Satirical social commentaries have been around for a long time. But in the last decade there seems to be more of them being released. Especially at film festivals such as TIFF. From Triangle of Sadness, to The Lobster and The Menu, the latest batch of films target the elite. Sacrifice is one of those films. Like films in the same vein, it feels like it was lacking focus as it loses its direction part way through.
Sacrifice tells the story of a gathering of society’s elite, from billionaire businessmen to celebrities like actor Mike Taylor (Chris Evans), who decide their goal is to fight climate change. Unfortunately for him, a group of eco activists who think the world is ending decide to attack. They take everyone at the event hostage.
While the film does have its moments, it’s mostly disjointed and doesn’t know what it wants to be. It tries hard to point out the hypocrisy of the elite. Central to the film is Tyler, a clueless buffoon with mental problems, so his point gets ignored.
The second half of the film focuses on a budding love story between Tyler and one of his kidnappers (Anya Taylor-Joy). Yes it’s abused, but that’s what satire is supposed to be all about isn’t it?
Like most satires Sacrifice will have an audience, but in this case it won’t be a very big one. It’s mostly a boring movie that doesn’t know what it wants to say, which will turn most people off.
- Rated: Unrated
- Genre: Action, Comedy
- Directed by: Romain Gavras
- Starring: Ambika Mod, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charli XCX, Chris Evans, John Malkovich, Salma Hayek, Sam Richardson, Vincent Cassel
- Produced by: Giorgos Karnavas, Gregory Jankilevitsch, Jacob Perlin, Klaudia Smieja, Robert Walak, Romain Gavras
- Written by: Romain Gavras, Will Arbery
- Studio: Film4 Productions, Heretic, Iconoclast, Lady Killer Productions, Mid-March Media
