Yorgos Lanthimos // We Are All Psychopaths

While it’s easy to see the social and behavioral differences between ourselves and the characters in Yorgos Lanthimos’ films, those differences create a contrast that also shows us how similar we are.

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This video essay focuses on Lanthimos' early films Dogtooth, The Lobster, and Killing of a Sacred Deer. I felt this was just the correct slice of his oeurve to make the point, I'm attempting to make.

On a personal note, I still remember the emotions of watching Dogtooth for the first time. It wasn't all awe or transcendence. It was plenty of disgust and discomfort, yet the film cut so deeply into my subconscious that I couldn't just not watch it again. I immediately went back to my dorm (I was in college at the time) and watched it with my roommate. Again, experiencing the disgust, the discomfort and the pure guts that it takes to make a film like that. So raw yet surreal and ethereal; like a horrific parable. Ever since then I was absolutely hooked. While his style becomes more diluted (not saying this is a bad thing at all) his technique continues to grow sharper. I understand how someone could watch his films and feel as though there's not a shred of humanity in them, but I think Lanthimos' gives us a shrewd, but immensely wide view of what it means to be human.