The "Joker" is no joke

Like most superhero movies, the expectation for “The Joker” was that it would feature magical powers, simple and definable evil and good prevailing in the end, given that it was based off of the infamous villain of the Batman comics. However, it was none of these things, making it off-beat for a DC movie. Joker was a bona fide psychological thriller, and it is borderline terrifying.  Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a middle aged man living in New York City with his mother trying to get by on the meager wages he makes as a clown for hire. His life is dreary and his mind is worse, plagued by depression and suicidal thoughts and exacerbated by his condition that brings on uncontrollable bouts of laughter. Though Fleck often mentions how his mother told him his purpose was, “...to bring laughter and joy to the world,” the movie is in no way joyful. In fact, there is little reprieve from the general despair of Fleck’s situation. Although Joker was an all around unsettling movie, it was undoubtedly effective and very well made. Phoenix's ability to move and express like a psychopath is incredible, and his performance brought an almost childlike demeanor to the character that added to the audience’s empathy when he eventually lost his mind. However, whether or not this empathy is deserved is debatable. The portrayal of mental illness in Joker is gut wrenching and realistic, right down to the use of humor as a coping mechanism. Whether or not that should excuse the horrible things Fleck does is a challenging question. Displaying the ugly side of mental health is important, especially in an era where conditions such as anxiety and depression are heavily romanticized. That being said, the ending of Joker is satisfying, leaving viewers with a sense of closure, even if it is not the classic ‘evil has been defeated’ trope. Joker was more terrifying than most superhero movies specifically because there was no certain enemy. Whether or not Fleck was intended to be forgiven is up for debate, and whether or not anything actually improved is even more unclear. Joker was so chilling because it is well within the realm of possibility. The Joker is a character that has been brought to the screen time and time again, always with a new face and a new attitude. But never has the character been given so much depth and been made so real. Often he has been simply a blank screen on which to project the concept of insanity and to make villainy easier to accept. But this film did the opposite— it showed that there is more to this classic character, and makes one consider what circumstances lead to insanity. ★★★★★