Fictional criminals with imaginary friends?
December 19, 2012 11:37 AM Subscribe
Books/movies: Fictional criminals who had imaginary friends/accomplices?
In "Mr. Brooks", Mr. Brooks (played by Kevin Costner) is a serial killer who has an imaginary sidekick played named Marshall (played by William Hurt). Marshall is seen and heard by the audience, and we see Mr. Brooks interacting with Marshall throughout the movie, but no other characters can see Marshall or hear their private conversations.
In "City of Fire" by Robert Ellis, Martin Fellows is a serial killer with an accomplice named Mick Finn. Outside of the murders, Fellows and Finn regularly interact and even go the gym or restaurants together. When Fellows comes under suspicion in the last 50 pages of the book, the police observe Fellows go to lunch with Finn. It is finally revealed that Finn exists only in Fellows' mind, as he is seen ordering and eating two meals and the police realize that no one has ever seen Fellows' "friend".
Can you think of other examples of a fictional criminal having an imaginary friend or accomplice? It does not need to be serial killers -- those were the only two examples that came to my mind.
In "Mr. Brooks", Mr. Brooks (played by Kevin Costner) is a serial killer who has an imaginary sidekick played named Marshall (played by William Hurt). Marshall is seen and heard by the audience, and we see Mr. Brooks interacting with Marshall throughout the movie, but no other characters can see Marshall or hear their private conversations.
In "City of Fire" by Robert Ellis, Martin Fellows is a serial killer with an accomplice named Mick Finn. Outside of the murders, Fellows and Finn regularly interact and even go the gym or restaurants together. When Fellows comes under suspicion in the last 50 pages of the book, the police observe Fellows go to lunch with Finn. It is finally revealed that Finn exists only in Fellows' mind, as he is seen ordering and eating two meals and the police realize that no one has ever seen Fellows' "friend".
Can you think of other examples of a fictional criminal having an imaginary friend or accomplice? It does not need to be serial killers -- those were the only two examples that came to my mind.
The Bad Night arc of Brubaker and Phillips' Criminal series might fit what you're looking for.
posted by mean cheez at 11:44 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mean cheez at 11:44 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Ventriloquist in the animated Batman series and the comics is one of the stranger and creepier examples of the breed.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:56 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:56 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Not much of a spoiler for The Perfect Host.
posted by nicwolff at 12:03 PM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by nicwolff at 12:03 PM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Dexter. talks ro his late father.
posted by pyro979 at 12:06 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by pyro979 at 12:06 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
The sixth season of "Dexter" features the Doomsday Killers: Travis Marshall (Colin Hanks) and Professor James Gellar (Edward James Olmos). Marshall commits all of the violence we see on-screen while being prodded and pushed by Gellar. Eventually, we learn that Marshall killed Gellar some time before beginning his apocalyptic killing spree and is imagining the prodding and pushing as a way to rationalize his own involvement.
posted by Etrigan at 12:07 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Etrigan at 12:07 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Smeagol/Gollum?
posted by JJtheJetPlane at 12:43 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by JJtheJetPlane at 12:43 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's pretty ambiguous, but Teddy Daniels/Andrew Laeddis and Chuck Aule in Shutter Island.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 1:09 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 1:09 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is an element in Stephen King's novella "Blaze."
posted by Mr. Justice at 1:20 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr. Justice at 1:20 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Criminal Minds episode "Derailed" has a man who has an imaginary friend. The "friend" helps to take hostages on a train and advises him during the negotiations with the FBI.
posted by MinusCelsius at 1:30 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by MinusCelsius at 1:30 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh, and I haven't seen it, but based on the description, maybe True Romance?
posted by phoenixy at 4:26 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by phoenixy at 4:26 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Youth in Revolt. Originally a book but made into a surprisingly charming movie a few years ago.
posted by gentian at 6:05 PM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by gentian at 6:05 PM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Magic by William Goldman.
The Last Sherlock Holmes Story by Michael Dibdin.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:52 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Last Sherlock Holmes Story by Michael Dibdin.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:52 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
There was an episode of Criminal Minds that had this as the plot. I think it was called "Derailed".
posted by patheral at 9:57 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by patheral at 9:57 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Seconding The Perfect Host which you must watch if you haven't.
posted by wittgenstein at 12:28 PM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by wittgenstein at 12:28 PM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for these answers!
Criminal Minds – episode called "Derailed"
Dexter - sixth season - features the Doomsday Killers
Dexter - talks to his late father? (check)
Magic by William Goldman
Norman Bates in Psycho
Smeagol/Gollum? (check)
Stephen King's novella "Blaze"
Teddy Daniels/Andrew Laeddis and Chuck Aule in Shutter Island - no?
The Bad Night - arc of Brubaker and Phillips' Criminal series
The Basic Eight
The Last Sherlock Holmes Story by Michael Dibdin
The Perfect Host
The Ventriloquist in the animated Batman series/comics
True Romance – the Elvis thing? - no?
Tyler Durden in Fight Club
Youth in Revolt
posted by 99percentfake at 8:05 PM on December 20, 2012
Criminal Minds – episode called "Derailed"
Dexter - sixth season - features the Doomsday Killers
Dexter - talks to his late father? (check)
Magic by William Goldman
Norman Bates in Psycho
Smeagol/Gollum? (check)
Stephen King's novella "Blaze"
Teddy Daniels/Andrew Laeddis and Chuck Aule in Shutter Island - no?
The Bad Night - arc of Brubaker and Phillips' Criminal series
The Basic Eight
The Last Sherlock Holmes Story by Michael Dibdin
The Perfect Host
The Ventriloquist in the animated Batman series/comics
True Romance – the Elvis thing? - no?
Tyler Durden in Fight Club
Youth in Revolt
posted by 99percentfake at 8:05 PM on December 20, 2012
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Tyler Durden in Fight Club
posted by entropicamericana at 11:43 AM on December 19, 2012 [4 favorites]