2. A Serious Man
More like a SERIAL KILLER MAN! In the Coens dark comedy, before we witness Larry Gopnik getting emotionally, physically and financially pummelled from all corners, a fable is shown in the prologue. In this fable, a couple are visited by a dybbuk, a Jewish demon. After being stabbed with an ice pick, the dybbuk wanders into the snowy night, never to be seen again. Well, thats until Larry summons it to kill his antagonists. Because in the horror version, Larrys not just a mild-mannered physics professor. He also a psychotic that practices the dark arts. Sys car accident? Yeah, that wasnt an accident. The lawyers heart attack? Ditto. Whether its his nagging wife, his bratty kids, his disgruntled students or his mooching older brother, all of those who give Larry grief tend to end up dying in a most grievous manner. Drownings, getting mutilated with a lawnmower, getting fried with a hairdryer, its all happening around Larry even as he insists, smirking, that he doesnt know whats going on, and that he hasnt done anything. His son in particular suddenly realises how sinister the lyrics, when the truth has turned into lies and all the hope within you dies are when the dybbuk strangles him with the tape ribbon from his Jefferson Airplane cassette. After a decadent, carnal orgy with his hot neighbour, Larry drives off into the sunset, contentedly listening to Santanas
Abraxas as a hurricane heads towards his former town. The town folk can only hope that they are killed by the natural disaster before the dybbuk comes for them.