The Darkest Chloe Sevigny Film Roles
Actress Chloe Sevigny has been living in front of the camera for nearly two decades. After making her film debut in 1995, Sevigny has landed several film roles in many independent films. Now 40 years-old, Sevigny has built an impressive resume and has worked alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names including Hilary Swank and Jake Gyllenhaal. Throughout her career, Sevigny has become known for taking on dark roles in independent films, and has won several awards for her efforts. Many of Sevigny’s characters often represent the cruel nature of a world that does not always offer a happy ending. Here are five of the darkest Chloe Sevigny film roles.
5. American Psycho
American Psycho, a psychological thriller released in 2000, followed Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a New York based investment baker. Although Patrick seems to have it all, he is secretly a serial killer who is leading a double life. Sevigny’s character, Jean, is young woman who works as Patrick’s secretary and discovers his violent ways. Overall, the film received mixed reviews; however, the most popular publications all gave the film positive reviews. The Los Angeles Times stated: “The difficult truth is that the more viewers can model themselves after protagonist Bateman, the more they can distance themselves from the human reality of the slick violence that fills the screen and take it all as some kind of a cool joke, the more they are likely to enjoy this stillborn, pointless piece of work.”
4. Zodiac
The 2007 film, Zodiac, is based on Robert Graysmith’s book of the same title. The film follows the man hunt for the infamous Zodiac serial killer who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and early 70s. In the film, Sevingy plays Melanie Graysmith, the wife of political cartoonist, Robert Graysmith. The film grossed $13.3 million during its opening weekend, and has earned a total of $84 million worldwide. Zodiac received mostly positive reviews and Newsweek’s David Ansen stated: “”Zodiac is meticulously crafted – Harris Savides’s state-of-the-art digital cinematography has a richness indistinguishable from film – and it runs almost two hours and 40 minutes. Still, the movie holds you in its grip from start to finish. Fincher boldly (and some may think perversely) withholds the emotional and forensic payoff we’re conditioned to expect from a big studio movie.”
3. The Killing Room
The Killing Room, a 2009 psychological thriller, stars Chloe Sevigny as Emily Reilly. The film follows four people who sign up for a research experiment who quickly realize that they have been tricked. One by one, the participate are brought into a white room where, after the female subject is killed, the three remaining men are tortured brutally. Although the film received mixed reviews, MTV’s Larry Carroll declared that The Killing Room was the “best movie” at the Sundance Film festival in 2009.
2. Boys Don’t Cry
Based on the life story of Brandon Teena, a trans man Lincoln, Nebraska, Boys Don’t Cry is a riveting tale of a life taken too soon. In the film, Sevigny plays Brandon’s love interest, Lana Tisdel, a young girl living in Humboldt, Nebraska. The film follows Brandon’s life and subsequent death after he visits Humboldt and has his biological sex revealed. Director Kimberly Peirce, who envisioned Sevigny for the role of Tisdel, stated: “Chloë just surrendered to the part. She watched videos of Lana. She just became her very naturally. She’s not one of those Hollywood actresses who diets and gets plastic surgery. You never catch her acting.” Boys Don’t Cry received critical acclaim, and film critic Roger Ebert proclaimed the film one of the best of the year. Ebert also praises Sevigny’s portrayel of Tisdel, stating: “The Lana character is crucial to the movie, and although Hilary Swank deserves all praise for her performance as Brandon, it is Sevigny who provides our entrance into the story. Representing the several women the real Brandon dated, she sees him as a warm, gentle, romantic lover. Does Lana know Brandon is a girl? At some point, certainly. But at what point exactly? There is a stretch when she knows, and yet she doesn’t know, because she doesn’t want to know; romance is built on illusion, and when we love someone, we love the illusion they have created for us.”
1. Kids
The drama film, Kids, was Sevigny’s film debut and was considered extremely controversial upon its release in 1995. The film follows a group of mischievous New York City teens as they spend a day drinking, doing drugs, and engaging in risky sexual behavior. Sevigny’s character, Jennie, finds out that she has HIV after accompanying a friend to get tested. The film, which has become a cult classic, received mixed reviews upon its release. Famed film critic, Roger Ebert, gave Kids 3.5 stars and stated: “”Kids” is the kind of movie that needs to be talked about afterward. It doesn’t tell us what it means. Sure, it has a “message,” involving safe sex. But safe sex is not going to civilize these kids, make them into curious, capable citizens…Most kids are not like those in “Kids,” and never will be, I hope. But some are, and they represent a failure of home, school, church and society. They could have been raised in a zoo, educated only to the base instincts. You watch this movie, and you realize why everybody needs whatever mixture of art, education, religion, philosophy, politics and poetry that works for them…”
(Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
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