GRINNING KILLERS

Sure, death grins. Every skull bone proves that. But in recent years, even movie slashers have gotten used to a nasty grin. Hidden visages behind leather and field hockey masks? That was yesterday.

It all started with the Joker in THE DARK KNIGHT (2008). In earlier Batman versions he was more of a joker, but in Heath Ledger’s interpretation he mutated into a nihilistic killer. Cauterized corners of his mouth made for a permanent grin. The JOKER had thus emancipated himself from Batman and was given his own story as an anti-hero.

This was followed by the remake of Stephen King’s IT (2017) with the nasty Pennywise clown. During these years, his colleague “Art” (like Art) also appeared on the scene. The only difference is that his grin is a pile of dental junk: the teeth are broken, bloody and foul and black.

But it’s not just professional griners who are running amok. The second part of SMILE is currently starting: in it, a curse drives those affected into a permanent grin. A week later, they are dead. If you want to survive, you have to pass on the curse.

With so many macabre grins, the question arises: What is the root of this trend? Perhaps it is the bloody answer to the toxic smiley and feel-good terror? To the compulsion for “positive thinking” and similar autodestruction? The Filmkunst-Videothek has dedicated a themed shelf to the GRINNING KILLERS. You can rent all the films mentioned above on DVD.