Among all the disturbing allegations on Kevin Spacey and his exit from the show House of
Cards and other projects back in 2018, he published a series of videos on Christmas
that can only be defined as... unsettling.
And they make you feel distressed for reasons that you're about to find out.
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This is the video that he published on Christmas 2018, when the show House of Cards was already
running without him, and he was also removed from the movie "All the money in the world".
There were so many men accusing him of inappropriate advances, and the #metoo movement was already
at peak, that it was not a stretch to think Spacey's career was over.
Maybe this is not the first time you watch this video, but let's pretend this is a first
impression, and why the following 25 seconds that you're about to watch, are so important
for this analysis:
- I know what you want. Oh sure, they may have tried to separate us, but what we have
is too strong, it’s too powerful. I mean, after all, we shared everything, you and I.
I told you my deepest and darkest secrets.
The first thing you see is a word play. "Let me be Frank". This is the perfect example
of the ambiguities scattered all over this video. It's a way of saying, "Let me be honest",
but at the same time ask for the chance to talk as the character Frank Underwood, who
was his role in House of Cards.
At the same time that you read these words, you notice in the background that Spacey is
washing his hands. Washing one's hands has a very rich symbolism, but one of the most
popular ones is to show innocence.
Like in the Bible, in Matthew 27:24, when Pilate washed his hands as a symbol that he
was innocent of the blood of Jesus Christ.
It's no coincidence that Spacey used this symbol to send a nonverbal message such as
"I'm coming clean, and I'm innocent of all this". You notice that this statement applies
more to the actor, and his legal troubles, than the character from the series.
Because as long as Frank Underwood was breaking the fourth wall, or talking straight into
the camera to us, the audience, he was never a hypocrite. He was unfiltered. He was the
embodiment of "The end justifies the means".
So, if there's anyone to claim innocence, is... Kevin Spacey.
But the couple sentences spoken are vague, in terms of who's speaking. "They may have
tried to separate us, but what we have is too strong" He's trying to establish an emotional
connection with us.
And breaking the fourth wall, or looking directly into the camera is something that could be
a bit too invasive and even uncomfortable. In fact, that visual narrative tool was heavily
used in House of Cards, so we, the audience, could be Frank's confidant no matter what
kind of crime he committed.
It's like we knew the whole time what he had done and what he was capable of. And if you're
wondering why more series don't use this visual style, it's because it implicitly causes stress
on the viewer.
As an example, you're watching Grey's Anatomy, you connect with all the stress of the romantic
and medical dilemmas, but you're in a safe place outside of that world. The characters
are not aware of your existence.
But in the case of breaking the fourth wall as in House of Cards, or Deadpool, or Fleabag,
you are carrying the thoughts, and opinions, and feelings of the main character. It's like
you're co-responsible of whatever they do.
It's not everybody's cup of tea.
Now, Spacey's Christmas video HAD to be him talking straight into the camera. Because
this is not a show, with multiple characters, but a one on one conversation. Like the one
I'm having with you, right now.
That must be the reason why he chose to speak with the accent, the mannerisms AND the facial
expressions of Frank Underwood. But even if you think he's playing a character, it's still
unnerving to watch him display covert anger right as he turns to us.
Not only that, but keeping his head tilted in a menacing manner. Usually, head tilting
should project friendliness and attention, but, say what you want about Spacey, the man
knows his craft.
He also adds a couple of eyebrow raises to blow off some steam. That subtle eyebrow raise
and looking away, causes a positive reinforcement in us, as in... "Well, he's not that mad,
or is not mad at US".
That is part of why this video makes you uneasy. Because you're constantly trying to figure
out his emotions, and IF you're the target of those emotions. That's something that our
brain does automatically, even watching a video. Especially, if the person is talking
to us.
Spacey knows this, and he uses it against you. Not to mention the fact that the lighting
of this video is deliberately dull and dim, with desaturated, dark colors. You might remember
that House of Cards had a similar, desaturated, gloomy palette.
In some scenes they used contrast so you could better detail people's faces. But in others,
it was just like Spacey's video. Faces in dim lights, that have the added difficulty
to read facial expressions.
And not being able to read people's facial emotions is another way to make you feel uneasy.
Now, with all this new information, let's see what kind of signals can you pick up in
the following clip:
- I showed you exactly what people are capable of. I shocked you with my honesty, but mostly
I challenged you and made you think. And you trusted me even though you knew you shouldn’t.
Once again, we see a series of contradicting body language signals. First, the face tilted
down with the jaw tense, is covert anger. But then he raises his eyebrows playfully
and looks away, releasing the tension.
Then he nods, creating some empathy with us and then breaks it, showing his teeth. If
this was real life, you will have real trouble deciding wether or not this person is about
to attack you.
He raises his eyebrows again and finally looks away, taking a sip from his cup. We don't
know what he's drinking, but we could assume that's something warm. And our mirror neurons
create that connection instantly, because when we see someone holding something warm,
we attribute that warmth to the person.
But the strongest anger signals are in the following clip:
- So, we’re not done, no matter what anyone says. And besides, I know what you want. You
want me back. Of course, some believed everything and have just been waiting with bated breath
to hear me confess it all.
Yeah, it was hard to miss that chin jut, those lips towards each other and showing his teeth.
That's a classic display of anger, not to mention his tense shoulders. He still talks
with heavy ambiguity. That we want him back. Who does he mean? Kevin, or Frank?
Maybe both... until you watch this:
- They’re just dying to have me declare that that everything said is true, and that
I got what I deserved. Wouldn’t that be easy? If it was all so simple. Only you and
I know both know it’s never that simple. Not in politics and not in life.
We can't see it, but it's easy to guess hat he's using a knife. I think it's not necessary
to explain that symbol. And this time there are less and less signals of friendship or
empathy. It's like a boiling anger that is mounting every second.
And then, he focus exclusively on you:
- But you wouldn’t believe the worst without evidence, would you? You wouldn’t rush to
judgments without facts, would you? Did you? No not you. You’re smarter than that.
You can tell that when he addresses us again, the audience, his 'friends', his face is more
relaxed. So we finally have a clue that his anger is not directed at us.
But it doesn't mean that he will stop being cryptic about who's the one talking, Frank
or Kevin:
- Anyway all this presumption made for such an unsatisfying ending and to think it could’ve
been such a memorable send-off. I mean if you and I have learned nothing else these
past years it’s that in life and art nothing should be off the table.
And when you think you've already made up your mind about what this video is about,
you spot the first real contradiction in the following clip.
- We weren’t afraid, not of what we said and not of what we did, and we’re still
not afraid. Because I can promise you this, if I didn’t pay the price for the things
we both know I did do, I’m certainly not going to pay the price for the things I didn’t
do.
Yeah, it was at the end. When he says, "I’m certainly not going to pay the price for the
things I didn’t do.", he affirms with his head. Just to be clear, he's denying with
his words, "the things I didn't do", but he nods.
You might say, well, maybe it's just emphasis. But you can't help but feel off with that
contradiction.
There are a couple more sentences that repeat the same concept, until we reach the grand
finale:
- ...and my confidence grows each day that, soon enough, you’ll know the full truth...
Oh wait a minute. Now that I think of it, you never actually saw me die, did you?
And then he does and says this:
- Conclusions can be so deceiving. Miss me?
Yeah, not creepy at all!
The gesture of putting the ring on his finger has to do with the symbolism of Frank Underwood's
ring in the series:
- It's meant to harden your knuckles so you don't break them if you get into a fight.
It also has the added benefit of knocking on wood. My father believed that success is
a mix of preparation and luck. Tapping the table kills both birds with one stone.
So it has this obscure meaning that he's prepared for anything that's coming for him, and he
believes that luck is gonna be on his side. And he adds a final touch of ambiguity, saying
that conclusions can be so deceiving.
Again, this applies both to the character of Frank Underwood and to Kevin Spacey himself.
There is no doubt that Spacey wanted to send some kind of message about his beloved character
in House of Cards. But this creepy setting and the contrast with the Christmas atmosphere,
only makes it even more unsettling the fact that the following year, three of Spacey's
accusers died in strange circumstances.
Maybe we'll have to take a look at that second Christmas video to keep unveiling this mystery.
Who knows what will be waiting for us at the end of the... tunnel?
If you want to refine your observation skills, all you have to do is download my 100+ body
language tips, right in the description of this video.
My name is Jesús Enrique Rosas and it will always be a pleasure, my body language buddies!
Much Love, and Bliss.