'It's disgusting': Movie violence prompts mass walkout at Cannes

More than 100 people left the screening at Cannes film festival.

Acclaimed director Lars von Trier has prompted a mass walkout at Cannes film festival, after outrage over his latest film.

More than 100 people left the screening of The House That Jack Built on Monday night, Variety reported.

"It's disgusting," one woman said as she left the Palais.

Disgruntled audience members took to Twitter to complain about the level of violence in the film towards women and children.

I've just walked out of #LarsVonTrier premiere at #Cannes2018 because seeing children being shot and killed is not art or entertainment

— Charlie Angela (@CharlieAJ) May 14, 2018

I’ve never seen anything like this at a film festival. More than 100 people have walked out of Lars von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built,’ which depicts the mutilation of women and children. “It’s disgusting,” one woman said on her way out. #Cannes2018 pic.twitter.com/GsBGCoyHEG

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) May 14, 2018

Walked out on LarsvonTrier . Vile movie. Should not have been made. Actors culpable

— Showbiz 411 (@showbiz411) May 14, 2018

The House That Jack Built stars Matt Dillon as a serial killer who targets a series of victims, played by Uma Thurman and Riley Keough.

Director Lars von Trier, left, and actor Matt Dillon pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film The House That Jack Built. Photo / AP

Viewers began to leave the cinema after a scene where Dillon's character shot two children in the head, Variety claimed.

USA Today reported that "more than a dozen" audience members also left the cinema after another grizzly death.

Despite the theatre's balcony being half empty by the time the credits rolled, it didn't stop von Trier from receiving a rapturous standing ovation from those remaining.

The Danish film director previously sparked controversy after joking about being a Nazi during an appearance at the 2011 Cannes festival to promote movie Melancholia.