Sponsored by Jack Reacher: Never Go back
An anti-hero is like a regular hero, only more interesting.
Bland, uncomplicated save-the-world types have their place, but you wouldn’t want to go for a pint with them.
Mind you, if you went for a drink with some of the folks on this list, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t be coming out of it in one piece.
Some are badasses, some have righteous anger, some have regular run-of-the-mill anger and some of them are just completely insane.
Lou Bloom (Nightcrawler – 2014)
Clip via Louis Bloom
“My motto is if you want to win the lottery, you’ve got to make money to get a ticket.”
Creepier than ten clowns peering through your window, Lou Bloom is a modern-day monster. He’s driven and confident and there’s something about him that’s just not quite right. He makes quite the first impression, namely when he kills a security guard and steals his watch in the opening minute of the film.
His thirst for success has blinded him to his own reality, namely that he is completely unaware of how uncomfortable he makes everyone he encounters.
A videographer who specialises in being the first to the scenes of gruesome accidents, his lack of conscience is his superpower. He frequently put other people’s life at stake in order to get his perfect shot.
While you wouldn’t want him within one country mile of your house in real life, there’s no denying that Lou is one of the most compelling characters in recent cinema history.
V (V For Vendetta – 2006)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACUpr5GvVsE
Clip via AmFilms123
“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
The character who inspired hackers everywhere, V (Hugo Weaving) is a rebel with a cause, a plan and access to one metric shit tonne of explosives.
The mysterious anarchist, vigilante, and freedom fighter is easily recognisable by his distinguishing mask, modeled after the historical fire-starter, Guy Fawkes.
In the film, he treads the fine line between making perfect sense while being quite clearly insane.
Luckily for the people of the British dystopia he inhabits, he’s fighting for the side of good, but isn’t afraid to take a few bodies down with him in pursuit of his goal.
Veronica (Heathers – 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTmpKgocyYg
Clip via ywngr
“Dear Diary, my teen–angst bullshit has a body count.”
Veronica is a teenage social terrorist. She’s friends with the three most popular girls in school (all named Heather) and seems to have a idyllic life, but there’s something lacking.
When JD (Christian Slater), a psychotic new student enrolls in school, the two join forces to commit a few murders for the betterment of their school society. Veronica has her doubts, but she follows through with their dastardly plan at whatever cost.
This 1988 pitch black comedy still packs a powerful punch today (if you haven’t seen it, imagine if Mean Girls had been written by the nihilists from The Big Lebowski and you’re halfway there).
Deadpool (Deadpool – 2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eP49zRmMFM
Clip via TW
“You’re probably thinking, “whose balls did I have to fondle to get my very own movie”? I can’t tell you his name, but it rhymes with “Polverine.””
Deadpool is, by his own admission, a terrible superhero.
For starters, he murders people with guns, something that Batman and Superman have little time for.
He also cracks jokes in very poor taste and NEVER shuts up. He doesn’t even have the common decency to respect the rules of the superhero genre and frequently breaks the fourth wall to make snide remarks about less fun comic book adaptations.
His quest is ultimately a romantic one but that doesn’t stand in his way of maiming, killing and cracking wise.
D-Fens (Falling Down – 1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGs0ANXWPPs
Clip via Puri Morgan
“You have a choice. I can kill you. Or you can kill me, and my daughter will get the insurance.”
A cinematic reminder to be nice to everyone on your commute, D-Fens is a man whose had enough. He snaps in a traffic jam, gets his hands on a gun and let’s society know exactly what he thinks of it.
Known only by the registration on the back of his car (he works for the department of defense), D-Fens wreaks quiet havoc on Los Angeles. He terrorises golfers, fast food diners and just about anybody who gets in his way. He’s methodical about the justice he sees fit to dish out.
This nihilistic film is at once an ode to the power of the individual and a nightmare about what happens when that individual is pushed to breaking point by an uncaring and random world.
Alonzo Harris (Training Day – 2001)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KrNpxODiDA
Clip via James7Jamesxxx
“To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf.”
Think of the worst boss you’ve ever had, exaggerate them out of all proportion and they’ll probably still come up less intense and insane than Alonzo Harris.
This terrifying performance finally earned Denzel Washington a long overdue Oscar for Best Actor and gave us a new villain for the modern age. Part-cop, part-criminal, Alonzo is utterly corrupt and wholly unpredictable.
He makes his new partner played by Ethan Hawke smoke PCP. He terrorizes randomers.
Alonzo also kills people indiscriminately while maintaining that he’s some sort of lone wolf of justice.
Anton (No Country For Old Men – 2007)
Clip via BadWolf
“What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?”
The scariest person on our list, Anton is a hitman with a niche. His unique selling point is the captive bolt pistol he uses on his victims. He also possesses a lack of human compassion that makes the Terminator seem like Spongebob Squarepants. Don’t make fun of his stupid bowl-cut, the man is a bona fide killer.
He murders nearly everyone he comes in contact with in No Country For Old Men. Like many of the characters on our list, he does have his own bizarre code. He always has a reason to kill even if it’s not always shared with the audience. The role earned Javier Bardem every award going and gave us a movie anti-hero for the ages.
Speaking of anti-heroes…
This month sees the return of Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) – a man who makes some of these characters look more like your Aunty Breda than an anti-hero – so make sure you check out the latest punch-tastic trailer right here…
Clip via UKParamountPictures
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is in cinemas on 20 October
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