Overview

• Romain Gavras’ Sacrifice, co-written with Will Arbery and starring Chris Evans and Anya Taylor-Joy, premiered Sept. 6 in TIFF’s Special Presentations.
• Critics widely commend the film’s grand-scale imagery and sound design, citing Gavras’ music-video roots and lavish production values.
• Reviewers say the eat-the-rich and celebrity-skewering elements lack bite, with tonal swings toward faith and prophecy leaving the message muddled.
• Taylor-Joy’s turn as a fervent leader is frequently singled out, while opinions on Evans range from career-best notices to complaints of an underpowered arc.
• Shot over roughly 10 weeks in Greece and Bulgaria, including Santorini volcano locations, the film is now seeking distribution after its festival bow.