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The House That Jack Built

Play trailer 2:43 Poster for The House That Jack Built R Released Dec 14, 2018 2h 31m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
59% Tomatometer 137 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In five episodes, failed architect and vicious sociopath Jack recounts his elaborately orchestrated murders -- each, as he views them, a towering work of art that defines his life's work as a serial killer in the Pacific Northwest.
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The House That Jack Built

The House That Jack Built

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Critics Consensus

The House That Jack Built presents writer-director Lars von Trier at his most proudly uncompromising: hard to ignore, and for many viewers, just as difficult to digest.

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Critics Reviews

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Emma Stefansky Slate Von Trier may be a provocateur, but his brand of provocation seems to be growing stale. Apr 8, 2019 Full Review David Stratton The Australian The violence in The House That Jack Built is horrific...you've been warned. Rated: 1/5 Mar 8, 2019 Full Review Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald If this shrill, manipulative, sledge-hammer allegory is right for our times, give me Dante any day. Von Trier has certainly done better, but never worse. Rated: 2/5 Mar 5, 2019 Full Review Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views If you enjoy serial killer movies, do not watch The House That Jack Built expecting traditional, satisfying fare. If you are a von Trier fan, he has done better work, and something in this film feels lacking. Jun 12, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review It's precisely because I see the merits of his form that I find its overly mindful digressions into self-indulgence tiresome. Rated: 2/4 Mar 4, 2022 Full Review Emiliano Basile EscribiendoCine In this ending, Lars von Trier takes another step towards the abyss, demonstrating his mastery of the story. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 6/10 Nov 4, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sams K It was very cool until the ending that it's too much allegorical. I think it's a very deep introspection of Von Trier, a well-done movie but it's not what I would have wanted to see. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/14/24 Full Review Mason M Lars Von Trier has done it again, he's one of my favorite directors because his films leave me amazed again and again, this is not his best work, but it was no exception. The House That Jack Built is probably Von Trier's most grand and self-indulgent film, and that does this film favors. Matt Dillon does a great performance as Jack, and this film's writing was also top notch, with great dialogue and great character building that left me thoroughly entertained. Von Trier has definitely made better, but it's nice to know that he's still got it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/17/24 Full Review Audience Member It’s actually a pretty good movie overall, they just added way more disturbing content than what was needed. The acting is extremely well performed by Matt Dillon as Jack, but there are just too many violent and disturbing scenes, especially incident 3. If the movie wasn’t so dark, it probably would have at least been nominated for some Academy Awards. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/22/24 Full Review Oaklee D Watched it on my sisters recommendation and loved it, makes you feel dread throughout. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/06/24 Full Review Teddy B The 'philosophical' elements of this movie involving Jack's psyche come across pretension rather than genuine thoughtfulness. Jack just becomes much more irredeemable and narcissistic as the film goes along (that's another problem entirely). The ending falls victim to this pretension, moving at an almost torturous pace. The images look pretty but signify near nothing. The film doesn't become especially exploitative or shocking until that infamous '3rd Incident', when, oddly, it becomes much more thrilling and interesting (until the epilogue). Lars Von Trier doesn't effectively connect the threads of this elaborate storyline (for example, Jack focusing on the construction of his house. The title statement of the film is barely mentioned), but as individual vignettes the stories told are very interesting and definitely original... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Daniel L The movie pulls no punches with a very dark self narrated story of a serial killer. Well acted and directed. Maybe a little long, but overall worth the watch. Best comparison would be American Psycho, if you enjoyed that sort of movie with high levels of violence and character study, you will enjoy this. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The House That Jack Built

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Movie Info

Synopsis In five episodes, failed architect and vicious sociopath Jack recounts his elaborately orchestrated murders -- each, as he views them, a towering work of art that defines his life's work as a serial killer in the Pacific Northwest.
Director
Lars von Trier
Producer
Louise Vesth
Screenwriter
Lars von Trier
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Film i Väst, Zentropa Entertainment, Eurimages, Copenhagen Film Fund, Film und Medien Stiftung NRW
Rating
R (Language|Grisly Images|Nudity|Sadistic Behavior|Strong Disturbing Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 14, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 31, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$253.5K
Runtime
2h 31m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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