This movie is incredibly difficult to get through, because the viewer is made to feel violence coming well before it is put into action. As I think Hitchcock pointed out, effective films are those that harness our anticipations and imaginations as much as reveal 'the payoff'. The final 15 or so minutes, though, reward you for sitting through what you sat through, and remind you that you are a good person who did not want the harm to take place.

As the product of a craft, the movie is actually very solid and well-made. As referenced above in this comment, the film is incredibly effective at evoking in viewers a profound and visceral experience. The performances, art direction, score and soundtrack, editing, and pacing are all top-of-the-line.

I appreciate that the movie was not over-the-top in violence or in putting physical pain in front of the camera. It's certainly a horror movie, but the physical pain shown is pretty short in duration.

Watch if you're into intelligent, artful horrors. Wait until you are firmly connected with your own 'goodness' as a person.

This movie really gets me to question whether I can stomach any more movies about people enacting violence intentionally or deliberately.

Completely original depiction of a serial killer, his view of himself, and the reality that he is rather less wonderful than he thinks. Beware, this is not a PG films so don't rate it badly just because it is a depiction of narcissistic evil.

I picked up this movie browsing the stacks because it read as a good thriller but I barely made it through the entire thing because of the gruesomeness. I give it 4 stars for being a novel movie, but had I had made the connection before to other Lars von Trier films I have seen, I might not have been so eager to watch it. It was a true, psychological thriller and I wish I had eye wash when I finished. 

I watched it after the "Presidential debate " between satan (tRUMP) and Biden....so I was already queasy. Disturbing to say the least. Next day, I explored Von Triers commentary that explained that it was designed to"be digested in a couple of days"....Very true.

On my second viewing, I had to wonder if the EVIL jack had been patterned after tRUMP himself....the flash cards, the psychopathic nature, the vile and despicable nature of a human being devoid of spirituality and love. Form your own opinion(s) and vote accordingly. First viewing....I wanted to crucify Von Lars. Upon the second viewing...I can understand his message....He is providing a message and is condemning evil in a strong way. The last 20 minutes are impressive and vindicates the previous 1.5 hours. This is strong film that the weak should avoid at any cost. Hail, Lars!

I did not like it. Horribly graphic of murder. Another weirdo movie from Lars.

Have seen enough of Lars von Trier prior works to watch his films with full attention and give Lars the benefit of the doubt in his intentions and enigmatic stories. One may not like his topics one iota but he always breaks new grounds. Yep, his latest is a story about a man named jack and his inhumane journey to hell.

Note: Lars chose another David Bowie's tune "Fame" as a background song. In his 2003 Dogville, he picked Bowie's song "Young Americans".

Wow, definitely some serious gore and disturbing scenes here. Personally, if you can call serial killer bios a genre, I think "Henry, portrait of a serial killer" plumbs the depths of depravity with a lot less gore and much more creepy subtext. I don't know why someone would want to film some of these scenes, a question of art ethics or not. Dillon does cold Stone killers quite well.

A disturbing debate of whether brutal creation and/or destruction can be worthy of the title of "art". A great performance by Matt Dillon. Pacing is slow and the movie very long, with some scenes being very hard to watch.

I felt this was a interesting movie but slow with a dark comedy feel at times. I am not also knowing much of the director of this movie maybe I have seen other movies but do not recall at all Lars Von Trier has a interesting take on the concept of hell too. I really like the dialog of Matt Dillon between a older man not sure of his name just hearing a thinking aspect of a serial killers thoughts and I also found it confusing too.

I found it a slow pace too but overall interesting and I really like Matt Dillon movies too if you like slower pace movies with some gore if you would call it gore and I must say the freezer very funny too.

Von Trier is divisive, and this is possibly him at his most so.

Is THTJB gratuitous and violent for the sake of being violent, or is there a point? Is it entertainment or does it offer up any points to consider?

This film floats best with not only the artsy crowd, but it also requires the mental (and stomach) fortitude to see past the surface level in order to glean something besides what is obvious in front of the eyes.

That's Trier for you: Brutal, uncompromising, and, in my opinion, beautiful.