How do actors understand 'evil'?

performativity, emotional labour and method acting...

Everyone remembers this classic scary film, right? Anthony Hopkins plays an insane murderer, and the young female investigator is put under psychological pressure by his craziness and depravity, trying to figure it all out. If Hopkins was to use ‘The Method’ a strategy to 'get inside the head’ of this madman, then theoretically he would need to imagine BEING this evil, in order to deliver the perfect performance his director was looking for. But is that possible? Here’s an interesting question to ponder…

You see, there’s a recurring theme in many of the current articles and podcasts I’ve been reading/listening to lately. Good vs Evil. Earlier last weekend it came up (somewhat unexpectedly) in the text of Naomi Wolf’s book, The Bodies of Others.

[BTW Naomi has managed to construct a brilliant reflection, formatted like a personal journal, of the dystopian world many of us have been struggling with over the past three years. I’d highly recommend this book as a strategic gift for someone who is just beginning to be enlightened. It is non-confrontational, journalist in style, citations at the very end (so ‘facts’ are optional and can be sought-out later at the end of the book), with a curiosity in the tenor that is endearing and easy-reading. But I will write a proper review of her book another day.]

But today, when listening to this excellent interview from Jordan Peterson with Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard (embedded below) I was intrigued to hear how, when Jim was talking about his portrayal of ‘good cop’ Tim in The Sound of Freedom he described how it was his Christian faith and connection with ‘Good’ which helped him to understand the ‘Evil’ that his character was motivated to overcome. His view was that many actors can fail at understanding what true evil and depravity is, because they (try to) connect with that evilness, which is inherently deceptive and manipulative. Interesting perspective.

There’s still nowhere I know of to see this movie in NZ, so we may have to wait until Elon Musk allows it to be streamed on Twitter (?) Do let me know if anyone has other options accessible. The censorship seems to have stepped-up recently, with Jordan having a few interviews taken down from YouTube this week (maybe this one will be next?)

The emotional labour of actors trying to raise awareness of this horror story - against the odds - brings a new meaning to this kind of endeavour. In some ways, I think Jim’s narrative in this interview (which he admits is the best interview of his life), makes it clear that in some ways this isn’t acting for him, more a way of life towards “doing God’s work.”

Again, that is a common theme this week - Tucker Carlson explained in his wonderful interview with Russell Brand, that fundamentally this was not about earning an income or having a political role - it was about speaking truth to power. As Prof Desmet states in his book, The Psychology of Totalitarianism - it’s that simple.

But at one point in the Peterson conversation, Jordan explains how his interpretation of someone who is evil is an individual down the road of many micro-lies to themselves, something that allows access to that part of every human that is genuinely evil. Because as Tim Ballard explains, many of the criminals he has locked-up for crimes against children, just seem like ‘ordinary people’ - they are from all walks of life and occupations (although almost all older men). But, he says “it’s only when you look into their eyes that you see the evil in their souls.”

One can’t help wondering - what is it that makes these people so evil?

This film apparently isn’t graphic in content, and reviews say the acting and the cinematography are creative and professionally produced. Not sure when we will see it here in NZ, but it’s important this topic is not censored. The words of Tim at the end of this interview are particularly important - the woke movement needs to wake-up to the harm they are also causing to children, which isn’t wholly unconnected to the crimes alluded to in this film.

If you’re reading this and have seen it — please share your thoughts.