"You've been watching me... I've been watching you. It seems fair."
(Jerry Dandridge, Fright Night)
The Villain
Jerry Dandridge is a vampire. He’s dashing, and pretty, and a bit of a cliche when put into words... but that’s not the point. He’s cliche in the best sort of way, because he’s effective.
As ungodly creatures are prone to be, he has a darkness about him underlying his exterior of friendly charm. But his charm isn’t all friendly, ooo. People seem to overlook the shade in his demeanor, because they're just too allured by him. He's a dramatic figure, radiating an effortless power, because not only is he egotistical, but, he is powerful.
Sigh, if I mention how incredible his body is, I fear I’ll lose half of you on the legitimacy of this character. Which isn't to say that his sex appeal doesn't help make his character what he is. It does. Jerry unashamedly utilizes this to aid his authoritative presence.
And really, Colin Farrell’s characterization is an equal counterweight to his visual appeal. I haven’t even really been much of a Colin fan, but it’s all Colin badassery mixed in with vampire badassery, which results in this thrillingly mesmerizing character.
The Story
Charley is a teenager living with his single mother in a Las Vegas suburb. One day, the charming and mysterious Jerry moves in next door. Charley’s geeky childhood friend, Ed, becomes convinced after investigating the strange disappearance of their friend that Jerry is, in fact, a vampire. He tries to caution Charley, but Charley is unconvinced by the imaginative boy. The shades over Jerry's windows aren't because he's a vampire, they're because he works nights on the strip in Vegas, which is common 'round these parts.
However, shortly after their encounter, Ed goes missing, and an oh so lovely friction develops between Charley and Jerry as Charley becomes nervous and wary of the might-be vampire. As he spies on Jerry, his suspicions make it difficult to remain uninvolved. . .
Oh yes, and look out for Peter Vincent, Vampire Slayer. All I can say is “when you see it, you’ll understand."
The Movie
The original Fright Night came out in 1985. I have yet to see this one. The remake came out in 2011.
I would say this movie is one that few expect to be good, but then it really, really is. The movie really thrives off of the amusing characters and their humorous dynamics with each other, especially those of Anton Yelchin, David Tennant and Colin Farrell. The movie knows the cheesy nature of the vampire genre and takes full advantage of it, and becomes smartly comedic in doing so.
Colin Farrell is extremely confident in the role of Jerry, and it’s apparent he really enjoys it. I cannot stress this enough. He really comes into the character and takes it to that truly enjoyable state of consumption.
(NOTE: This page got deleted somehow! I'm entirely suspicious because I can't imagine that I did it myself, but alas... I needed to post Lee again.)
"The thing that I'm hung up on is the idea of seeing something real. I don't think most people feel half the things they pretend to feel."
(Lee Tourneau, Horns)
The Villain
Lee Tourneau is a sexual deviant and high functioning sociopath, transforming from a juvenile delinquent, small-town boy to a self-proclaimed "sinner" who works for a conservative congressman. He picks up necessary mannerisms and learns to appear harmless by following the example of his unknowing friends. There's something "off" about him, but signs of his true character are easy to excuse. I mean, he's an otherwise selfless and good-intentioned person. (Really!)
While Lee understands how emotions work, he mistakes his own desire for possession as a form of actual love. He doesn't seem to always understand how he's really different.
"Sociopathy" put so plainly by Joe Hill; no dramatic bravado to force the eeriness of the character. Hill explores the idea of an "ordinary" sociopath in this magical realist fiction, delving into the imminent consequences of Lee Tourneau and how he's violently cancerous to the lives around him.
The Story
A year after his girlfriend, Merrin, was raped and murdered, Ignatius Perrish wakes up with horns growing from his temples - and they seem to have something of an...effect on people. Without reserve, strangers, family, and friends start sharing their darkest, innermost thoughts with him. Along the way, he's faced with a confession that brings new light to his girlfriend's death. With the additional ability of persuasion behind his horns, Ignatius seeks the truth as to why his girlfriend is no longer here, and plots to enforce the 'devil's justice' in the form of revenge.
The Novel
Joe Hill is clever. The story is a thoughtfully designed puzzle. You don't even realize where Joe Hill is taking you until connections throughout the story, flashbacks, and various characters start drawing together. It's a fun supernatural thriller that remains sentimental and good-humored with the nature of good and evil at it's core.
Lee Tourneau is an important piece of that puzzle. In addition to playing a key role, we get a good 40+ pages that are dedicated to Lee's story. It's fantastic. I reread that part completely once I finished the book.
The Movie
An independent film starring Daniel Radcliffe as Ignatius Perrish and Max Minghella as Lee Tourneau came out in 2014. I actually did like Max Minghella's take on Lee, but his character's role was not very fulfilled. The movie was visually pretty, good, easy entertainment, but not very substantial. Read the book!
Note: The "Satanic" tag on this entry is due to the nature of this book. Whether or not any characters are Satanic is (supposedly) open to interpretation.
"I don't like being criticized. I've got a very sensitive nature, you know. You wouldn't think it, but I have."
(Narcy, They Made Me a Fugitive)
The Villain
"Narcy" Narcissus is a fierce British gang boss who works the black market. And! He's a narcissist. But hey, he's a gentleman of the code. That is to say, he may be an ass, but he's got class. (That makes it okay.)
He has a tendency towards cruelty and violence, but he is also very well versed in sophistication. He has an admirable conscience, in terms of fashion. He is also very handsome. It all works together very well.
The Story
It's the 1940s, London. Clem (a new member of Narcy's gang) challenges Narcy's decision to begin dealing in drugs. Outwardly, they seem to come to terms without too much trouble, but Narcissus has already developed a grudge. In the middle of their next job, Narcissus and his partner, Soapy, frame and abandon Clem to the police, and a 15-year sentence in jail.
However, Clem escapes, and things become messy for everyone remotely involved. Lines are blurred as associates and lovers are caught in the crossfires as Clem seeks revenge, Soapy seeks to escape, and Narcy prepares his defenses.
The Movie
The antagonist shares about an equal amount of screen time as the protagonist, which does not happen often enough in film. It's excellent.
They Made Me a Fugitive is b/w, released in 1947. Abandon any preconceived notions of film noir being boring! If you are interested in gangsters, organized crime or appreciate the witty & sophisticated type, you will like this movie. It's the originsof class, here! All the silly antics of modern day assholes, guys like Narcy are the development of style and finesse in all its authenticity.
The plot is intelligent, and the movie is dark and humorous. The characters create a dimensional web of relations that fuel the story. Actor Griffith Jones (Narcissus) embodies his character brilliantly.
Here is the appetizer. The lagging/tinny audio is my computer's fault. Sorry!
It's really hard not to just take all of the Narcy scenes and be like, "HERE WATCH." And what I do show you here is not even the best of 'em. If you do watch the movie, let me know! I would be so excited, you would make my day!
Note: They Made Me a Fugitive was originally released in the UK as I Became a Criminal, careful not to confuse it with another movie by the title of They Made Me a Criminal.
They Made Me a Fugitive = I Became a Criminal
They Made Me a Fugitive = / = They Made Me a Criminal
"My body is a roadmap of pain. But pain has its reward. The power of the mind is absolute."
(Milton Dammers, The Frighteners)
The Villain
Milton Dammers is a comedically awkward FBI agent who has been scarred and disturbed from having worked undercover in Satanic cults. (Paradise Lost nod, anyone?) He is called upon in The Frighteners to help investigate the mysterious deaths surrounding the town and, particularly, the main character Frank Bannister.
The Story
Frank Bannister can see the dead. Since developing this ability after a traumatic event, he has used it to stage hauntings and earn money as a psychic. However, perfectly healthy people in the town start dying sporadically from heart attacks. When the trend does not waver, it crosses Frank's path, making his connection to the deaths look extremely suspicious. Frank, with his ability, has witnessed Death as being the offender, but nothing is quite what it appears.
The Movie
I was very skeptical about seeing it (because I am really high strung and have a lot of stress right now and CANNOT watch a movie that will bore me in the slightest,) but it proved it's entertainment quality right off the bat. A product of the 90's, the characters surprise by being exceptionally well acted. The storyline has many layers that are impressively cohesive. The movie succeeded in providing laughs, and Milton Dammers helped define its clever uniqueness.
Here's a good introduction to Milton. (The video just keeps on playing after the clip, so if you don't stop it, you'll just watch the last 30-some minutes of the movie.)
He is a side character and only comes in towards the end of the movie, but his character's part is satisfied, is important to the story, and does not feel unappreciated.
Fun Fact: "It was actor Jeffrey Combs who suggested the Hitler-inspired haircut for his character, to show Milton Dammers' extreme sense of nationalism after serving his country for so long." (source)
"He felt as if Stillson might have taken the game of the Laughing Tiger a step further: inside the beast-skin, a man, yes. But inside the man-skin, a beast."
(The Dead Zone, Stephen King)
The Villain Greg Stillson is a politician who has risen to widespread popularity in America. Greg is a hero, the people love him. And why shouldn't they, he's a good, charming, Christian man outta Oklahoma, making his way towards presidency.
Greg Stillson doesn't have deliberately heinous intentions, but he can get a tad carried away at times. Which includes fun things like blackmail, emotional torture, violence, and being an arrogant dickwad with grandiose delusions. It's horrible and amazing.
The Story
Main character Johnny Smith lands himself in a 5-year coma after a car accident. When he wakes up, he has a new ability: 2nd sight. He gets visions, uncontrollably, when he touches certain objects or people. In time, he gets known for his ability and receives a bit of unwanted celebrity status. One day, at a political rally, he meets and shakes hands with U.S. Congress candidate Greg Stillson, and has a frightening vision about what will happen when Greg gets far enough in the political stream. Knowing that he can prove to no one what his vision was, he realizes that he has to choose whether or not it is his responsibility to stop Stillson.
The Novel
Oh so good. While Greg Stillson is not the main character, Stephen King keeps us informed with really excellent chapters that go into detail about what Greg's up to throughout the story. And sometimes it's with the pure intention of showing just how much of a sociopath he is. It's totally relevant.
The book is really good. I do like lovable-main-character Johnny Smith, and as I was reading the book, I actually really hated Greg Stillson. He's that good of a villain. I've never really passionately hated a villain before. I still kind of hate him, but love him at the same time.
The TV Series
After I read the book, Greg Stillson's character really stuck with me. I checked out the show out of curiosity of seeing the portrayal of his character, and was pleasantly surprised by Sean Patrick Flanery's exhibition. The TV show version of Stillson is not as much of a sociopath as the book version, but both are still favorite villains of mine.
The show is cheesy, but it is totally worth watching the episodes with Stillson. And guess what? I'm not the only one that thinks so!
A playlist of the "Armageddon Plotline" episodes have been compiled on Hulu where you can watch all Stillson episodes for free! What a wonderful, wonderful world this is! The episodes span throughout all 5 seasons, but this plot is actually really cohesive on its own. The makers of the show really should've just made this it.
It is a good plot line. Stillson makes it good. Let me know if you check it out. Or if you already know & love Stillson, give me a holler in the comments section. I know you guys are out there somewhere!
The Movie
I have not seen the movie! Is it any good?
Fun Fact: There is a particular Greg-scene in The Dead Zone book that Stephen King has said is one of the most addressed controversies that he hears about in letters from readers. (On Writing, Stephen King.) For those of you who have read the book- it's the scene with the dog. If you haven't read the book- OPEN TO YOUR INTERPRETATION LULZ
I got my psychology-major friend to read The Dead Zone and give me his own diagnosis of Greg. And he gave me "Intermittent Explosive Disorder". How does that not sound like fun?
Characters that, for one reason or another, weren't suited for an entire profile, but are incredibly awesome, nonetheless.
Movies
DISCO PIGS' Darren (Cillian Murphy)
Disco Pigs is a disturbing love story about obsession. Sinead and Darren have been in love since they were children. Their worlds consist of each other and they're without any interest in changing that. Darren is a bit of a loose cannon, and after some prompting from school officials, the parents decide to separate the two teenagers. When, one day, Sinead is gone without warning, Darren loses his shit and takes off to find the girl. Disco Pigs is an Irish film starring Cillian Murphy as Darren. Not a villain per se, but a possessive, angry and violent character.
IRON MAN 2's Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke)
When I saw him in the previews, he annoyed me, so I was surprised I ended up really liking him. They go into his background enough to show his "creation", but they've kindly avoided overdramatizing it to create some melodramatic, objectified super-villain. He's pretty damn fearless. And really cares about his pet bird. :] He's more of an amusing villain than anything else, although a complete character all the same. He could've been AMAZING if more time had been spent with him, but there wasn't enough quality focus. Being that it wasn't the goal to have a revolutionary villain that would change cinema forever, they did a good job. To me, he symbolizes the increasing recognition that there is an expectation of quality in villain characters. This is one of the good superhero movies. So unless superhero movies spark zero intrigue in ya', you need to see this one.
TV Shows TRIGUN's Million Knives & Legato Bluesummers
Main character, "Vash the Stampede" (aka The Humanoid Tyhpoon) is an outlaw, with a price of 60 billion double-dollars on his head. He finds himself in the dedicated company of two persistant insurance agents (Meryl & Milly) who were sent to keep tabs on him. They follow Vash as he stumbles into accidental chaos and seems to find himself wrapped up in all kinds of shenanigans. Knives is Vash's older brother, who was involved in a traumatic event in Vash's past. Knives and Legato (who comes in later) increasingly influence the show through to the end, posing an intriguing, philosophical question to Vash and the audience. The overall plot revolves around Vash's conflict with the two, especially so with his brother. This animated show from Japan consists of 26 20-minute episodes. It's got a good balance of drama & comedy mixed in with action. It takes place on a deserty planet where water is scarce, outlaws are not, and there's a character for everyone to love.
Books 1984 by George Orwell
If you want an antagonist that is actually very detestable presented in a meaningful and heavy story, you will find that here. An extremely controlling government keeps it's citizens in line by constantly monitoring them for signs of impurity or rebellion. From the perspective of Winston Smith, who's job is to alter historical records as people and words are erased by the government in an effort to control and limit knowledge. Winston seeks to find the "brotherhood," the secret rebellion against the government. It's a fantastic book. The antagonist is there to be a very powerful function, and so personality and characteristics are less of a focus.
THE SON's Levi Thou by Jo Nesbo
Oh, is he a pleasure! Levi's a crime overlord, a brutish, power-through-fear kind of fellow. He’s dominating and well composed and self-preserving, all the good stuff, as well as physically huge and unnaturally strong. Which is unfortunate, really, because now he’s just this ungodly man who was, apparently, born for power, and who can argue that? Sadly, he only has a handful of appearances that occur mostly towards the end of the book, but he's an important figure throughout the entire story.
Lookie: "The man seemed to fill up the entire room. Simon didn’t know if this was simply due to his physical size and obvious presence or the trappings of power and wealth, of this man’s ability to control so many destinies. Or whether all the legends that surrounded his persona made him even bigger, the baggage of death, meaningless cruelty and destruction." (The Son, Jo Nesbo)
"Levi" also happens to be an anagram for 'evil'. Whether that was intentional, I do not know.
The lowdown:
After Sonny's father (a police officer) committed suicide and revealed in a letter that he was a corrupt officer, Sonny becomes a junkie and a professional scapegoat. That is, he takes the fall for persons guilty of crimes and serves time in jail so they don't have to. (This is but one of many Christian-inspired themes in the book.) After being in jail for 12 years, he gets a visitor who confesses that his father was actually murdered. This triggers the onslaught that follows. Sonny escapes prison and seeks to punish those responsible for his father's death in a game of cat-and-mouse between Sonny, the police force, and the gangsters who have, up until now, been keeping him in jail.
The book is dark and smart, both sentimental and morbidly satisfying. Jo Nesbo really knows how to write cruelty, and he’s written some very creative bits here. There’s an intelligent and very well portrayed female police character that I was impressed with, and this deepens my respect for Jo Nesbo.
Video Games
UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES' Zoran Lazarevic
"Compassion is the enemy. Mercy defeats us." Zoran Lazarevic is on the hunt for Shambhala, a legendary hidden paradise said to exist in Asia. I know what you're thinking, what does a villainous character want with a paradise? Would he find it, feel greatness, then reside there in zenful content amongst ruins and trees? Well...no. Within Shambhala resides the key to immortality. As is necessary, Zoran has a troupe of people willing to help him find Shambhala. However, our main character, Nate, wants to stop him. Legends and invincibility... it's all very bizarre and hard to accept, but the mere possibility of cruel-and-unmerciful Zoran becoming immortal is too horrible a thought. He's determined to stop Zoran. But Zoran is willing to do things that most are not, and this gives him the upper hand.
If you're into video games, you should just play Uncharted 2 and see Zoran there, but if you just want to see Zoran, there's a compilation of all Zoran-related cutscenes here! Heh, I doubt I would've liked him as much had I just seen this and not been engaged in the video game. But when you want malice, here's malice.
This blog is here because I want to have an encyclopedic hall-of-fame for ALL the best, obsessable villains in film and literature.
My hope is to introduce more villains to people looking for them and to meet fellow villain-obsessed folk. I'd like to learn about characters from you, too. (Seriously! Leave me a comment or message me on tumblr and let's talk it up! If you want to ramble about 'em a little bit, that would be amazing.)
This blog will be updated somewhat sporadically, when I have relevant and interesting things to share. It starts small, but I have over 30 villain and antihero profiles in the works, and there will be more as I discover them. If you have any villains you would like to see on the blog, please do comment with them. I invite others to write profiles as well. I'll credit you and all. Contact me if you are interested.
You can also follow my tumblr. Profiles will be here. Comments and villain-related babbling will be there.
And please. If you seek out a book, character, or movie because of one of my suggestions, oh please tell me! That's why I am here! And I'd really love to know if anyone is taking me up on my suggestions. Even if you end up not liking it, I want to hear your thoughts. :]
