The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Dogs, then Lobsters, then Deers, oh Lanthimos. The bizarre pacing, aggressively passive performances and alarmingly sterile cinematography elevate what could be an urban legend to a cinematic installation worthy of its epic, tragic title. Kidman and Farrell impress with deeply internalized emotion while the younger supporting players prove disturbingly comedic.

The Beguiled

A startling amount of subtle comedy accompanies Colin into the cloistered Confederacy of Dunst’s, where her vampire character has finally grown up but Kidman still treats her wards as others. Simple cinematography and luxurious location add gravitas to an otherwise over-simplified and somewhat soap-operatic look at uncivil love and war.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fun-filled but utterly unmotivated catch and release expedition terminates abruptly into a confusingly contrived political horror story. Complexity of Potter disapparates in favor of tired arc where boys end up liking girls and vice versa. Imaginative vfx float their way through an unimaginative plot to explode at an unexpected Imaginarium.