18 Comments

What an absolutely gorgeous piece. I have never understood why today's film execs insist on sanitizing villains. I don't want to know their tragic backstory and I don't want them to be "humanized." Doing so completely removes that gut feeling that makes them so compelling. It's almost like l'appel du vide... you know it's horrifying. You know it's wrong, but still there is temptation. Bill has always done an incredible job of portraying that in his work, and I admire him for it. Thank you for your article! It was a delightful and wildly entertaining read!

Expand full comment

Thank you SO much Megan, you reflect my feelings so well. Thought Bill deserved the recognition as I can see how he's trying that precious space of (un)sanitization and I think we could use that this year and beyond. Thank you again!!

Expand full comment

This is fucking brilliant. I'm not sure I agree with a word of it, but I'm too dazzled to care.

Expand full comment

obsessed with this comment (10/10 will frame it)

Expand full comment

This articulates so beautifully what I loved about his performance in Nosferatu. I likened him to Lon Chaney in his commitment to the monster as something complex and wyrd and other. Great piece. Also makes me miss my Tumblr days.

Expand full comment

Thanks so much Neil! That's a great shout. Miss my Tumblr corner too 💔

Expand full comment

Thank you, Sophie. Piece is smart AF. I came too early to understand Tumblr, though, perhaps, I have an inkling of what it is/was. I'm probably not weird enough (to my everlasting chagrin!) to get all the allusions here, but even still - some time later - there's a little frisson - wanting to strike a match just close enough to the gas can to light it up a bit.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for your comment Steven 💗 Yeah it's a precious quirky lil' corner of the internet that just likes to do its own thing (and even get a bit weird sometimes) but I love that it's stayed like that despite VC takeovers - says a lot about the community there (though I'm no longer in it)

Expand full comment

this is great analysis and very Tumblr-coded. I have never left Tumblr and I never will.

Expand full comment

Aw thank you, Marya 🥹 Sadly I have, but honestly, writing this piece is giving me the Tumblr itch again

Expand full comment

Happy to report there are still a lot of people posting film related GIF sets at the very least

Expand full comment

No problens Sophie, the allusions were marvie, signed Rose Marie ( not Rose although I have been waiting), incroyable family eh, I'm glad you included the tree. The elusive girlchild finally arrived!

Expand full comment

Rose Marie - noted 💗

Expand full comment

That was a great read ty

Expand full comment

Thank you for the comment, Charles 😊

Expand full comment

You're welcome!

Expand full comment

Ditto Brillo

Expand full comment

Thank you so much, Rose ❤️

Expand full comment