Dafoe can't explain meaning of film 'Antichrist'

Willem Dafoe has "no idea" what his latest film 'Antichrist' is about.

The actor - who is one of only two actors to appear in the art-horror film, starring opposite Charlotte Gainsbourg - said he became "deeply involved" in the film and is happy to rely on its symbolism and mythology for his interpretation.

He said: "If someone said even in the most broad terms, 'What's this film about or what does this mean', I have no idea, but I have a deeply involved experience with it and I am part of the film."

Elaborating on what the symbolic elements of the film meant he added: "You see the figures of grief, despair, how do you explain that? But it speaks to me, you know. There are the animals, the three beggars in the story, what the f**k is that? But it speaks to me.

"These are all inventions but this is what I like, that the director makes a world where, for me, they can exist and they don't need to be explained and they still have a resonance and help the story along."

Willem also offered some justification for the film's graphic depictions of self mutilation, masturbation and sexual violence.

He added: "This is more poetic and some of the stuff is hard to account for, but it has a great taste for me."

'Antichrist' is released on July 24.