• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Controversial horror film with real life sex scene handed 'anti-award' at one of the biggest film festivals

Home> Film & TV> News

Published 20:05 14 Jun 2024 GMT+1

Controversial horror film with real life sex scene handed 'anti-award' at one of the biggest film festivals

The film features lots of sexual content and violence

Emily Puckering

Emily Puckering

You know a film is going to be pretty damn gruesome when one of the world's biggest film festivals awards it with an 'anti' award.

Yep, this controversial horror actually got awarded with this, and if you've seen it... well, you'll know why.

Starring Spider-Man's Willem Dafoe and Alphonse's Charlotte Gainsbourg, the 2009 film tells the story of a couple who lose their son in an accident and go to a secluded cabin in the woods to reconnect.

Advert

Only their experience turns sexual and very violent.

Willem Dafoe stars in the controversial 2009 film. (Zentropa Entertainments)
Willem Dafoe stars in the controversial 2009 film. (Zentropa Entertainments)

So violent, in fact, that at one point Gainsbourg's character snips off her own clitoris... so it goes without saying this one really isn't everyone's cup of tea.

And if you think you've heard enough, then I'm sorry to say there's more.

Advert

The film in question is Antichrist, and according to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the film is 'clearly adult in theme and tone from the outset, including strong images of real sex, bloody violence, strong gory images, and a scene of self-mutilation'.

But it's true when they say that there's something out there for everyone, and the film managed to make its premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

But it wasn't all positives at the the 2009 festival, as the film - directed by Lars von Trier - was awarded the 'anti' award.

Advert

At the time, Radu Mihaileanu - a French filmmaker and head of an international jury at the film festival - said: "We cannot be silent after what that movie does.

"Antichrist is the most misogynist movie from the self-proclaimed biggest director in the world."

However, Cannes festival director Thierry Fremaux responded, calling the resolution a 'ridiculous decision that borders on a call for censorship, (it is) scandalous coming from an 'ecumenical' jury which what is more is headed by a filmmaker' to AFP.

While the film didn't receive any necessarily positive accolades, Gainsborough was named Best Actress in Cannes for Antichrist.

Advert

Antichrist features real sex scenes and lots of violence. (Zentropa Entertainments)
Antichrist features real sex scenes and lots of violence. (Zentropa Entertainments)

It later emerged that when it came to the intimate scenes, body doubles were used in Dafoe and Gainsborough's place - and this was apparently due to the actor's 'well endowed' manhood.

In an interview, director von Trier claimed that the actor's penis was so 'enormous', it left 'people confused'.

"He [Dafoe] has an enormous d**k. We had to take those scenes out of the film," he said. "We had a stand-in for him because we had to take the scenes out with his own d**k.

Advert

"We had to [have a stand-in d**k], because Will’s was too big."

Dafoe himself was asked about this during an interview with The Telegraph, to which he stayed pretty tight-lipped by simply saying: "I always get asked about it in interviews. Interviewers seem obsessed with the subject."

Featured Image Credit: Zentropa Entertainments

Topics: Sex and Relationships, Film and TV, Cannes Film Festival, Horror

Emily Puckering
Emily Puckering

Emily is a sub-editor at LADbible Group. With degrees in English Language and Multimedia Journalism, she works with the editorial team on LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla sub-editing and writing articles. And for those who are interested, Emily is from East Yorkshire which means she makes a cracking cuppa.

X

@emily_puckering

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

13 hours ago
a day ago
  • 13 hours ago

    New 'must-watch' Netflix series has fans demanding season two already after tuning in for 13 million hours

    The psychological thriller starring Miku Martineau has captivated viewers

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Vin Diesel movie scene that went horribly wrong and tragically killed his stunt double

    Harry O'Connor had worked on Charlie's Angels before he landed a role in Vin Diesel's 2002 movie

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    People feel 'second-hand embarrassment' after watching wild 'insult' Tom Cruise gave fan at Mission Impossible premiere

    The awkward interaction happened ahead of a screening of Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Denzel Washington speaks out after shouting at photographer during heated exchange at Cannes before skipping event

    The actor's representatives have issued a statement about Washington's abrupt departure from Cannes

    Film & TV
  • Sickening scene voted most shocking start to a horror movie in history
  • ‘Proud’ actress defends filming real-life sex scenes for controversial film
  • Controversial director who films real-life sex in his movies reveals reason why it's different to porn
  • Actress explains why she doesn’t regret real-life sex scene that caused huge public backlash