The Talking, Self-Eating Fox From Antichrist Has His Moment

Whatever your opinion of the genital-chopping, misogyny-cheering controversy stirred up by Lars von Trier’s Antichrist, there is one scene that is an undeniable cult novelty. Deep in the movie’s indeterminable midsection, Willem Dafoe’s character wanders into the woods and finds a mangy little fox cannibalizing itself, a fairly horrifying image. The horror, however, quickly turns to hilarity when the fox looks into the camera, and in an ominous voice declares “CHAOS REIGNS” before a slow fade to black.

The scene, of course, gives the movie its marketing slogan, but it has also led it to become a crossover viral hit for all the wrong reasons. Now the fox interrupts Obama instead of Joe Wilson. He meets the Teen Wolf. He feuds with The Fantastic Mr. Fox. He has his own T-shirt. He is a canine hero.

Seriously, can we get a Talking Fox reality show? The malevolent critter is already on his way to selling out as distributor IFC reportedly considers merchandising options. And he is, according to von Trier himself, based on an actual fox the director met while he was in a trance. (Von Trier, naturally, maintains that the fox actually did speak to him and that no drugs were involved.)

In case you don’t have the stomach to sit through the entire movie, here’s the original clip . It’s pretty special: