psychopath movies
I'm looking for movies that tell the story of a psychopath, but not slasher/horror kind of flick, more psychological/drama/dark...
Kind of like "The Good Son" (1993)
Sensitive, humane. A look into the disorder. Also it should be cool (if the movie so chooses to be)
bah. 10x in advance.
'Sybil'
I never watched it..
but they're watching it in psych.
Some say it was good, some say it was terrible.
aanndddd Wikipedia, the God of all Gods, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sybil_(1976_film)
"Avoid the world, it's just a lot of dust and drag and means nothing in the end."
american psycho, taxi driver, pan's labyrinth, city of god, sunset blvd., rear window, the shining, reservoir dogs, are just a few off the top of my head...
Why Pan's Labyrinth?
the very first thing i thought of when i saw the title, BLUE VELVET, dennis hopper is awesome.
and for sure, SEXY BEAST, ben kingsley should have won an oscar.
nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it.
I'd like to hear the rationale behind that one, too.
And anything IRONMAN mentioned seems top notch.
i'm pretty sure he's talkin about the dad in pan's, he's psycho.
nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it.
Yeah, but that's not a movie about a psychopath, he's just an element of the overall story. If Pan's Labyrinth qualifies, then pretty much any movie with a bad guy would too. I'm just saying.
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Or the full movie here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ0el45gpLc
Good authors who once knew more clever words,
Now only use four letter words,
Writing prose.
Anything Goes.
-Cole Porter
I think Pan's Labyrith works, but in a more subtle way...
The bad guy isn't the focus of the film, but you learn a lot about him when the camera's on him.
If bad movies aren't excluded, I'd say the film they made about Ed Gein (with the original title of "Ed Gein") should be included.
Also, I haven't seen any of the films they've made about Bundy, but I recommend the book, "The Stranger Beside Me" as a incredible case study. That one's in my top 10.
"They sold you hippies grunge, hip hop, now liberty activism."
If bad movies aren't excluded, I'd say the film they made about Ed Gein (with the original title of "Ed Gein") should be included.
That was one creepy movie.
alecia: he's just an element of the overall story. If Pan's Labyrinth qualifies, then pretty much any movie with a bad guy would too. I'm just saying.
oh ya, i totally agree.
nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it.
Also, I haven't seen any of the films they've made about Bundy, but I recommend the book, "The Stranger Beside Me" as a incredible case study. That one's in my top 10.
There's a movie about him?
Serial killers fascinate me, I have this huge book about it. I have to look up the book about Bundy you mentioned now...
EDIT_
I want it.
I want more than them
That's the difference
i am also facinated with serial killers, i love docs and programs and interviews and so forth.
btw- what trail did the mental patient take when going thru the forest?
the psycho path
nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it.
btw- what trail did the mental patient take when going thru the forest?
the psycho path
The National Geographic documentaries were great.
Man, what a bad joke. 
Of course I smiled anyway.
I want more than them
That's the difference
Titus-and anything else by uber-perv shakespear
The early Polanski movies are awesome.
There's a movie about him?
Bundy or Gein? There's one actualy about Gein, ("Ed Gein"), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs are often cited as "Gein inspired".
There's like four Bundy movies, tv ones, indy ones, etc. I saw a TV film that was pretty good about the Green River Killer, but it focused on Bob Keppel's interviews with Bundy as part of the investigation. Cary Elwes played Bundy...he did an okay job from what I can tell, though perhaps he came off a bit too creepy (interest in Bundy usually derives from his incredible not-creepyness for a serial killer. He was quite the upstanding gentleman).
EDIT_
I want it.
Nice, let me know what you think of it. It's such a unique book in the sense that Ann Rule began writing it before there was a suspect in the murders, then found out that an old friend of hers (Bundy) was the subject of the investigation. You couldn't set up a plot like that.
So what books have you read on serial killers? I have a few and skimmed them all, the only one I read completely (and loved) was "Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters" by Peter Vronsky.
"They sold you hippies grunge, hip hop, now liberty activism."
Ive browsed the thread and Im not sure anyone has mentioned Psycho, the original not that crap new one.
Giggan, did you read Ann Rule's book about the Green River Killer?
There's like four Bundy movies, tv ones, indy ones, etc. I saw a TV film that was pretty good about the Green River Killer, but it focused on Bob Keppel's interviews with Bundy as part of the investigation. Cary Elwes played Bundy...he did an okay job from what I can tell, though perhaps he came off a bit too creepy (interest in Bundy usually derives from his incredible not-creepyness for a serial killer. He was quite the upstanding gentleman).
Yeah, was talking about Gein! I should look it up, even if it's a bad movie.
Hm, neat, can look into that as well. 
Nice, let me know what you think of it. It's such a unique book in the sense that Ann Rule began writing it before there was a suspect in the murders, then found out that an old friend of hers (Bundy) was the subject of the investigation. You couldn't set up a plot like that.
So what books have you read on serial killers? I have a few and skimmed them all, the only one I read completely (and loved) was "Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters" by Peter Vronsky.
I'm not sure when I'll be purchasing the book though. I really shouldn't be spending money right now. =( But yeah, I definitely WILL get it.
I have The Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers, which is obviously just stuffed with so many people and what they did. It's not as into detail as other books might be, but it's very interesting to read. My boyfriend has The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers that I've also read a bit of and that's more into depth.
I want more than them
That's the difference
Im going running upstairs to see if I have that book by Ann Rule about the Green River Killer. I read the Stranger Beside Me and I will surely back up Giggan on the admiration for it, superb.
Edit: Yay I have it, its now moved to my Must Read shelf.
In Dreams (Robert Downey Jr., Annette Benning)
A Scanner Darkly (Wynnona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr. and Keanu Reeves)
Vanilla Sky (Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz)
12 Monkeys (Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt)
The Ninth Gate (Johnny Depp)
Stigmata (patricia Arquette)
Secret Window (Johnny Depp)
Girl Interrupted (Wynnona R., Angelina J.)
If your in the mood for something really nuts, try The Attic Expeditions. That one has a bit of violence toward the end, but it's not the same as say Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
“Those who argue that art and philosophy are proof of human worth neglect to mention that, in the scheme we have devised, artists and philosophers are powerless and largely without prestige. Art, music, and philosophy are merely poignant examples of what we might have been had not the priests and traders gotten hold of us.” - George Carlin
This is a good one. It's an adaptation of a book by the same name by an author called Susanna Kayson, it's based on her experience in fairly high-end mental health hospital in the '60's. She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, but there are other girls with sociopathic personality disorder (Jolie), eating disorders, compulsive behaviour and so on. Funnily enough, a friend of mine watched it a few weeks ago and he said it reminded him of the time he spent in a youth mental health hospital.
In the same vein is Manic. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a disturbed adolescent who's put into a hospital after he beats the shit out of a school friend. It seems quite realistic and it's got some good performances.
Then there's a Haneke film called Benny's Video, about a teenage boy who's obsessed with video violence. It's got a bit of Haneke's typical tut-tutting and it's one of his worst films, but even sub-par Haneke is worth a watch.
Others that I can think of are the obvious ones - the Hannibal Lector films. The Talented Mr Ripley and it's sequel (Ripley's Game? something like that) are also about a psychopath.
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Borders discount bin, FTW! Got it about a year ago, the hardcover was like 8 bucks. Haven't read it yet, though.
"They sold you hippies grunge, hip hop, now liberty activism."
Ha! Hell yeah. Not many people realise that one of the all-time great episodes of South Park (think Cartman, and a chili-cooking contest) is based on the third act of Titus Andronicus.
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There's a movie about him?
Bundy or Gein? There's one actualy about Gein, ("Ed Gein"), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs are often cited as "Gein inspired".
gein's my absolute favorite!!!
Ha! Hell yeah. Not many people realise that one of the all-time great episodes of South Park (think Cartman, and a chili-cooking contest) is based on the third act of Titus Andronicus.
Scott Tenorman Must Die! One of the greatest episodes EVAH!
Yeah, SP has many classical influences, so if you wanna hear dirty words or see revered works parodied, there's something for you there.
"They sold you hippies grunge, hip hop, now liberty activism."
Man Bites Dog
omg, i love man bites dog. i forgot about that movie. awesome.
nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it.
Sybil
american psycho,
american psycho,
taxi driver,
pan's labyrinth,
city of god,
sunset blvd.,
rear window,
the shining,
reservoir dogs,
BLUE VELVET,
SEXY BEAST
Baby Jane
Repulsion
Titus
Psycho
In Dreams (Robert Downey Jr., Annette Benning)
A Scanner Darkly (Wynnona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr. and Keanu Reeves)
Vanilla Sky (Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz)
12 Monkeys (Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt)
The Ninth Gate (Johnny Depp)
Stigmata (patricia Arquette)
Secret Window (Johnny Depp)
Girl Interrupted (Wynnona R., Angelina J.)
Manic
Man bites dog
Okay I summarized the list so far…
Thanks, but this is not exactly what I was looking for. Any of them have a love story in them? I kind of imagined some kind of made for tv movie about a psychopath who’s abused and then goes through life imitating people and loving people… more kind of like a hallmark flick?
Bah, maybe I’m looking for something that doesn’t exist?
Tv/ or indie.
donnie darko
your kidding right?
dude was taking medication but wasn't he just about the only sane one.
nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it.
Henry
The Catmother of all Worldwide Cats
Kalifornia and Natural born killers are MUST SEE's if your looking for psychopath movies.
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Okay I summarized the list so far…
Thanks, but this is not exactly what I was looking for. Any of them have a love story in them? I kind of imagined some kind of made for tv movie about a psychopath who’s abused and then goes through life imitating people and loving people… more kind of like a hallmark flick?
Bah, maybe I’m looking for something that doesn’t exist?
Tv/ or indie.
Is this a specific film that you think you've seen but don't remember very well, or are you just really specific about your tastes.
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Hallmark and psychopath don't usually go hand in hand.
"What cha readin' fer??"
Thanks, but this is not exactly what I was looking for. Any of them have a love story in them? I kind of imagined some kind of made for tv movie about a psychopath who’s abused and then goes through life imitating people and loving people… more kind of like a hallmark flick?
Could be that psychopaths live horrible, disturbing lives that don't translate well into Hallmark films? Volunteer some time at your local mental hospital and observe - there's a lot of screaming and crying and self abuse going on. Real life just doesn't have a role in it for Robin Williams.
Perhaps you're thinking of mere eccentrics? If so - check out "Grey Gardens". Anyone who's seen it will agree it's pretty damn cool.
Or, if you're just into depressed people poetically offing themselves, there's also this:
Good authors who once knew more clever words,
Now only use four letter words,
Writing prose.
Anything Goes.
-Cole Porter
The night of the hunter
Cape fear
Clean Slate (adapted from Jim Thompson's Pop. 1280)
Profit (TV series)
Badlands
Thanks, but this is not exactly what I was looking for. Any of them have a love story in them? I kind of imagined some kind of made for tv movie about a psychopath who’s abused and then goes through life imitating people and loving people… more kind of like a hallmark flick?
Bah, maybe I’m looking for something that doesn’t exist?
Tv/ or indie.
A twisted psychological thriller love story would be Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession, a Nicholas Roeg film that is extremely sick and haunting. Whether one of the characters is a psychopath would be up to you, though I think he's just disturbed. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080408/
The Bad Seed! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048977/
Bah, maybe I’m looking for something that doesn’t exist?
Tv/ or indie.
That actually sounds a bit like The Talented Mr Ripley (which I mentioned, although you missed it off your list). From wikipedia:
"Highsmith introduced Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955) as a young man making a meager living off his "talents": forgery, impersonation and lying. Relatively little is revealed about his background, except that he was orphaned at age five when his parents drowned, was raised in Boston by an emotionally abusive aunt, and moved to New York City at 20.
In The Talented Mr. Ripley, he is paid to go to Italy by Herbert Greenleaf, a rich shipping magnate, to convince his son Dickie (a half-remembered acquaintance) to return to the family business. Ripley befriends the younger Greenleaf and quickly finds himself infatuated with the rich young man's indulgent, carefree lifestyle and brash, confident personality. Ripley eventually murders Greenleaf, however, after the young playboy grows tired of him and spurns his friendship. He then assumes Greenleaf's identity, using his passport to travel in luxury and enjoy pretending to be someone other than himself. He does the latter to perfection, imitating Greenleaf to the point that he virtually becomes him. This charade gets him in trouble, however, whenever he is confronted by people who know both him and Greenleaf."
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I'd suggest The Collector (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059043/) a 1965 film starring Terrence Stamp about an oddball buterfly collector who kidnaps the girl of his dreams and tries to make her fall in love with him. It's a bit chilling.
Also Kevin Bacon's The Woodsman (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361127/) the everyday story of a paedophile learning to love again.
Good one, very chilling. I read the novel and was haunted by it for years. I didn't know it was a film. I admire Terrance Stamp, but I don't think I could bear to watch it.
Dead End for sure, plus Funny games. Ray Wise, the wKing of Horror flicks is AWSOME in Dead End. A total must see..
Tracy B
Good one, very chilling. I read the novel and was haunted by it for years. I didn't know it was a film. I admire Terrance Stamp, but I don't think I could bear to watch it.
Its fairly tame by modern standards. The book is more creepy, i think, although I wasn't too keen on the structure. First half from the kidnapper/fledgling serial killer perspective; second half the same event from the kidnappee/annoying art student perspective. Is it wrong to want the victim to die?
gangster no. 1
that guy was pretty ruthless.
that guy was pretty ruthless.
that reminded me...
or even The Public Enemy
or really pretty much any movie James Cagney is in.
In that case, I still say try In Dreams. It's a twisted love story where Downey Jr. falls for Benning and tries to make her love him. Vanilla Sky, although somehwhat popular, is a story in which Cruise is in love with Cruz but because of his crazy ex (Cameron Diaz) he ends up deformed and goes crazy. Also, try Broken (Heather Graham). Her ex boyfriend is still in love with her, and tries to make her love him. He also happens to be insane.
Only two of those are Straight-to-DVD movies, but their all really good.
“Those who argue that art and philosophy are proof of human worth neglect to mention that, in the scheme we have devised, artists and philosophers are powerless and largely without prestige. Art, music, and philosophy are merely poignant examples of what we might have been had not the priests and traders gotten hold of us.” - George Carlin
i watch this show about the top 100 movie bad guys or something like that and both of those james cagney movies were on it.
"Ironman meets Dracula" is good.
"The day Superman ODed on Creeptonite and Ironman fucked the corpse" is a classic.
And "The 1001 nights of Iron-terror" This one is about the Iron Rapists that goes loose on a small villige. a Must see for any Iron aficionado.
ANd lastly "Silly MonkeyWright, you wont escape the Iron, dungen!" I leave this for you to see.
Hope I been helpful.