[LiteraryLark]

I have always found evil villains in movies and elsewhere to be attractive. The Joker, Loki, Christopher Walken, Nazis, Hans Landa, the Scream mask, too many evil villains. I think it has something to do with the immense power they had or were after, and for some reason, I find world domination to be attractive as well.

Does anybody else feel this way about evil villains?

Yes, I feel this way when they are wielding their power, and it is a complete domination of their subjects.

For example this scene from a cartoon.

More strangely, i was also turned on by the way the humans were dominated in the movie War of the worlds.

[IndieVisible]

Why do I find myself rooting for the bad guys some times? Perhaps these boundaries or lines get blurred some times or we just like a variety?

[Onward2wards]

I think it IS due to an appreciation of their fierce independence and personal power, aside from the darker aspects of their personalities. I have always been attracted to stories where some victim turns the tables and ends up having greater power than the villain. I do sometimes "envy the bad guy's power" but I also greatly dislike movie/TV villains for their more sadistic and destructive aspects.

[Harley47]

Well, keep in mind that Hollywood goes to great lengths to "sell" their villains well. A one sided villain that you're simply supposed to hate doesn't sell as well as, say, Loki, who, despite being certainly evil, is charming, and occasionally straight funny. It, by nature, creates a sort of mystique about the character, that being, I think, the point in which your concern is brought into play. There's a sort of sex appeal there.

In contrast, you have the good guy. Equally powerful, but, let's be honest, a little bland in comparison, no? Boring, in a word. They don't have to sell him quite so well, as you're, by instinct and basic plot comprehension (when was the last time you thought victory wasn't assured for the good guy?), already at least partially behind him. And without the villain, there's no real point for the hero in the film...the hero, in part, gets his appreciation to the audience by surmounting this insurmountable threat. In other words, in large part, the magnitude of the villain creates almost directly the level of respect we as the audience have for the hero.

So, before I get more sidetracked, I think it's largely due to the mystique and the power the villain holds. I got a little too "movie critic" there.

[IndieVisible]

Originally Posted by Harley47

Well, keep in mind that Hollywood goes to great lengths to "sell" their villains well. A one sided villain that you're simply supposed to hate doesn't sell as well as, say, Loki, who, despite being certainly evil, is charming, and occasionally straight funny. It, by nature, creates a sort of mystique about the character, that being, I think, the point in which your concern is brought into play. There's a sort of sex appeal there.

In contrast, you have the good guy. Equally powerful, but, let's be honest, a little bland in comparison, no? Boring, in a word. They don't have to sell him quite so well, as you're, by instinct and basic plot comprehension (when was the last time you thought victory wasn't assured for the good guy?), already at least partially behind him. And without the villain, there's no real point for the hero in the film...the hero, in part, gets his appreciation to the audience by surmounting this insurmountable threat. In other words, in large part, the magnitude of the villain creates almost directly the level of respect we as the audience have for the hero.

So, before I get more sidetracked, I think it's largely due to the mystique and the power the villain holds. I got a little too "movie critic" there.

I give this reply a 4 Star Review out of 5

[Phreak]

World domination? So do you also find Brain sexy, from Pinky and the Brain?

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Phreak

World domination? So do you also find Brain sexy, from Pinky and the Brain?

I could never get past the intro, it scared me too much.

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by DrSkipper

I have always found evil villains in movies and elsewhere to be attractive. The Joker, Loki, Christopher Walken, Nazis, Hans Landa, the Scream mask, too many evil villains. I think it has something to do with the immense power they had or were after, and for some reason, I find world domination to be attractive as well.

Does anybody else feel this way about evil villains?

Actually, nope. A villain forces their will on others and I don't find that the least bit sexy or attractive.

[Webgoji]

One thing about Hollywood is that, in general, they won't "go there" with their villains. In reality, their villains are usually just a half-step up from a "bad boy".

The villains in I Spit on Your Grave weren't just one dimensional; one had a wife and kids and another was nerdy and mentally handicapped.

But I think we can all agree that there was nothing sexy or attractive about any of them?

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Webgoji

One thing about Hollywood is that, in general, they won't "go there" with their villains. In reality, their villains are usually just a half-step up from a "bad boy".

The villains in I Spit on Your Grave weren't just one dimensional; one had a wife and kids and another was nerdy and mentally handicapped.

But I think we can all agree that there was nothing sexy or attractive about any of them?

I don't think the Joker was a bad boy. Or Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds.

I never saw I Spit On Your Grave.

And we are talking about someone who DOES find evil villains attractive.

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by DrSkipper

I don't think the Joker was a bad boy. Or Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds.

The Joker was an equal opportunity killer. The only difference between him and Rambo was the side he was on. Never could bring myself to watch Inglourious Basterds, it seemed to campy ... even for a Godzilla fan.

But again, Hollywood is okay with killers and, like the Joker, they're pretty impersonal. Plus, they tend to be over the top. You're not going to meet the Joker on the street, but the guys from I Spit on Your Grave could easily be the same guy at the gas station.

When you know it's safe (not real) it's okay, but when there's no safe word, stuff becomes horrific in a hurry.







[The follow may contain trigger points]

I Spit on Your Grave is about a woman who is attacked and raped by several men and then gets revenge on them. The movie is insanely brutal. About 30 minutes of the movie is dedicated to the repeated raping of the woman. Watch with caution. The new version (2010) lightens up a little and introduces characters that were in the true story.

[LiteraryLark]

Okay, what about A Clockwork Orange?

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by DrSkipper

Okay, what about A Clockwork Orange?

You found them sexy? Yikes.

I stand corrected then.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Webgoji

You found them sexy? Yikes.

I stand corrected then.

Like I said, I'm the one who finds evil villains sexy. So the question is not "are evil villains sexy" it's "why are evil villains sexy".

[Phreak]

Finding villians sexy isn't weird.

I find the idea of a lady dressing up as a strict German officer sexy - and she's delightably evil

[FaithlessCat]

I loved the character 'Vassago' in the movie Hideaway. Even when his sculpture of corpses was revealed, I found it to be so sexy. For me it's about the fact that I am such a strong willed, strong minded control freak of a woman and it would take someone that powerful to control me, which is something I secretly want. On a smaller scale, I'd love DH to take control in the bedroom department and not be so submissive .

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Phreak

Finding villians sexy isn't weird.

I find the idea of a lady dressing up as a strict German officer sexy - and she's delightably evil

One of these days I'll post a pic of my uniform.

[scorpiosis37]

I totally have the hots for Regina, the Evil Queen on "Once Upon a Time." What makes her sexy is the combination of fierce independence and sincere vulnerability. She "turned evil" because the one person she loved was taken away from her, and she swore she'd get revenge. Now, she has a son and is torn between love for him and the desire for power and revenge. I love seeing her insecure and vulnerable side come out in flashes, underneath her kick-*** exterior. She also has amazing costumes and looks pretty damn sexy in those Medieval corset-dresses. I watch the show with my best friend and joke to him that I want to "turn her good again."

Originally Posted by FaithlessCat

On a smaller scale, I'd love DH to take control in the bedroom department and not be so submissive .

DH = dear husband?

You should communicate these desires to him.

Early sexy villainness for me was Ursa, from superman 2.

She seemed to target men of rank, and she collected their insignia.

[Lone Pyromancer]

I feel the same way! I've realized that, at least for me, it's because of the attraction of power and being an "underdog", I guess. That, and villains just seem to be CREATED with attractive designs. Just look at Loki and Scar; sleek body form, dark black hair(or a mane in Scars case), green eyes, and cunning slyness. They're just attractive in every possible way.

[lolitahiddleston]

1. Loki
2. Villain from mission impossible 2
3. American psycho guy Christian bale
4. Hannibal rising guy
5. Imhotep
6. Michael Myers
7. Dr. Doom
8. Die hard 4 guy
9. Josh Hartnett in Sin City*
10. Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd*
11. Alan Rickman in Die Hard
12. James Franco in Spiderman 3
13. Matt Damon in The Talented Mr Ripley

******* had to take a cold shower after that list!

The way villains are portrayed these days tend towards this sort of thing i guess - they're charismatic, complex, intelligent, sophisticated. Hardly undesirable traits. There's also the power, the wonder at how they can live with themselves after what they've done - in other words, strength. It's all very intriguing. And clearly not uncommon.

[Douglas MacNeill]

The idea of romantic love turning a guy away from the
dark side is a powerful fantasy, if the sales of romance
novels featuring "badass boys" of one sort or another is
any indication.

The fascination involved with violating a taboo can itself
stir sexual interest--unless and until someone ends up
getting hurt (emotionally, physically, and so on).

I don't know if there are other reasons, but those two
reasons by themselves can easily explain why people can find
themselves experiencing sexual attraction to a villain.