Killing them lovely — a deep look into “The House That Jack Built”
How a movie about a ruthless serial killer, perhaps unintentionally, motivated us to hope.
Lars von Trier has produced a filmmaking legacy that could depress Joy herself from Inside Out. Complex in his messaging, imagery and craft; the Danish screenwriter and director possesses the remarkable talent of tormenting his viewers in such a captivating and fresh way that it’s impossible to look away.
Watching some of his brilliant films I could only describe as masochism. You get to dig deeper into subjects that you would rather ignore. Unlike most Hollywood snobs, Lars doesn’t care if he hurts your precious feelings in the process. This is a skill I admire profoundly, particularly in this dumb, crybaby and woke world we live today.
Depression, nihilism, injustice, hatred and violence are usual subjects covered in your typical Lars von Trier film. But from his quite dark filmography, his last entry is perhaps the one I have been confused the most. Because I saw something that I wasn’t expecting: hope.
Lars von Trier claims The House That Jack Built from 2018 was made to “celebrate the idea that life is evil and soulless”. And yet, I think this might be one of the “happiest” movies he has ever made. To explain what I mean before I sound like a nutcase, let’s dive…
