coercion and manipulation

His films systematically deconstruct systems of control, from military hierarchy in Full Metal Jacket to psychological manipulation in A Clockwork Orange.

He creates deeply unsettling examinations of manipulation and coercion through meta-cinematic techniques, most notably in Funny Games where he directly confronts audience complicity.

His films explore psychological coercion and emotional manipulation within intimate relationships and group dynamics, as seen in Hereditary and Midsommar.