From casual movie-goers to hardcore movie buffs, everyone knows that the Cannes Film Festival is the creme-de-la-creme of movie festivals on the international stage. Independent gems are discovered and big budget blockbusters are premiered here during the two weeks of the festival along the French Riviera.

But if you’ve paid attention to any news coming out of Cannes this year, which rapped-up Sunday, no next big thing caught the eyes of the judges, rather the spotlight has primarily been surrounding (negatively) a film by Lars Von Trier, Antichrist.  It even received the rare “anti-prize” by the festival’s Ecumenical Jury, which usually awards films that honor spiritual reality. Read some excerpts and watch the trailer after the click.

Now typically controversy only increases the popularity of films that make it to Cannes (see Fahrenheit 9/11).  But Antichrist seems to have strictly garnered bad press and nothing but bad press.

Here are a few reactions and choice words that critics had to say about Antichrist:

“Its images are a fork in the eye. Its cruelty is unrelenting. Its despair is profound.” – Roger Ebert

“This may prove a great date movie for the pain-is-pleasure couples.” – Todd McCarthy

One critic, Georgia Brown of the Village Voice fled to the rest room in emotional turmoil.

This article was written in May & is part of the Archives , Music & Entertainment , Stew sections.