While I was walking today, I had deep thoughts about American Horror Story:Freakshow that I binge-watched last night. If you've been following my blog, you know I started watching this season late, the episode when Twisty was led away by the Halloween spirit. My thoughts are many and I don't have a lot of time to ponder in my blog, as tomorrow begins my back-to-work writing and editing life! However, like millions of others, I've been fascinated and repelled by the storyline concerning Dandy and his evolution from spoiled mama's boy to serial killer. This blog isn't really about that either.
Psychopaths Entertain Us!
I could likely write several non-fiction books about the power of the real-life psychopath and how normal folk are drawn to their dark, dangerous ways, however, I'm sticking to fiction. And even then, I'm just having a few scattered Sunday thoughts.
Some of the best stories are about psychopaths, serial killers, and other deranged folk. It's easy to see why we use them in entertainment. I myself often write about psychopaths, they are my favourite monster. When I look at my favorite books, movies, and stories, I seem to favor tales about psychopaths and narcissists.
Some iconic psychopaths have a lot in common in how they've been portrayed in film and television. They are often good-looking or unique-looking, have a hang-up or obsession, and inevitably have scenes that exposes their human-like vulnerability. Although psychopaths themselves have no empathy, the average viewer has empathy for them and this is the key to how we love and hate these psychopaths. We see how they are "misunderstood" as we are privvy to their behind-the-scenes madness. This makes them human to us, and we root for them even though we know we shouldn't.
Psychopath Rituals
We get hooked in by scenes such as Eric Roberts in Star 80 working out and self-talking in the mirror for confidence. On my first viewing of this movie, at the Toronto Festival of Festivals (our film prof recommended we score tickets, if possible, so I did) this was one of the scenes that creeped me out the most. If you've ever seen All That Jazz, you'll recognize that Fosse used this idea though with another kind of narcissist. Jessica Lange is in All That Jazz, one of my favorite musicals.
Real-life narcissists and psychopaths have to self-talk as well to get through their daily routines of deception and maintaining the illusion that they are human.
Many psychos are
insecure despite their immense narcissism.
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| Dandy has deep thoughts while doing push ups. |
In American Horror Story: Freakshow, we were treated to a montage of Dandy working out and losing his mind. Nice work, Finn Wittrock!
Psychopaths think best in a warm tub.
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| Alex in bath. |
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| Dandy in his bath. |
They also spend a lot of time in bed or on couches, thinking, obsessing over their idols and hobbies, and playing with themselves.
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| Alex in bed. |
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| Dandy in bed. |
They love to dress up for their nefarious deeds and may even wear a mask now and again as they clown around.
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| Clowning around in A Clockwork Orange |
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| Dandy Clown |
Sometimes they just like to do normal stuff, which is why we like them.
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| Are you ready for your close-up? |
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| Mmmm... |
Though sometimes they can freak out their friends with their enthusiasm.
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| "Hey! Why don't you want to take a bath with me like we used to when we were little?" |
Which can lead to bad things happening.
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| Dandy did it this time! |
Sometimes there's a mom ready to wipe up the psychopath's mess.
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| Dandy and his mom |
Of course, where would we be without the original movie, Psycho and the modern series, Bates Motel and those twisted mother and son stories?
Bates Motel finally starts up again very soon. I can't wait to see what's next in this sick soap opera!
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| Norman and his mom, Norma. |
And since the big wigs in television land know that we are used to seeing our bad boys running around in tightie-whities, they've thrown in some big brother eye-candy for good measure. Norman's older brother, Dylan is essentially a good guy but has enough bad boy for us to love him.
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| Norman's hunky older brother, Dylan ends up shirtless in every episode and often is covered with blood and bruises! Yum. |
So what's going to happen next on American Horror Story: Freakshow? Are they going to kill off Dandy so that the new cast members can shine? Will they make use of the psychopath storyline they've begun? Will Dot and Beth, the two-headed woman get their men, mortal enemies Dandy the psychopath and Jimmy the alcoholic Lobster Boy? Or will that potentially weirdly fun (and could be bizarrely erotic) and violent storyline get discarded because the series needs to wrap up fast?
I think that the lobster hands we saw in the jar were from one of Jimmy's relatives. Lord knows they've mentioned them enough over the past few months.
Like I said, these were a few of the thoughts that tumbled around my head this Sunday afternoon in January. I'm already thinking of more to add and maybe I'll have a Psychopath Sunday every week. Remember, truth is often stranger than fiction. Watch out for the psychopaths in your own life!
Feel free to add your thoughts about psychopaths and American Horror Story: Freakshow.
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