Following a feature where Guardian writers selected their favourite unlikable characters from film, readers have flooded in with their own compelling and controversial choices. The response highlights a enduring fascination with deeply flawed, often despicable characters who nonetheless captivate audiences with their charisma, complexity, or sheer audacity.
The Charismatic Monsters and Lovable Rogues
Many reader selections focused on characters who commit heinous acts yet remain strangely magnetic. A standout example is Alex DeLarge from Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. Described by reader Thecuregalore94 as "a murderer, a gleefully sadistic rapist, an unapologetic sociopath," the character is brought to life with such "panache and fun" by Malcolm McDowell that he becomes "irresistibly charming." The reader even admitted to feeling happy for Alex when he evades justice at the film's conclusion.
Similarly, the violent gangster Tommy DeVito from Goodfellas, played by Joe Pesci, was highlighted by IscoBusquet. He is an "utterly repellent, unrepentantly vicious thug" whose explosive charisma makes him an incredible screen presence, akin to "watching a hand grenade with a missing pin."
Deluded, Drunken, and Destructive
Another category celebrated characters whose unlikability stems from profound personal failings rather than outright evil. The drunken, cowardly waster Withnail from Withnail and I was a popular pick, with ManicOwl noting he was "prepared to let his best mate get sodomised so he could go on holiday." Yet, the character played by Richard E. Grant remains an iconic and beloved figure.
From Bad Santa, Willie Soke earns admiration, as GusCairns pointed out, for saving a child's life while remaining "a sweary alcoholic without an ounce of dignity and self-respect." In Uncut Gems, Adam Sandler's Howard Ratner presents a tragic study in addiction. SocksPest observed that while Howard is a "truly terrible man," audiences can't deny he is also a victim, making his final fate a complex relief.
Ruthless Survivors and Flawed Icons
Readers also championed characters whose ruthlessness is a response to a harsh world. Emily Bennetto in Emily the Criminal, played by Aubrey Plaza, is "breathtakingly ruthless," but as FishingGenet notes, you cheer her on due to the awful people she encounters. Plaza's "truly scary eyes" were also highlighted as a formidable asset.
Classic cinema provided further examples. Lily Powers in the pre-Code film Baby Face is a "shamelessly self-centred gold digger" who literally sleeps her way up the corporate ladder. Meanwhile, John Wayne's Ethan Edwards in The Searchers is a towering, morally complex performance, though chelsea17 criticised John Ford's "penchant for sentimental endings."
Other notable reader choices included:
- Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction): A hitman dealing with life's mundane irritations. Mattyjj argued Samuel L. Jackson was "robbed of an Oscar."
- Mark ‘Chopper’ Read (Chopper): A brilliantly quotable and unreliable portrait of a criminal, in a career-high performance for Eric Bana.
- Barry Champlain (Talk Radio): An abrasive, egotistical radio host being crushed by the weight of society.
- Quint (Jaws): A blustering bully with a vendetta against sharks, but played by Robert Shaw with revealing humanity.
- Harriet Potter (Carry On Camping): An appalling, indomitable figure totally oblivious to her effect on others.
The discussion underscores a key truth in film appreciation: a character doesn't need to be virtuous to be unforgettable. Often, it is their flaws, their moral compromises, and their chaotic energy that etch them into cinematic history and spark passionate debate among audiences.
