Lee Tourneau (Horns)

(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.

Greg Stillson (The Dead Zone)

"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?