I think this film was successful in creating terror to the audience because of its main villain, Chigurh. Because his character was essentially a killing machine and felt no remorse whatsoever after he had done so, this was the scariest aspect of it all; the fact that Chigurh would kill everyone in his path towards the retrieval of the money. His constant killing was played out as if it were a daily ritual, something as normal as having a cup of coffee in the morning. One scene that has made a lasting impression on me is when he encounters the store clerk and makes him call heads or tales when he flips the coin, basically threatening his life and confusing him. He agitates him with prying questions and Chigurh gets pissed off at the old man's slow mental capabilities, not picking up quickly enough on his questions. However, the fact that this man was "married into" this business of owning the gas station and store, this is a determining factor for Chigurh in deciding not to end his life abruptly, he asks, "What's the most you've ever lost on a coin toss?" Why do you think that this comment played a part in his decision not to kill him? (other than the coin toss)
I think that the biggest component was't the fact that he married into the business, but rather that he was going out of his way to block Chigurh from whatever he was up to. Once he decides that the old man is a bother, he proposes the coin flip, and when it lands heads like the old man predicted, then Chigurh decides that he isn't posing a large enough threat to kill him. I also think that he heavily relies on destiny, and that he followed the coin because he believed that it was his destiny.
Even though Chigurh is an awful, cold-blooded person, some part of me wonders if Chigurh rigged the coin toss to let the man survive. The whole scene was definitely creepy, especially the mis en scene with the little nooses hanging behind the cashier. I felt bad for the old man, who clearly seemed nervous with Chigurh's presence. If Chigurh really wanted to kill him, he would have had no issue shooting him dead with his stun gun, like his other numerous victims. He also could have rigged the coin toss so that the old man had to be murdered, but instead Chigurh chose to let him live. I think that this shows that Chigurh has a sliver of humanity and has his own set of (twisted) morals.
I think that the comment played a part in Chigurh's decision not to kill the proprietor of the gas station is because the first time Chigurh asks the owner of the gas station about the most he has lost in a coin toss, the man replies, "Sir?", Chigurh then repeats the question and the man replies "I don't know, I couldn't say.". Perhaps the man did not reply anything that made Chigurh want to kill him; it could have made Chigurh not want to kill the man.
I totally agree with you about Chigurh's character and how his absence of guilt contributed tremendously to scariness of the film. I also agree that the scene with the store clerk and the coin toss was very interesting. I think the clerks nervous and uneasy response gave Chigurh the power that he wishes had on all people in a positive way. The old guy is much weaker that Chigurh and his uneasiness gave Chigurh the power he wanted and maybe he just felt as though his job was done. As opposed to previous instances where he has experienced defeat from the police officer, (although he does end up killing him) the police had power in the beginning and Chigurh wanted that power back.
I believe that maybe coins have very significant meaning to Chigurh. He says that the coin has been traveling with him 22 years to end up here. I think that for me the most suspenseful part of this whole scene was when Anton says, "You stand to win everything". When he's trying to get the owner to call heads or tails and the man is hesitant about it. I think that once the man picks heads and that's what it lands on, he doesn't pose any threat or real reason for Anton to kill him.
I think that the biggest component was't the fact that he married into the business, but rather that he was going out of his way to block Chigurh from whatever he was up to. Once he decides that the old man is a bother, he proposes the coin flip, and when it lands heads like the old man predicted, then Chigurh decides that he isn't posing a large enough threat to kill him. I also think that he heavily relies on destiny, and that he followed the coin because he believed that it was his destiny.
ReplyDeleteEven though Chigurh is an awful, cold-blooded person, some part of me wonders if Chigurh rigged the coin toss to let the man survive. The whole scene was definitely creepy, especially the mis en scene with the little nooses hanging behind the cashier. I felt bad for the old man, who clearly seemed nervous with Chigurh's presence. If Chigurh really wanted to kill him, he would have had no issue shooting him dead with his stun gun, like his other numerous victims. He also could have rigged the coin toss so that the old man had to be murdered, but instead Chigurh chose to let him live. I think that this shows that Chigurh has a sliver of humanity and has his own set of (twisted) morals.
ReplyDeleteI think that the comment played a part in Chigurh's decision not to kill the proprietor of the gas station is because the first time Chigurh asks the owner of the gas station about the most he has lost in a coin toss, the man replies, "Sir?", Chigurh then repeats the question and the man replies "I don't know, I couldn't say.". Perhaps the man did not reply anything that made Chigurh want to kill him; it could have made Chigurh not want to kill the man.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about Chigurh's character and how his absence of guilt contributed tremendously to scariness of the film. I also agree that the scene with the store clerk and the coin toss was very interesting. I think the clerks nervous and uneasy response gave Chigurh the power that he wishes had on all people in a positive way. The old guy is much weaker that Chigurh and his uneasiness gave Chigurh the power he wanted and maybe he just felt as though his job was done. As opposed to previous instances where he has experienced defeat from the police officer, (although he does end up killing him) the police had power in the beginning and Chigurh wanted that power back.
ReplyDeleteI believe that maybe coins have very significant meaning to Chigurh. He says that the coin has been traveling with him 22 years to end up here. I think that for me the most suspenseful part of this whole scene was when Anton says, "You stand to win everything". When he's trying to get the owner to call heads or tails and the man is hesitant about it. I think that once the man picks heads and that's what it lands on, he doesn't pose any threat or real reason for Anton to kill him.
ReplyDelete