The Beating Heart Of Yorgos Lanthimos' 'The Killing Of A Sacred Deer'

Yorgos Lanthimos and the team from “The Favourite” are having an exceptional year. Lanthimos’ directorial venture has been lauded by many, and awards season is eyeing “The Favourite” to be quite the contender in multiple categories. Having won quite the hardware so far (dominating at the recent BAFTA nominations), there’s no stopping one of 2018’s favorite films (yes, we’ll see ourselves out).

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Looking back at Lanthimos’s eclectic career, the director has an appreciation for discomfort, or rather, what makes casual moviegoers uncomfortable. Lanthimos has done this throughout his filmography, working with various elements like performance and cinematography to gauge a certain repulsion; a disquieting sense of anxiety, whether comedic, horrific or both.

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In a supercut by Fabian Broeker, Lanthimos’s haunting film from last year, “The Killing Of A Sacred Deer,” is revived with a beating heart. The compilation of clips focuses on the film’s use of camerawork and how the camera, itself, has a beating heart. Visual credit should be shared with frequent Lanthimos collaborator cinematographer Thimios Bakatakis who crafts the film with unflinchingly still and “silent” shots that zoom in and out on any given subject.

READ MORE: Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘The Favourite’ Is Deeply Hilarious And Fabulously Entertaining [Review]

The very first shot of “Sacred Deer” is that of a beating heart. Pumping blood through the body, the heart pulses; it’s horrifying and yet, strangely beautiful, the camera looking at it with curiosity. Mimicking that role, the camera works as the heart for the body of the film. Moving the audience’s gaze in and out of frames, keeping us on the edge of our seats. It’s a hypnotic tool that Lanthimos channels through Bakatakis’ talents. And it is one part of the film that remains with you once the credits roll.

READ MORE: ‘The Killing Of A Sacred Deer’ Is Absolutely F***king Brilliant [Review]

For “The Favourite,” Lanthimos is utilizing the equally-immense talent of Robbie Ryan. Ryan has collaborated with director Andrea Arnold on films “American Honey,” “Wuthering Heights,” and “Fish Tank.” With the use of a fisheye lens, Lanthimos’s film is yet another jarring experience in a filmography that leaves one unsettled, uncomfortable, but wildly entertained.