AntichristLars von Trier has shown his new film ‘Antichrist’ at Cannes film festival, and the press were not all impressed. Some were no doubt happy with it, but it has also managed to make a few reporters more than a little unhappy. And Von Trier is never one to shy away from such controversy, and seemed to encourage it more than anything else. It all happened after the press screening of this latest film. A few reporters, most notably the Daily Mail reporter Baz Bamigboye, were incensed and outraged at the film’s somewhat overt horror and the ’sexual gore’ as some put it. The film had, as any good film should, divided the critics and sent a few home with a dazed look on their face whilst others were enraged. Job well done to the Dane. He held his own in the face of angry criticism.

“I don’t have to explain anything. You are all my guests here, not the other way round. Anyway, I don’t think about the audience when I make a film. I don’t care. I make films for myself”

That was Lars Von Trier’s response when grilled over his new horror film by the angry side of the press corps. And he does have a point, he’s made a film that he clearly wants to make, and if Baz and his friends want to cry about it, that’s their loss. Lars Von Trier played it very cool, especially considering the press wanted him explain and justify the sexual gore. Had the Dane tried to do so, I think he would’ve lost all hope of winning anyone over. By sticking to his guns that he didn’t need to justify himself or his film to the critics, he certainly looks like the noble artist suffering for his work, rather than an apologetic weakling. I half expected him to challenge Baz to a boxing match, only to remember it wasn’t Uwe Boll. But the marketting was a page out of the good Doctor’s book.

As for the gore itself, Von Trier did allude to the fact that it was essential for the film to have an integral and realistic feel to what he was trying to do. It would effectively be a lie to portray a film of this caliber without a certain amount of violence and sexuality, I would imagine. Of course he added that part of the blame for the excess was with lead actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, who apparently went above and beyond her duty. “Charlotte took it too far. I tried to, but I just couldn’t stop her,” the director joked.

As for the film itself, it looks pretty damn impressive. I’ve managed to scoop together what are 3 unusual (and to me chilling) clips and a trailer. Whilst searching for background on the story that I found at the Hollywood Reporter I came across both a trailer and 3 short movie clips over at ShockTillYouDrop. Click the links and judge for yourself. Perhaps you too can see what it is that has reporters so angered.

The film will be coming to the US courtesy of IFC Entertainment, who have assured those worried about the film being butchered that they intend to release it exactly as it was in Cannes. So the film that critics said was a sexually gorey horror film will be seen exactly as it was intended by the director, which can only be a good thing. Quality Horror uncompromised, from the self-proclaimed greatest director there is. A good day for Horror fans.

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