Casting Hot Actors for Killer Roles
Most media today uses attractive actors to promote their projects. Sex sells, and it sells well. In October, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story came out on Netflix. It tells the story of the Menendez brothers, the abuse they suffered at the hands of their parents, their decision to ultimately kill them, and their trial. While the show was controversial for its portrayal of violence, one thing I found very interesting was how the characters were sexualized.
Now, the actors Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander are two objectively attractive men. They are playing brothers who were sexually abused and then murdered by their parents, and people online were making thirst trap edits of them. The characters they played told the story of abuse and finally snapping. Despite this, the internet couldn't contain their lust over their appearances. There are several reasons actors are cast for roles, other than their appearance, but it is an essential factor.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a 2019 thriller about Ted Bundy, played by Zac Efron, through the lens of his girlfriend Liz, as she grapples with his trial and personal experiences with him. Different from Monsters, this film is from an outside perspective of Bundy's killings; therefore, no gore or violence is usually seen in other films about serial killers. Joe Berlinger, the director, wanted Efron due to several connections between the actor and the real-life person. Ted Bundy was an extraordinarily charismatic person, which is why many people did not believe he committed his crimes. Efron was chosen because he is charming. Most people remember him as a sweet, innocent Troy Bolton from High School Musical. By using a likable and attractive actor, audiences can understand why people were so enamored with Bundy. An actor's persona can be used to influence your opinions on the characters they are playing. When you see him talking in the courtroom, you feel like you are a part of it, and it makes the film feel more real. Bundy is able to use his charm to convince people he is innocent. Efron's likability is used in the same way to make the audience trust him even though they know they shouldn't.
One thing that was made apparent is the difference in how the cases of the Menedez Brothers and Ted Bundy were shown in the trailers for both productions. Monsters showed the glitz and glamorous life of the brothers while showing shirtless shots with deep, dark secrets that will be revealed when the show starts. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile has a different perspective, but it portrays the story with less sexy scenes and shows more of Bundy's cunning nature. One describes the story as a drama of two luxurious teens, while the other shows a thriller of uncovering a killer. These cases are different from each other in several different ways, but both media portray the violent nature of the story entirely differently.
Another film that came out recently was Women of the Hour, which shows the true story of the Dating Game show unknowingly having serial killers on their show. The film is from the perspective of Sheryl Bradshaw, who the contestants on the show are trying to get a date with. The actor who plays the serial killer, Daniel Zovatto, was not explicitly cast for his appearance or attractiveness. This film was Anna Kendricks's directorial debut, and she wanted Zovatto due to his previous role as a cult leader in HBO's Station Eleven. She believed that when he came onto the screen, he had a commanding presence that she felt was necessary for the role of the serial killer. His appearance was less of a necessity for the story. His attractiveness needed to be more relevant to the story or the role. The point was to create a character that seemed unique to everyone else. The audience shouldn't be scared of him or lusting after him due to his appearance. Instead, they let his acting ability tell the story the film wants to tell.