The following is a real conversation between some moronic producer and one-trick-pony director/hack Yargos Lanthimos about the initial conception of the critically acclaimed film 'Dogtooth'
"Hey, I want to make a movie about some parents who keeps their kids separated from the rest of the world."
"Ok, that sounds interesting! So what happens?"
"Just some stuff."
"Well, what stuff? What's the plot?"
"Ehhh, there is no plot."
"There's no actual story of any kind? So what, it's just an empty movie where pointless stuff happens to no end?"
"Exactly! But I'll throw in some meaningless violence and sexual perversion so people know it's a deep, indie film."
"Well okay, just remember to make sure you tell your actors to deliver their lines with zero trace of emotion like you do in every other film you make!"
This movie hurt me. It's a fraudulent empty production that provides nothing for the viewer. The trivia section of this movie claims that Lanthimos came up with this ever so unique idea when he began to question the 'institution of family itself.' Please, I beg you Yorgos, if my eyes roll any deeper into my head it may cause permanent damage.
This is the most recent of Lanthimos' films that I've seen. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) was fine, but ultimately just a dumbed down and emotionless retelling of a Greek myth. The Lobster (2015) was decent and somewhat funny until I stopped watching. And The Favourite (2018) was a dull, bland, movie with an uninspired excuse for a story, that happened to feature some good performances and remarkable costumes and set-pieces (and one funny moment during a dance scene). There is a commonality between all of these films that are so obviously important to Lanthimos, and that it his decision to have his actors act as if they've been lobotomized. This is not deep, it's not artistic, it's boring and senseless, especially once you notice that this quality exists in every one of this director's films.
I absolutely would not bother with this film unless perhaps you're depressed already.
