Why Anton Chigurh is the Perfect Antagonist — Anton Chigurh Character Analysis

Why is Anton Chigurh a great character? In this character analysis of Anton Chigurh, we explore how he fits perfectly into the themes of "No Country for Old Men."

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro — What Makes Anton Chigurh a Great Character?
01:22 - Characterization
02:04 - Character Details
04:42 - Actions
07:47 - Theme
10:37 - Wrap Up & Final Thoughts

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Anton Chigurh became an instant icon in No Country for Old Men (2007). While some villains take years to earn their spot on the all-time greats list, Chigurh made the cut before the end credits rolled. But why? What makes him so compelling as an antagonist? In this Anton Chigurh character analysis, we’ll dissect everything we know about this character. And, as we’ll find out, his appeal is also tied to how he is used symbolically.

First, let’s talk about the character details we can observe about Anton Chigurh. His most curious feature is his haircut which is more befitting of a disco nightclub than of a psycho killer. But as the film’s hairstylist, Paul LeBlanc, points out, this was intentional. Chigurh’s clothes are a poor attempt at blending into this West Texas milieu. On top of that is his accent which is neutralized in Bardem’s performance. Together these aspects characterize Chigurh as clearly from another time and place.

Anton Chigurh kills his victims with either a captive bolt stunner (typically used to slaughter cattle) and firearms equipped with silencers. He is also relentless in his pursuit of Llewelyn and the bag of money. Combined, they make him a heartless yet effective assassin.

Chigurh’s actions create even more ambiguity — there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason why he kills most anyone he encounters but lets others live, sometimes based on a coin toss. Despite his reputation as a killing machine, there is also some humanity that peeks through on rare occasions. In an early scene with the gas station proprietor, Chigurh chokes on a cashew, which is a quite vulnerable and “human” act.

But what really puts Anton Chigurh over the top as a character is how well he represents the theme of No Country for Old Men. In the book and the film, Sheriff Bell bemoans the state of the world — the rise in senseless violence and lack of morals has put Bell into an existential quandary. The source of this moral decay is ambiguous and dangerous, just like Chigurh himself. As co-writer and co-director Joel Coen mentions, Chigurh is meant to be a human character but also an idea. By presenting Anton Chigurh as an ambiguous and violent threat, he embodies everything Bell is afraid of and everything that No Country for Old Men is really about.

Here’s the lesson for writers: you can make your villain cruel, weird or scary but if you can also tie them directly to your story’s theme, that’s when great storytelling is born.
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"Walk Faster - Drums Version" - Tomas Herudek
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"Choke" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Great Leader Has Fallen" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Discovery" - Makeup and Vanity Set
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"Kill or Be Killed Showdown" - Lance Conrad
"Scrapyard Blues" - Alex Mastronardi
"A Glowing Light, A Promise" - Makeup and Vanity Set

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