What is up with LVT needing to use gruesome, brutal animal images?

I made a post about this topic in the forum for LVT's two-parter Nymphomaniac as well. While it's effective in creating a visceral feeling of disgust, and while most of the time, it's to parallel whatever is going on within the storyline and jolt us into that comparative analysis, I still wish he wouldn't do it.

I know it's all part of his style. Watching all 3 (4) movies in his Depression Trilogy, his style and imagery is identical,...the characters all lay in the grass and either elevate above or sink into the ground,... there's always correlated images of animal brutality/mutilations/killing/suffering peppered throughout the scenes,... he utilizes very specific and telling symphonic music to dramatize various chapters...

So sure, I get it, it's his thing, his style, the gimmick (or insert whatever term you prefer) to capitalize on that moment,... He's successfully creating disturbing images to illustrate the points.

Part of the appeal of LVT movies is the way he utilizes graphic subject matter (such as depression and sex) and combines it with graphic filming. He touches on subjects that are controversial, sensitive, and often avoided. He's outside the box which is why I tend to enjoy his films.

So yeah, after all this, my only complaint is that I really, really wish he'd find ways other than the death and mutilation of animals to get his point across. Watching the abortion scene in Nymphomaniac,-- while disturbing,-- was still more tolerable.



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Sic vis pacem para bellum.