Long beforeAaron Taylor-Johnsonbecame the iconic Spider-Man villain inKraven the Hunter, the Marvel actor played a much, much more sinister role in one of the more underappreciated thrillers of the 2010s. Directed by Tom Ford,Nocturnal Animalswas a controversial, award-winning drama that saw a star-studded cast led by Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, and, of course, Taylor-Johnson. The role garnered Taylor-Johnson a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, but the actor has now admitted to having a “real issue” taking on the part of serial killer Ray Marcus.
During an interview withThe Guardian, Taylor-Johnson reflected on starring in Ford’s 2016 mystery thriller as the villain of the film’s in-world book, whose story serves as a catalyst for novelist Edward Sheffield’s (Gyllenhaal) grief.Taylor-Johnson portrays the serial killer responsible for killing and raping the wife and daughter of Tony Hastings, the protagonist of the book written by Gyllenhaal's character. The sinister role has the Marvel star completely transforming himself into a slimy, yet off-putting representation of evil that is strangely charismatic. It’s safe to say that Taylor-Johnson nailed the role, but he recently admitted to being unsure of himself in the subversive turn when theNocturnal Animalsdirector first approached him for the film.
“I had a real issue taking on that role. I found it really, really difficult. I couldn’t understand why Tom [Ford] – who I knew, sort of, from dinner parties here and there – wanted me to play a serial-killer rapist. My feeling was: I can’t. I don’t see a way in here. I don’t even know what you want me to do. I was so out of my depth. Tom’s whole thing was: ‘I just feel like this character should have so much charisma. That’s what’s unpredictable about him.'”
Tom Ford Wanted Ray to Be “Charismatic”
BeforeNocturnal Animals, Taylor-Johnson was being primed asa big-screen protagonist in several major franchises. FromGodzillain 2014 toAvengers: Age of Ultron, Taylor-Johnson had found himself being the hero of a larger-than-life story time after time. However, whenNocturnal Animalscame along, it seemed to be the shock to the senses Taylor-Johnson needed. Speaking with The Guardian, Taylor-Johnson revealed that once he delved deep into shaping his performance as Ray, he believed that it was “definitely a life lesson for just being a little bit outside your comfort zone.”
“It’s more shocking that way. Ray is quite a fresh-faced, charming-looking individual. But Tom wanted him to be weird and freaky as well. Tom expects perfection, so I just felt: I cannot fail this guy. I went down a whole rabbit hole of serial killers: Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez. With Bundy, one of the big things is that he had charisma and charm. I took pieces from lots of different places. And I remember giving Tom a range of different things. It was definitely a life lesson for just being a little bit outside your comfort zone and putting the hard work in. What came out was something unique and different.”
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SinceNocturnal Animals, Taylor-Johnson’s filmography still skewers towards big-budgetaction flickslikeBullet TrainandKraven the Hunter. However, he still finds time for proejcts likeNosferatu, a practical-effects-driven remake of the 1922 silent classic horror film, and is currently set to star in the long-anticipated28 Days Latersequel,28 Years Later, as well as its follow-up,28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. That said,Nocturnal Animalsis still probably his most subversive role to date, and one that will stand proudly amidst his impressive resume.
Nocturnal Animals
