In his book, Schmid shows killers as sexual deviants whose appetites are not clearly stated as normal. The film, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a perfect indication of this notion in killer movies. In this film, Mr. Ripley is depicted as a man whose sexuality is rarely mentioned. In essence, he acts as both a bisexual and heterosexual to help him accomplish his killing spree (Schmid, 2008). In his first relationship with Dickie, Mr. Ripley develops a relationship that can easily confuse homosexuality. However, the film does not clearly show if he is homosexual or heterosexual. For instance, during his encounters with Dickie, he informs him that they have a liking for one another but does not clearly show the form of attraction they share. Concealing Mr. Riley’s sexual identity creates suspense throughout the film, as viewers cannot understand his actual orientation, and they are kept guessing depending on the concealed actions.
Mr. Ripley’s sexual orientation is also concealed through his interactions with both males and females. In this case, his relationships with Merge, Meredith, and Peter are the key sources of confusion regarding his orientation. In Mr. Ripley’s Greece expedition, he travels with Peter, whom people confuse for his lover. However, despite the speculation that they are in an intimate relationship, Mr. Ripley still kisses Meredith. In this case, he becomes sad when Peter questions him about the incident and does not explain the encounter (Schmid, 2008). Again, kissing Meredith brings confusion over Mr. Ripley’s sexual orientation, as it is difficult for viewers to understand if he was heterosexual or homosexual. After kissing Meredith, Mr. Ripley promises her that he would keep in touch by communicating with her often. However, the hint that he is now heterosexual is refuted because he considers killing Marge to conceal his real identity. If he were heterosexual, it would have been easier for him to create a lasting relationship with her rather than establishing a seemingly intimate relationship with her friend, Peter. The confusion in sexual orientations for killers enables them to commit their atrocities without mercy. They can also use their identities as both homosexuals and heterosexuals to exploit both men and women.
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Reference
Schmid, D. (2008). 3. Natural Born Celebrities: Serial Killers and the Hollywood Star System. In Natural Born Celebrities (pp. 105-137). University of Chicago Press.
