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. 2017 Jun 1;153(6):559-564.
doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.5979.

Dermatologic Features of Classic Movie Villains: The Face of Evil

Julie Amthor Croley  1 , Vail Reese  2 , Richard F Wagner Jr  1
Affiliations

Dermatologic Features of Classic Movie Villains: The Face of Evil

Julie Amthor Croley et al. JAMA Dermatol. .

Abstract

Importance: Dichotomous dermatologic depictions of heroes and villains in movies have been used since the silent film age.

Objective: To evaluate the hero-villain skin dichotomy in film by (1) identifying dermatologic findings of the all-time top 10 American film villains, (2) comparing these dermatologic findings to the all-time top 10 American film heroes quantitatively and qualitatively, and (3) analyzing dermatologic portrayals of film villains in depth.

Design, setting, and participants: In this cross-sectional study, dermatologic findings for film heroes and villains in mainstream media were identified and compared quantitatively using a χ2 test with α < .05, as well as qualitatively. The all-time top 10 American film villains and heroes were obtained from the American Film Institute 100 Greatest Heroes and Villains List.

Main outcomes and measures: Primary outcomes include identification and frequencies of dermatologic findings of the top 10 film villains and of the top 10 film heroes.

Results: Six (60%) of the all-time top 10 American film villains have dermatologic findings, including cosmetically significant alopecia (30%), periorbital hyperpigmentation (30%), deep rhytides on the face (20%), multiple facial scars (20%), verruca vulgaris on the face (20%), and rhinophyma (10%). The top 10 villains have a higher incidence of significant dermatologic findings than the top 10 heroes (60% vs 0%; P = .03).

Conclusions and relevance: Dermatologic findings of the all-time top 10 American villains are used in film to highlight the dichotomy of good and evil, which may foster a tendency toward prejudice in our society directed at those with skin disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Frequency of Dermatologic Findings in the All-Time Top 10 American Film Villains
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Die Dermatologie des Bösen.
    Füeßl HS. Füeßl HS. MMW Fortschr Med. 2017 Nov;159(20):36. doi: 10.1007/s15006-017-0319-6. MMW Fortschr Med. 2017. PMID: 29159627 German. No abstract available.

References

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    1. American Film Institute AFI’s 100 greatest heroes and villains. http://www.afi.com/100Years/handv.aspx. Accessed February 1, 2016.
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