Yorgos Lanthimos has built a reputation for embracing the bizarre and unusual through his filmmaking. His works such as Poor Things, The Lobster, and to some degree, The Favourite, clearly reflect this passion.
However, The Killing of a Sacred Deer stands out as perhaps the most peculiar of them all. It leaves viewers both traumatised and in awe with its disturbing brilliance. Attempting to categorise this movie proves difficult because it blends elements from different genres. This very fusion makes it an unforgettable cinematic journey.
Wine spills and secrets unravel as two women’s lives collide (Photo: The Killing Of A Sacred Deer/Element Pictures, A24, Film4, and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board)Particularly, the conclusion of The Killing of a Sacred Deer lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. At the centre of the story, Steven (Colin Farrell) faces an unbearable dilemma. But one is left to wonder if he ever genuinely had a say in what happened.
What Happened At The End Of The Killing Of A Sacred Deer?
After repeated failures to persuade Martin to lift the dreadful curse, and with Steven still agonising over which family member to sacrifice, things take a grim turn as Bob’s (Sunny Suljic) eyes begin to bleed. This horrifying sign indicates that Steven can no longer delay making his choice.
In desperation, he gathers the family into the sitting room, ties them to various pieces of furniture, covers their mouths, and places pillowcases over the heads of Bob, Anna (Nicole Kidman), and Kim (Raffey Cassidy).
To make the choice blindly, he covers his own eyes with a cap, spins around holding a loaded rifle, and fires. His first shot targets Kim but misses. The second attempt misses Anna as well. On his third attempt, he hits Bob and ends his life.
Later on, Martin (Barry Keoghan) encounters the grieving family, now missing Bob, inside a diner. The movie quietly closes with Martin watching them as they leave.
Did Steven Have A Choice In Who Died?
The concept of free will and predetermined outcomes takes centre stage in The Killing of a Sacred Deer. It presents audiences with the question of whether Steven truly had a hand in choosing the family member to die.
On a very basic level, it appears he does, since he seemingly gets to decide who among his wife, son, and daughter will perish, or whether all of them should face death. However, considering the impossible nature of the decision, it becomes clear that Steven’s control over the situation is extremely limited.
Digging deeper, it seems possible that Steven had even less influence than he believed. The death of Bob might have been decided from the very beginning. The choice always belonged to Martin, not Steven.
Martin orchestrated Bob’s death by exerting his mysterious power over the family’s fate. When examining Steven’s blind attempts to kill either Anna, Kim, or Bob, some troubling patterns emerge.
Steven attempts to surrender the decision to chance by shooting without sight. Yet, despite his best efforts, his shots conveniently miss Anna and Kim, only to fatally strike Bob in the end. One might argue that he became more accurate with each attempt, eventually hitting his son.
This theory holds some weight. However, another possibility is that Martin had already determined Bob’s fate long before Steven lifted the gun. In a manner similar to “an eye for an eye,” it makes logical sense.
Steven was responsible for Martin growing up without a father; thus, Martin intended to make Steven experience life without a son. From the beginning of the film, Martin appeared to see Steven as a potential father figure.
After Steven rejected Martin’s attempts to integrate himself into the family, this hope turned to bitterness. From Martin’s twisted point of view, eliminating Bob might have been a step towards replacing him.
Bob also showed the greatest resistance towards Martin. Maybe Martin simply disliked Bob or viewed him as a threat. Since Bob was the first to exhibit symptoms of Martin’s curse, it suggests he was targeted early on. Choosing Bob would inflict the most emotional pain on the family, given that he was their youngest and most innocent member.
Steven might have had the option to let the entire family perish, but regarding which member was to die, it seems he never really had control.
Is Martin Getting Revenge Or Justice?
The whole situation can be traced back to Steven’s involvement in Martin’s father’s death. If one holds the belief that balance must be restored by taking a life in response to another lost life, then Martin’s course of action could be seen as seeking justice. He avenges the death of his father, and Steven’s guilt is amplified because he had been drinking prior to the surgery that led to the fatal mistake.
Even so, Martin’s actions lean heavily towards vengeance rather than justice. We lack clear details about how their interaction first began, but it becomes apparent that Martin tolerated Steven only so long as Steven met his expectations. The moment Steven resists Martin’s efforts to involve his mother, Martin retaliates by cursing the family.
Martin seemingly harboured dreams of Steven filling the role of his new father. Once Steven rejects this idea, Martin turns to an act he perceives as justice. Yet, it is nothing more than revenge against Steven for the loss of his biological father. In this story, the boundary between justice and revenge becomes difficult to distinguish, depending on one’s personal point of view.
It is also crucial to remember that Martin is a boy deeply wounded by grief. Like many people grappling with unbearable loss, his actions could be seen as desperate attempts to ease his suffering. This movie thoughtfully addresses the ways grief can manifest in destructive ways.
The Art Of Uncertainty
Having listened to numerous interviews with Yorgos Lanthimos and the cast members of The Killing of a Sacred Deer, it becomes clear that the director intentionally avoids giving viewers direct answers. He might have private explanations and detailed backstories for his characters, but he deliberately keeps them hidden.
Fiction blends with reality in a haunting reimagining of Shirley Jackson’s life (Photo: The Killing Of A Sacred Deer/Element Pictures, A24, Film4, and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board)Lanthimos appears comfortable working in a space where ambiguity thrives. During a conversation with LA Times, the Greek filmmaker mentioned that part of writing the screenplay involved creating “an impossible equation with an impossible answer.” The many layers within The Killing of a Sacred Deer make it such that no interpretation feels final.
Depending on how one looks at the story, Martin could easily be viewed either as the villain or as a grieving boy reacting to tragedy. If the movie were a simple story of revenge, some might even see Martin as the wronged hero.
Though Martin often seems emotionally detached, it could be his unique way of handling sorrow, or simply a reflection of his personality. This detachment does not mean he lacks feelings.
Steven, on the other hand, despite his many moral failings—such as operating under the influence and lying to his loved ones—manages to show enough vulnerability and affection towards his family that audiences find him easier to sympathise with.
What makes The Killing of a Sacred Deer so compelling is its refusal to offer neat explanations. Lanthimos explained to Pop Matter that he intentionally built the movie to allow people to fill in the gaps themselves:
Whether you believe that a supernatural curse is at work, or you see it as a psychological condition affecting the family members, the movie was crafted in a way that allows every individual to enter and experience it differently. It embraces the idea that each person’s thinking and worldview will shape how they understand the story.
Part of the strength of the film is how it invites viewers to immerse themselves fully and draw their own meanings. The Killing of a Sacred Deer stands out as one of the most memorable films you can watch, especially if you appreciate Barry Keoghan’s acting or admire Colin Farrell’s talent. Their gripping performances will surely linger in your memory long after the screen fades to black.
