The Killing of a Sacred Deer

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The Killing of a Sacred Deer

R

2017

2h 1m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

280 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

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. Soon, the full scope of Martin's intent becomes menacingly clear when he confronts Steven with a long-forgotten transgression that will shatter his domestic bliss forever.

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Critics Consensus

The Killing of a Sacred Deer continues director Yorgos Lanthimos' stubbornly idiosyncratic streak -- and demonstrates again that his is a talent not to be ignored.

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Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

Has a doctor ever killed your father, and you used voodoo to get back him? Yea, me too. Yorgos Lanthimos's follow-up to The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, is every bit as creepy, dark, and ironic as the former.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 5, 2018

Full Review

Namrata Joshi

The Hindu

The Killing of a Sacred Deer scares, baffles, unsettles, annoys and peels off the happy smokescreen to reveal the discomfiting reality of yet another upper class family.

Jul 11, 2018

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Karl Quinn

The Age (Australia)

Bleakly brilliant.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 15, 2018

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David Day

Horror Movie Talk

f you don’t mind facing some disturbing material and themes, I would recommend anyone who is looking for a seriously solid psychological horror movie to see The Killing of a Sacred Deer.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 11, 2025

Full Review

Jack Walters

Loud and Clear Reviews

"The Killing of a Sacred Deer offers an unsettling and disturbing insight into a twisted world that’s actually not so unlike our own."

Rated: 4/5

Jan 18, 2025

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Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

To Lanthimos, justice is messy and complicated. In real life, there are very little winners, but there are many losers.

Oct 4, 2024

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Jon R.

Wasn’t bad. I think the movie would’ve been better if you were left wondering longer what was going on instead of the antagonist explaining everything a bit early on

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

Full Review

Mac S

A dark, psychological thriller with a stunning cast. This film had me tense in the shoulders watching. It's a slow burn though. Be patient.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/25

Full Review

Slick R

Pretty intense movie. If you are not prepared for such a violent journey then you probably won't like it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/26/25

Full Review

Connor O.

Wow, put off this one for years and boy am I happy I gave it another shot. Had me saying “what the fuck” several times, hating Barry and some of the other main characters for their choices, but that led to the tension. I’d classify it as a psychological thriller/ scifi than horror. People complaining about it for lack of some realism for a fictional movie that could never happen need to touch some grass. Colin was amazing. Barry amazing. Kids like abke and hateable at the same time, which was necessary for the dilemma that was the movie. Wish the outcome was different, but liked how the final solution was done. 100% worth a watch

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

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Jalvzz ..

That type of movie that leaves you speechless

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

Full Review

Gabriel T

Simply a masterpiece. One of the most tense and disconcerting movies I have ever seen. The acting, the situations, the dialogue, the lighting, the soundtrack, the camera angles... Everything is awesome. Some people call it presumptuous, but I think they could simply get that not all movies need to be a Marvel

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/28/25

Full Review

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Yorgos Lanthimos

Director

Bill Camp

Matthew Williams

Raffey Cassidy

Kim Murphy

Denise Dal Vera

Mary Williams

Colin Farrell

Steven Murphy

Barry Keoghan

Martin

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Synopsis

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. Soon, the full scope of Martin's intent becomes menacingly clear when he confronts Steven with a long-forgotten transgression that will shatter his domestic bliss forever.

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Producer: Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos
Screenwriter: Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Element Pictures
Rating: R (Disturbing Violent Content|Disturbing Sexual Content|Language|Some Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.3M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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