The image of deer often appears in Western movies, especially in thriller and suspense films. Although there is no deer in the film, the word "sacred deer" is used in the title. Where is the deer? Who is the deer?
In my impression, deer is first the target of hunters and the source of human food. The hunter who can capture prey not only proves that he is very viable, but also shows that he is the backbone of the family's economy, and further that he is a symbol of a family and even a social power. In other words, deer can symbolize power. It goes without saying that this symbolic meaning refers to the male protagonist Steven (Colin Farrell) in the movie.
Although the deer has a gentle temperament, because it is good at running away, it has another layer of symbolism-the leader. The original meaning is to guide the hunter to chase himself non-stop, and the symbol in the movie is Steven's career as a doctor, which determines the life and death of the patient.
The third symbol of the deer is the wise man. The wise can perceive everything, such as Steven can withstand the temptation of Martin's mother. But together with the previous images of power and leader, Steven's "Deer" has been in a state of being murdered. So this wise man can resist the temptation, but he cannot crack the prophecy.
The deer was hunted, and the expression in the movie was not because of the hunter's greed, but because the deer made a mistake-drinking. Although wine is not the original sin in the Christian doctrine, “wine can make people scornful, and strong wine makes people clamor. Anyone who is wrong because of wine has no wisdom” is the warning given by Christ in the Old Testament.
In this murder process, the image of deer’s power, leader, wise man, and even fertility were destroyed-Nicole Kidman’s wife Anna and Steven’s close friend’s ambiguous relationship and hints can be passed The test tube requires another child, including a sexual position with a strong sense of religious ritual between them.
If this film is only interpreted as a story of revenge and sacrifice from the mythology of Agamemnon and Iphigenia, it seems that it lacks the social care that the film should have. From this perspective, the film hints that the superficially glamorous life of the middle class is seriously inadequate because of its own problems. They are like cars driving hurriedly on a highway, and a small stone can cause car crashes and deaths.
The way the middle class handles crises is often to stop losses. Stop loss symbolizes sacrifice, but also implies compromise and fear. Bob is a sacrifice, but only represents a sacrifice. The awe and fear that God imposes on human beings can only be manifested through sacrifices one after another. Therefore, the story has just begun, but it will never end. The anxiety of the middle class will always follow.
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