20 Best Indie Movies Of 2018
18. The House That Jack Built
Lars von Trier's new film is one of the most polarising and discomforting of his entire career, and that's really saying something.
A 155-minute psychological horror following a serial killer (Matt Dillon) as he reflects on several randomly selected "incidents" throughout his murderous "career", The House That Jack Built makes zero concessions for its audience but is an undeniably striking work from one of cinema's most singular voices.
Von Trier's free-wheeling approach to narrative and dialogue won't be to all tastes - there are more than a few diverting monologues riffing on the likes of architecture and art - but Matt Dillon's career-best performance is basically beyond reproach, committing fully to the director's gonzo vision.
The biggest surprise, however, isn't its mind-blowing ending, but instead the film's consistent tenor of hilarity: for every brutal murder scene, there's a gut-busting sight gag to compliment it.
If you disliked von Trier's prior works this will do nothing to dissuade you, but if you're a fan, it's one of his most impressionable works to date.