A virtuosic act of defiance against his detractors, Lars Von Trier’s The House That Jack Built is a brilliant, ultra-violent portrayal of a serial killer. Starring a mesmeric Matt Dillon on terrifying form, this Dantean plunge into the mind of madness is a provocative blend of comedy and horror.

Lars von Trier dialed down his ferociousness in the mid-2000s to make a satire of neoliberalism that is, in fact, surprisingly sweet! Circling around an eager thespian who bears the brunt of a peculiar act of outsourcing, this droll, lo-fi version of the office sitcom never needs a laugh track.

The kids are not alright in this bone-chilling horror tale from Eskil Vogt, famed for his writing partnership with Joachim Trier. Alert to the supernatural unease that lurks among the sleepy forests of Oslo, The Innocents punctures the edenic cocoon of childhood with disturbing, gruesome deeds.