4) “He Never Screams” (Sin City)
Maybe this pick just shows my adoration of Elijah Woods’ career, but the way Rodriguez captures the death of Kevin literally haunts my dreams. Don’t get me wrong, the entirety of Sin City is a trippy comic book haze rendered in black and white, but there’s something about Woods’ portrayal of the backwoods psychopath that hits on haunting levels of searing disconnection. Rodriguez captures this, elongating the character’s fingernails while highlighting his quickness, making him one of the most memorable characters throughout this Frank Miller adaptation – Charlie Brown sweater and all.
“He never screams” is uttered by Marv as he finally subdues Kevin, getting revenge for Goldie by carrying out a torturous plan full of bloodlust. Sitting there, bound to a tree, we see Kevin from the waist up, staring blankly into the camera. Marv rambles on about how even the most twisted fate wouldn’t be enough for Kevin, but then it’s revealed that two bloody stumps are all that’s left of his legs. Kevin, still emotionless, sits silently as a dog tears at his flesh, and even when Marv cuts his head off, the same damn facial expression still rests on his face.
Sure, it’s killer work by Woods, but Rodriguez’s vision pulls all the insanity together. Those cold, dead eyes are still the only thing I can see while laying in bed at night…
