It’s been awhile since I watched this movie, but my recollection is that Peter is most definitely “the villain.” He kills Phil and it’s also implied that he kills his father. I thought he was a sociopath.
The secondary villain to me was homophobia/being closeted. I sympathized with Phil who ends up being murdered by showing kindness (and/or attraction) to Peter. It reminds me a bit of American Beauty in that way.
I didn’t think of George as expressing toxic masculinity. I thought of him as clueless and ineffective. He doesn’t know Rose isn’t very good. He’s in love with her and thinks she’s great. I didn’t get the sense he was trying to remake her, so much as he expected everyone to see her how he sees her.
that's interesting that you thought Peter killed his father. In the book, it's Phil who kills his father (or pushes him to suicide), which is part of why Phil is more clearly the villain in the book. The movie changes things subtly but significantly, imo...
I can't stand watching movies that depict this kind of cruelty, but as a longtime contrarian text-analyzer, I appreciate your deep dive into these characters' motivations and subtleties - much better than a traditional movie review!
It’s been awhile since I watched this movie, but my recollection is that Peter is most definitely “the villain.” He kills Phil and it’s also implied that he kills his father. I thought he was a sociopath.
The secondary villain to me was homophobia/being closeted. I sympathized with Phil who ends up being murdered by showing kindness (and/or attraction) to Peter. It reminds me a bit of American Beauty in that way.
I didn’t think of George as expressing toxic masculinity. I thought of him as clueless and ineffective. He doesn’t know Rose isn’t very good. He’s in love with her and thinks she’s great. I didn’t get the sense he was trying to remake her, so much as he expected everyone to see her how he sees her.
Probably a good time for a rewatch.
that's interesting that you thought Peter killed his father. In the book, it's Phil who kills his father (or pushes him to suicide), which is part of why Phil is more clearly the villain in the book. The movie changes things subtly but significantly, imo...
I can't stand watching movies that depict this kind of cruelty, but as a longtime contrarian text-analyzer, I appreciate your deep dive into these characters' motivations and subtleties - much better than a traditional movie review!
thanks!
I do like it a good deal, but yeah, if sustained explorations of interpersonal cruelty are not your thing, you should give it a pass for sure.