One Night Only: THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

Watch Trailer Director: Lars Von Trier
Cast: Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman

Lars von Trier’s THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT has its North American premiere Wednesday, November 28, with a special one-night-only show of the director’s cut—the same version that was shown at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and prompted both a 10-minute standing ovation and more than a few disturbed walkouts.

USA in the 1970s. We follow the highly intelligent Jack (Matt Dillon) through 5 incidents and are introduced to the murders that define Jack’s development as a serial killer.

We experience the story from Jack’s point of view. He views each murder as an artwork in itself, even though his dysfunction gives him problems in the outside world. Despite the fact that the final and inevitable police intervention is drawing ever near (which both provokes and puts pressure on Jack) he is – contrary to all logic – set on taking greater and greater chances. The goal is the ultimate artwork: A collection of all his killings manifested in a House that he builds.

Along the way we experience Jack’s descriptions of his personal condition, problems and thoughts through a recurring conversation with the unknown Verge – a grotesque mixture of sophistry mixed with an almost childlike self-pity and in-depth explanations of, for Jack, dangerous and difficult maneuvers.

This special one night only screening of the director’s cut features an intro by Lars Von Trier & Matt Dillon.

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Running Time: 155 minutes155 MIN
R Rated
This Film is Wheelchair Accessible

Dillon might have trouble putting this one at the top of his resume if he wants to do a Disney film, but there’s no question he delivers an impactful movie monster, with darting eyes and a toothy smile that makes Jack at once seem empathetic and bonkers.

Eric Kohn
indieWire