Lars von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built’ Spurs Walk Outs at Cannes

Yesterday, something interesting, if not altogether surprising, happened at the Cannes Film Festival. After being welcomed back to the fest, filmmaker Lars von Trier unveiled his newest movie, the serial killer tale "The House That Jack Built." Never one to shy away from controversy, even the tickets to von Trier's film had an "explicit violence" warning on them. Cannes often has this sort of film booed when the credits come up, but this time was different. During the first festival screening, a number of people got up and walked out. Reports have it at about 100 people, which is noteworthy. Then, the reactions on social media came in.

As you'll see below, a lot of folks think the filmmaker crossed some sort of a line here. Starring Matt Dillon, the movie follows Jack, a serial killer, over a decade and change as he commits a number of grisly murders that shape him. The film also stars Riley Keough and Uma Thurman, both of whom are apparently mutilated by Dillon's Jack. Obviously, von Trier is known as a provocateur, but something here seems different, at least going by the response that the flick drew on Twitter.

Here are some of the Tweets:

The Playlist (Jessica Kiang review)

"A 'Human Centipede' ass-to-mouth concertina of gruesome misogyny and utter tedium." #LarsVonTrier's #TheHouseThatJackBuilt Is Grotesque Garbage https://t.co/Vs3qoblsyJpic.twitter.com/5VCOEOAqOa

— The Playlist (@ThePlaylist) May 15, 2018

Lars Von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built’ Is Repulsive, Toxic Trash https://t.co/bIwBxUO0Kipic.twitter.com/IOD02gxSvG

— The Playlist (@ThePlaylist) May 15, 2018
Ramin Setoodeh (Variety)

Lars von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built’ was one of the most unpleasant movie-going experiences of my life. #Cannes2018

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) May 14, 2018

I’ve never seen anything like this at a film festival. More than 100 people have walked out of Lars von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built,’ which depicts the mutilation of women and children. “It’s disgusting,” one woman said on her way out. #Cannes2018pic.twitter.com/GsBGCoyHEG

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) May 14, 2018
Roger Friedman (Showbiz 411)

Walked out on LarsvonTrier . Vile movie. Should not have been made. Actors culpable

— Showbiz 411 (@showbiz411) May 14, 2018
Peter Bradshaw (The Guardian)

Lars Von Trier’s The House That Jack Built is an ordeal of gruesomeness and tiresomeness, quite as exasperating as I feared, but leading to what I have to admit is a spectacular horror finale. Review later #Cannes2018#Cannes71#Cannes

— Peter Bradshaw (@PeterBradshaw1) May 14, 2018
IFC Films has "The House That Jack Built" and will be distributing it in the fall. No word yet on if it'll be edited at all between now and then, though one would assume that sort of conversation is taking place right now. Time will tell. For the moment, take a look at the Trailer that dropped yesterday as well, if you dare:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYF2tfdD1fA

THOUGHTS ON "THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT" AND ITS CANNES RESPONSE? DISCUSS IN THE COMMENTS!

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