While watching a movie set in a fictional world, it is likely audiences will bear witness to a few unlikely occurrences. Though it’s not uncommon for fabricated stories to take inspiration from real-life events and concepts, a select few tend to focus primarily on portraying bizarre things, like characters who haveotherworldly powers.
RELATED:Most Iconic Punches In Movies
Movies are often home to a variety of dangerous beings, some of whom possess dangerous powers. It’s one thing for a character to possess great strength, but it’s something else entirely for them to be able to control someone’s mind. Some movie characters are terrifying, but the ones who canuse mind controlare usually much worse.
5Dr. Howard Mierzwiak - Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Directed by Michel Gondry,Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Minddocuments the lives of Joel Barish(played by Jim Carrey)and Clementine Kruczynski(played by Kate Winslet). Having learned that Clementine erased her memories of Joel after their breakup, Joel opts to undergo the same procedure to rid himself of the heartache Clementine left in her absence.
Though Dr. Howard Mierzwiak might not be the most intimidating figure in cinema, he still possesses one of the most terrifying powers to ever appear in a movie. As the head of Lacuna, he has amassed extensive knowledge of how the human mind works, and in doing so, has also uncovered a way to erase particular memories. With power like this, Howard can completely alter the minds of others and transform them into completely different people.
4Jacobim Mugatu - Zoolander (2001)
Zoolander, directed by Ben Stiller, tells the story of Derek Zoolander, a dimwitted male model known primarily for his iconic look, the “Blue Steel.” Believing himself to be the pinnacle of the fashion industry, Derek tends to be quite an arrogant man, but this changes when Hansel, Derek’s arch nemesis, swoops in and steals the title of “Male Model of the Year” right from under Derek’s nose.
Though Derek may have lost out on Male Model of the Year, Jacobim Mugatu(played by Will Ferrell)believes he may be eligible for a different title. Mugatu seeks to find a model who can easily be brainwashed. In doing so, he hopes to condition said model to become an assassin whose sole goal is to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Sadly, Derek’s limited intelligence makes him the perfect candidate for Mugatu’s experiments, and his mind is successfully altered. What makes Mugatu’s power of mind control so terrifying is how it can be triggered if the victim hears the song “Relax” by Powerman 5000.
3Druig - Eternals (2021)
Eternals,directed by Chloe Zhao, follows a group of godly beings who, since the beginning of time, have been helping humanity evolve. Because of them, human civilization managed to outlast various catastrophes, but they eventually stopped helping as they believed humanity needed to survive on its own. Each member of the Eternals had conflicting thoughts on this decision, and though some chose to disobey for humanity’s sake, others misunderstood the purpose of aiding humanity and approached it all wrong.
Druig (played by Barry Keoghan) believed the world was a dangerous place, so he left the Eternals and went into exile. Given what he was forced to endure during his time on Earth, his decision to leave is understandable. What’s not, however, is his choice to bring a group of mind-controlled humans into hiding with him. Druig believes that controlling the minds of humans will prevent them from getting hurt. It’s a noble belief, but it arguably causes more harm than good, as all those affected by mind control are stripped of their free will. Druig may not be an evil character inEternals, but the way he chooses to use his mind-control powers is quite terrifying.
2Kylo Ren - Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, follows a scavenger named Rey on her quest to find her place in the galaxy. Before she can be introduced, however, the movie opts to introduce Kylo Ren, a Force-sensitive being who has sided withthe Dark Side. Hellbent on locating the map leading to Luke Skywalker, he travels to Jakku and captures Poe Dameron, a pilot in the Resistance. Believing he might know where the map is located, he brings him aboard his shuttle and prepares to interrogate him.
Unlike most mind-control users, Kylo Ren is able to use his abilities to infiltrate the minds of his victims and extract the information he wants from them directly. Depending on the person being probed, the process can be excruciatingly painful, but it doesn’t seem to leave any long-lasting effects. Though most Jedi are capable of controlling the minds of others,Kylo Ren’s methodsare arguably a great deal more terrifying.
1Wanda - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, directed by Sam Raimi, followsDoctor Stephen Strangeon his quest to protect America Chavez from the evil forces that pursue her. Capable of traveling across the Multiverse, Chavez is currently one of the most powerful beings in theMCU, but that doesn’t make her invincible. This becomes clear when Wanda reveals to Strange that she is the source of the entities chasing Chavez and that she will not stop her until she also acquires the means to travel across the Multiverse.
RELATED:Highest Grossing Movies Of The 2020s (So Far)
When Strange informs Wanda that he cannot let Chavez fall into her hands, Wanda launches an all-out attack on the Kamar-Taj. Unfortunately for her, a large group of sorcerers has been tasked with preventing her from entering, which proves to slow her down, but doesn’t actually stop her. To gain entry, Wanda invades the mind of a sorcerer tasked with protecting the Kamar-Taj and whispers the word “Run” into his ear. This causes him to abandon the fight, thus allowing Wanda to break through Kamar-Taj’s defenses.
