Buy Or Don’t Buy

The sociopathic nihilist values neither human lives nor any of the constructions that society has to offer him. (Notably, this insane person is usually a “him” and not a “her”). From Psycho to Hannibal Lecter to Heath Ledger’s latest portrayal of The Joker, these uninstitutionalized nuts have been trying to find their place in Hollywood for several years now.

A smorgasbord of them have been calling our attention lately, culminating just a week ago with that laughing Batman antagonist. The Academy recognizes them—just last year Javier Bardem’s serial killer Chigurh took home the prize for lead role as the best heartless mental case since Hannibal (by Academy standards). On the more campy side, Sweeney Todd got a lot of attention last year for Johnny Depp’s imitation of the head-carving demon (Is Johhny Depp a plagiarist? That’s Dave Vanian circa 1980—the original Davey Havok). If this trend is legit, my question is: do we love to see people lose all their cool and switch over to the dark side more than ever?

We love it. Henceforth, I suggest for you to invest in this stock. It’s on the rise. Zach Snyder’s Watchmen, of which public anticipation is exploding right now thanks in part to ComicCon and in part to the Batman-accompanying trailer campaign, is promising to feed us some more of that superhero-on-the-dark-side treats, and lots of people are already eating it up. Based on Alan Moore’s renowned graphic novel, this movie follows a bunch of apathetic and rebellious superheroes forced to challenge their dedication to humanity. Ambiguously aligned main characters, morally attractive villains, and the whole what’s-it-matter-anyway attitude is more accessible than ever. Who doesn’t love to play Grand Theft Auto? Who could resist getting a little giddy over The Joker’s evilness? If these things aren’t your cup of tea, then more treats will come along to tempt you soon enough.

Alternate purchase: If you feel that sociopathic nihilism isn’t for you, then try selling your soul to the Devil.