“Veni Vidi Vici” is a button-pushing film that satirizes the one percent, exposing their unchecked lack of accountability, their ability to live above the law, and their almost magical power to get away with anything as long as there’s enough cash in your bank account. It’s a world where rules and facts don’t matter, and the rich are untouchable. In a world that’s increasingly growing more divided by the day, co-director Julia Niemann and writer / co-director Daniel Hoesl‘s movie does find mild success in its themes that are, sadly, very relatable. But this is the type of smug, self-important film that thinks it’s edgier and more clever than it actually is, but thankfully not in an wholly off-putting way.
The Maynards are a billionaire family that lead a perfect well-heeled life. They have a massive secluded mansion and a garage full of luxury cars. Head of the household Amon (Laurence Rupp) loves hunting for sport, and wants to share his passion with his children. The problem here is that he doesn’t like shooting animals and instead, prefers to hunt fellow humans.
This cautionary tale is violent, and Hoesl and Niemann allow their characters to do as they please because society celebrates the wealthy and tends to look the other way. The Maynards are untouchable, or at least they believe they are. The rules are very, very different for people with deep pockets.
The film embraces its odd tone, tapping into Lanthimos and Dupieux sensibilities. It’s weird and difficult to follow, requiring a great deal of attention and concentration from viewers.
It’s clear that the film is intended to shock, but it doesn’t do so in a particularly disturbing way. The brutal ending drives home the thematic elements with an exclamation point, but it’s not something that astute audiences won’t see coming.
In the end, the one-note “Veni Vidi Vici” becomes just another morbid, bleak reminder that rich people can get away with all sorts of bad behavior, be it stealing, lying, cheating, or even murder.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 