Evil Incarnate

Author: George
Location: Atlanta

Evil Incarnate

Directed by: Terry George
Written by: Terry George
Music by: Mychael Danna

Cast:
Colin Farrell as Charles Manson
Kevin Bacon as Vincent Bugliosi
Kevin McNally as Judge Older
Rebecca Hall as Susan Atkins
Kim Director as Patricia Krenwinkel
Zuleikha Robinson as Sarah Van Houten

Tagline: “Whenever you looked into his eyes, the only thing you saw was the evil within”

Synopsis: They looked at each other for a long time, the serial killer and the prosecutor. The dark, claustrophobic jail cell was the very opposite of the ranch where the killer had stayed for the past year, just as the prosecutor requested. Their names were Charles Manson and Vincent Bugliosi, the definition of enemies. Manson looked shorter than Bugliosi expected and smiled a great deal more than he would have liked. Manson’s eyes looked over Bugliosi intently, trying to figure out who this man was that could end his life now, in 1971. While Manson saw a man with strict principles that could not be easily swayed, Bugliosi saw the exact opposite. While trying to see a man, he saw only evil and madness. What scared Bugliosi the most was that Manson knew it himself, and loved the attention it got.

Throughout the trial that would come about Manson would become one of the most infamous and publicized killers in American history. The way he soaked up the press with a smile or bow and had plenty to say to them made Bugliosi uncomfortable. Even though he had been at this job for years he had never met such an insane sociopath in his life. He and Judge Older had become friends before the trial and both were shocked at the way Manson carried himself, with no remorse or regrets.

Manson would become his own attorney for the first half of the trial. Perplexing Bugliosi and Older (as well as the jury and the press) Manson built his own case on his lunatic ideals and weak alibis. Even if his story was weak, his demeanor was very energetic and almost scary. His rants and body language added to the already insane portrait the press was giving him. Bugliosi had been tested before, but never had he seen such a blatant disregard for the law and human ethics before. Manson’s charisma and booming voice didn’t charm anyone to his defense, but it certainly left an impact on everyone that was there.

Bugliosi soon started going to Manson’s cell to understand his story and case, but soon he went for a different reason. To see who this man was. He simply could not believe that a man could be this evil, this unremorseful. Manson is all too happy to tell his stories to Bugliosi taking him back to the murders he and his “family” committed. Bugliosi was soon sick of Manson’s demeanor and tried to distance himself from him as much as possible. But he still couldn’t let go of the fascination he had of him. The sickness he felt when he heard the man’s name. The fact that he was a man at all.

Bugliosi found the three women linked with Manson for conspiracy and murder, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Sarah Van Houten. He found Krenwinkel and Van Houten too devoted to their “master” to cooperate, but found Atkins to be having second thoughts. The more he talked to Atkins the more he realized what Manson had done. He had ruled their lives and governed them with an iron fist. He had given no control of the commune to anyone else, and set himself up as a prophet ready to begin the apocalypse. He tried to get Atkins to testify against Manson, but she was too afraid of what he might do to her if she did. Her tears and sorrow hardened Bugliosi considerably and gave him no room anymore to be consumed with Manson’s behavior.

Over the course of the trial, Manson’s love of media attention brought him fame never before reached by a criminal. Every week he would find something new for the press to grab on too. He would greet them with outstretched arms and his head bowed to the right like Christ, or he would talk to the camera and would continue for along time, horrifying and fascinating the American people. His most renowned act of media craving was when he got a knife and marked an X between his eyes, the three women followed suit, showing Manson’s monstrous control over them. The pressure of putting this man away was almost too much to bear for Bugliosi. The media attention was getting to him also and soon made him question his practices. Manson had gotten a real attorney now. Bugliosi needed a break.

The night before Manson was to go on the stand himself, Bugliosi visited judge Older at his house. Bugliosi and Older and began to drink liquor together. Bugliosi spilled what had been preying on his mind during the entire case to Older. His belief that good was in everyone had been shaken considerably. He had always been a prosecutor and had put away psychotic killers before, but this was different. Never before had he seen such evil in a man, such madness. Was there really no good in this man at all? Was there no heart in him? Could he ever be forgiven? How could he live with all that blood on his hands? How could a man be so hateful and enjoy it so much? Bugliosi had come to tears by now, finally letting it all go. Older waited patiently and finally said that this man was pure evil, simple as that. They turned on the midnight news and, to Bugliosi’s disgust, Manson was on again. He had just shaven his head and beard saying that he was the devil “and the devil always has a shaved head.” Fueled by the fury of Manson’s smiling attitude, Bugliosi went home to prepare for his cross examination of Manson. To put him to death.

The next day was the biggest ever for both men. Manson sat on the witness stand in chains, (he had just attacked Older during the testimonies of the three women) while Bugliosi silently waited to be able to attack Manson. When he got his chance, he didn’t hesitate. Armed with evidence and hatred, Bugliosi quickly dissolved the defense’s case. Manson soon lost his controlling, intimidating behavior and got on the defensive. His eyes became wild and his voice started to quiver until he could handle it no more. Manson finally gave in to his anger and let out an angry tirade blaming everyone and everything for what had happened. He blamed the three women and showed his real vicious nature with attacks on blacks and minorities and a full story and the impending apocalypse that his murders were supposed to start. He showed who he really was to the press and American people. Bugliosi had finally accomplished the most exhausting case of his career. Charles Manson had been defeated.

Before Manson had been taken away forever to prison, Bugliosi went to see him one last time. The two men looked at each other for a while. Manson’s long ragged hair was gone, making him look younger than before. Bugliosi didn’t know why he was there. Manson moved his lips in what appeared to be an ungrateful smile and bowed slightly. Bugliosi didn’t say anything, he wasn’t scared anymore. He left the cell and Manson forever, but he would never be able to forget him or the evil within him.

What the press would say:
Equipped with a devilish smile and a cold, penetrating stare, Colin Farrell shows what he is truly capable of as the evil and charismatic Charles Manson. His battle with prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi is one of the best we have had in a long time. Kevin Bacon plays the prosecutor with stunning humanity and conviction giving his character a full three dimensional turn. Farrell gives the performance of his life. A flashy, vicious performance that makes you cringe and want to cover your eyes at the madness within. His presence on the screen is terrifying and when he is not, he is still felt throughout the lives of those involved. But while Farrell is insane and very talkative, Bacon is subtle and humane giving a completely opposite character than Farrell. But these performances wouldn’t have come about if it wasn’t for the incredibly well written script and spot on direction from Terry George. His remarkable commitment to the film shows thru every shot, and really gives the film an edge other interpretations have been missing. The verbal battles between Manson and Bugliosi are incredibly well written and edited to make it seem just as tense as anything in the courtroom. The character of Manson himself is depicted in a way never before done and unusually true to his real persona. Manson was a true media jester, feeding off the attention he got. He would often rant in court and did have erratic mood swings that would intimidate the jury and the court. Instead of a film that delves deep into a tortured soul of Manson, it gives him the portrait he deserves. One of him being the devil himself. Manson offered no redeemable qualities so why should he been given any in this film? Granted it’s not 100 percent accurate, the film does give a very menacing and (deservedly) cruel portrait of the man. Farrell has a field day with him giving his most dynamic performance of the year. Only Hall has a surprisingly emotional turn out of the supporting cast, generating fear, desperation, and love all in one scene. Her turn in this is one for the books as a very well acted, but not over acted, scene of emotions. Bacon is just as good as Farrell or Hall and carries the movie along with them, creating a deeply human character. Evil Incarnate is a provocative edgy film that is Terry George at his finest.

Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Actor (Colin Farrell)
Best Actor (Kevin Bacon)
Best Supporting Actress (Rebecca Hall)
Best Director (Terry George)
Best Original Screenplay (Terry George)