One of the more intriguing horror films on the horizon this year is Lars von Trier’s ANTICHRIST, starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Von Trier always makes… interesting films, although of course they’re not for everybody. (Hell, I’d argue that a couple of them aren’t for anybody.) It’s been a little while since we’ve seen any updates come in for this mysterious flick, but IndieWire has changed that today.
Above you see the first official still from ANTICHRIST, and yes, it’s of Dafoe and his naked ass as he bangs Gainsbourg under a tree of trapped souls (at least that’s my guess). Hey, when the moment is right, what can you do?
An insider IndieWire spoke to has apparently seen a promo reel for the film amd said “it’s gonna be great”. If that disturbing and surreal image is indicative of the movie as a whole, maybe the insider is right. Of course, it could also end up being pretentious twaddle, and with von Trier at the helm, that’s always a possibility.
Here’s the official (and befuddling) synopsis: He and she lose their little son and she subsequently suffers from terrible anxiety attacks. Her husband is a therapist, and in spite of warnings not to treat people with whom you have close relations, they begin to tackle her fears together, and in the place where her anxiety is strongest: Eden, a deserted cabin in the woods.
The tough therapeutic struggle develops into a battle of the sexes. Her fears inhabit them both and even he is not exempt from experiencing the merciless evil of nature. Natural brutality takes over and his cool reason is rendered futile. The evil in her runs wild.
Meanwhile, ZENTROPA has listed the release date as being MAY 29th, although that’s not likely to be when it hits the states. Expect it to pop up at the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, however. We’ll keep an eye out for more info as it comes in.
Charlotte Gainsbourg.