 3 excruciating minutes. Turn your speakers down if you don't want the neighbors to call 9-1-1.)

Posted by arturobandini2 at March 24, 2009 9:48 PM

comment #9

Krazy Eyes says ...

I haven't seen Possession in years. What a wonderfully deranged and totally fucked-up film. I had forgotten that Sam Neill was in that one too.

Posted by Krazy Eyes at March 25, 2009 7:03 AM

comment #10

George Prager says ...

Possession! Holy shit! The scene where she freaks out in the subway station is unbelievable! Forget Oscar, she should've won a Nobel Prize!

Posted by George Prager at March 25, 2009 8:14 AM

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