The Dark Side of Charisma:

12 Films With Devious Protagonists

One of the most fascinating and intriguing types of characters in movies are the ones who start out charismatic and charming but eventually reveal their dark, manipulative side.

Naturally, we wanted to recommend some of the most compelling movies featuring characters with a charismatic veneer who end up being deeply, darkly manipulative.

The Social Network (2010)

The Social Network is a biographical drama portraying the originating of the social networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a dark psychological thriller starring Tilda Swinton as Kevin's mother. The story is shared from her perspective as she struggles to come to terms with her sociopathic son (Ezra Miller) and the horrors he has committed. 

No Country for Old Men (2007)

No Country for Old Men is a neo-Western crime thriller following a hunter in the Rio Grande who discovers a drug deal gone wrong. And the more than two million dollars in cash left behind.

There Will Be Blood  (2007)

There Will Be Blood is an epic period drama loosely based on Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel Oil! It follows a silver miner turned oilman (Daniel Day-Lewis) ruthlessly seeking wealth during Southern California‘s late 19th and early 20th centuries oil boom.

Se7en (1995)

Seven is a neo-noir psychological crime thriller following two detectives partnering up to find a serial killing maniac who kills based on the seven deadly sins.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological thriller horror film following a young FBI trainee (Jodie Foster) working with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), an imprisoned brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer.

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