Luce is a compelling villain precisely because he spends so much time actively pretending not to be one
) sets in motion a series of events that propel the tense psychological thriller through its 109 minute runtime.After searching Luce’s locker and finding a stash of illegal fireworks, Harriet calls Amy to the school, relays her concerns, and asks her to speak to her son. After all, maintaining Luce’s reputation and preserving his college opportunities is of the utmost importance.
Spencer imbues the character with a resigned weariness that evolves into the keen foresight of a woman being denied her own perception of events.The film establishes Luce’s resentment of Harriet early. He tells his parents that she is too focused on her idea of him to allow him to be who he actually is. He doesn’t want to be an exceptional token, and he finds her concern with his social image offensive.
But the key difference is that Luce never actually pushes back on the position that has been thrust onto him, choosing instead to lash out at Harriet for creating the fiction he has chosen to maintain. Offered more opportunities to shine, he accepts them. Turning them down never meaningfully crosses his mind. Luce readily accepts the benefits that come with being the school’s shining hope, but bristles against the expectations that accompany them.
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