On (Un)Realistic Representation of Psychopaths in Movies, and Why My Selection Might Surprise You. Part 4.

Here is my list of other realistically renditioned psychopaths in the US movies. It is not ranked, because then I woud have to show you ALL good portrayals of psychopaths in order to be fair, and I ain´t got time and space for this. Plus, I would not want to bother myself with it. Or you. So, here it is. I will give you males and females to promote gender equality. ;-)

 

Anton Chigurh (No Country For Old Men) 

Probably the most frightening psychopath on screen, absolutely ridden of humanity. These violent types are actually scarcer than you think among the psychopathic folk but they sure know how to make an entrance and a lasting impression.

 

Marquise de Merteuil (Dangerous Liaisons)

I chose this picture because her dress beautifully merges with the color and the design of the sofa. This noble woman keeps on changing her behavior like a true chameleon. She is actually much more dangerous than her ex and partner in crime, Vicomte de Valmont, as he lives out in the open and is honest about his atrocities, while she wears a mask of a modest widow, and no one knows of her true predatory nature.

 

Professor James Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows)

Extremely manipulative, sadistic, with an IQ of a genius, and a true criminal mastermind who is hiding behind the mask of a respectable mathematics professor. He is like a spider sitting on his giant web and spinning the fate of hundreds, perhaps even thousands of men. The best thing about his organization? His henchmen don´t even know their own boss. He is anonymous to nearly all of them with the exception of Colonel Sebastian Moran, his right hand, and a few chosen ones. He has got henchmen who operate henchmen who operate henchmen. Only Moriarty knows what´s really going on.

 

Catherine Trammell (Basic Instinct)

A murderous bisexual writer who is all sex, drugs and rock´n´roll. A bored millionaire with a penchant for sadistic killing. She does it for the sport. And by it, I mean both sex and the murders. Her interrogation scene is legendary.

 

Dave Harken (Horrible Bosses)

A perfect example of a narcissistic and manipulative psychopath in the position of a CEO. He does not even try to hide his true nature, or the fact that he does not give a f*ck about your wants or needs (e.g. when you want to visit your gam gam on her death bed). He does not believe in promotion either. He is tough, demanding and self-serving, and willing to use any means to achieve his ends.

 

Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)

This woman will beat you either with her encyclopedic knowledge of fashion history or with her impossible demands. Where is the paper she had in her hand yesterday morning? Where is her stirring-hot Starbucks, are you dead or something? How come you cannot fetch the unpublished Harry Potter manuscript for her? Oh, did she hurt your feelings? How… touching. Meanwhile, Emily (who cares it´s not your name), you can hang her expensive coat in the wardrobe, and hope you don´t get fired like the last three secretaries.