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The House That Jack Built

The House That Jack Built is a 2018 psychological horror film written and directed by Lars von Trier.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The House That Jack Built is a 2018 psychological horror film written and directed by Lars von Trier. It stars Matt Dillon as Jack, a serial killer whose crimes are framed over a 12-year period in the U.S. state of Washington, with Bruno Ganz as Verge accompanying him through the film’s Hell-like structure.

Plot

The film centers on Jack, an architect and serial killer, who describes a series of murders he considers artistic acts. These events are presented across a 12-year period in the American Pacific Northwest, with a framing device involving Verge and the circles of Hell. The story is structured around Jack recounting five major crimes.

Cast

The principal cast includes Matt Dillon as Jack and Bruno Ganz as Verge, alongside Uma Thurman, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Sofie Gråbøl, Riley Keough, and Jeremy Davies.

Production and release

The House That Jack Built was written and directed by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 and later received a limited U.S. theatrical release and VOD distribution in December 2018. The film has a runtime of 152 minutes and is in English.

Reception

The film attracted significant controversy for its violent content and its Cannes reception, which included both applause and walkouts. Reviews and audience-response reporting highlighted its graphic violence and divisive critical response. It received an R rating in the United States for strong disturbing violence, grisly images, language, nudity, and sadistic behavior.

Key facts

  • The House That Jack Built is a 2018 psychological horror film written and directed by Lars von Trier.
  • Matt Dillon stars as Jack, a serial killer, with Bruno Ganz as Verge.
  • The story spans 12 years and is framed by Jack's recounting of five murders.
  • The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 and received a limited U.S. release in December 2018.
  • It was controversial for its graphic violence and disturbing content, receiving an R rating.

Frequently asked questions

What is The House That Jack Built?
It is a 2018 psychological horror film written and directed by Lars von Trier about a serial killer named Jack.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Sofie Gråbøl, Riley Keough, and Jeremy Davies.
When was it released?
It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 and received a limited U.S. release in December 2018.
What is the film about?
It follows Jack over 12 years as he commits and recounts a series of murders, framed by conversations with Verge and imagery of Hell.
What genre is it?
It is generally described as a psychological horror film, with crime and thriller elements also noted.
Was the film controversial?
Yes. Contemporary coverage noted walkouts at Cannes and later criticism focused on its graphic violence and disturbing content.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_That_Jack_Built_(2018_film)
    Supports: Director, year, genre, cast, and basic plot description.
  2. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-house-that-jack-built-2018
    Supports: Cannes reception, Hell framing, and plot context.
  3. IFC Films — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6DuLPGZIoQ
    Supports: Official trailer details including director, cast, setting, and synopsis.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_house_that_jack_built_2018
    Supports: Runtime, rating, genre, and release information.
  5. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-house-that-jack-built
    Supports: Content warnings, rating explanation, runtime, and release details.