I can’t tell you how excited I was to catch another Jake Gyllenhaal cop drama. As Jake and Hugh Jackman made their rounds on morning shows to promote their upcoming film Prisoners, I prepped for what was sure to be an intense cinematic adventure. But when I finally had the chance to see Prisoners in all its riveting, two and a half hour glory, it wasn’t the handsome leading men that captured my attention, it was the creeps.
As it turns out, Prisoners is not short on creeps (but don't worry I won't give anything away). Creeps abound! From theatrical trailers, the general public knows that Prisoners also stars Paul Dano, an actor who in recent years has seemed to embrace the role of “the creep” with grace, if that’s possible. When I saw him in There Will Be Blood, it was chilling. He was downright eerie playing Eli Sunday and Paul Sunday, and it made me extremely uncomfortable. He’s an excellent creep and his frightening skills are not just derived from his acting abilities but also by his physical appearance. Though rather handsome by the light of day, on screen that guy just looks spooky.
And that’s the beauty of creepy characters. Most times we can spot them a mile away. They have physical features that let us know they just ain't right. Their odd mannerisms totally give them away, from their inability to effectively communicate to their posture and their eyes. Occasionally, a creep is skilled at masking his or her ghoulishness but, inevitably, their true disturbing personality eventually shines through.
In case you're not adept at spotting creepers, here are a few characteristics that should tip you off. Most creepy creeps exhibit several of the following traits.