The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Movie, 2017, The 2010s, Set in A surgeon's family
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is #10 of 37 in release order and #10 of 37 in chronological order in the A24.
The story
Dr. Steven Murphy is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who presides over a spotless household with his wife and two children. Lurking at the margins of his idyllic suburban existence is Martin, a fatherless teen who insinuates himself into the doctor's life in gradually unsettling ways.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer recap
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) follows Steven Murphy, a heart surgeon whose family is cursed by a teenager whose father died on his operating table. Yorgos Lanthimos directs and co-writes with Efthimis Filippou, borrowing from the Greek myth of Iphigenia. Steven (Colin Farrell) secretly meets Martin Lang (Barry Keoghan), 16, giving him gifts, and introduces him to his wife Anna (Nicole Kidman), an eye doctor, and their children Kim (Raffey Cassidy) and Bob (Sunny Suljic). Martin's mother (Alicia Silverstone) tries to seduce Steven. Then Bob's legs stop working. Martin calmly explains the rule: Steven must kill one member of his family to balance his father's death, or all three will be paralyzed, stop eating, bleed from the eyes and die. Kim, infatuated with Martin, collapses too. Steven admits he had been drinking before the fatal operation. The film stands alone.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer ending explained
The Killing of a Sacred Deer ends with Steven choosing by chance. He ties Martin up in the basement, beats him and shoots him in the legs, but nothing changes; Kim and Bob each try to win his favor, Anna argues they could have another child, and Steven even asks the school which child is better. Anna sets Martin free. When Bob starts bleeding from the eyes, Steven binds his wife and children with tape in the living room and covers their heads, pulls a hat over his own face, spins and fires a rifle. The third shot kills Bob. Later the three survivors leave a diner without a word after Martin walks in.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Killing of a Sacred Deer has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Killing of a Sacred Deer
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 79%
Where it fits
- Release order: after 20th Century Women, before The Florida Project.
- Chronological order: after 20th Century Women, before The Florida Project.
Cast
- Colin Farrell as Steven Murphy
- Nicole Kidman as Anna Murphy
- Barry Keoghan as Martin Lang
- Raffey Cassidy as Kim Murphy
- Sunny Suljic as Bob Murphy
- Bill Camp as Matthew Williams
- Alicia Silverstone as Martin's Mother
- Herb Caillouet as Ed Thompson (Hospital Director)
- Barry G. Bernson as Dr. Larry Banks
- Denise Dal Vera as Mary Williams
- Drew Logan as Principal
- Michael Trester as Elderly Man
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.