“There’s an actual ingredient of enjoyable enjoying a villain — as a result of it’s scrumptious.” Of all of the Hollywood names you could possibly surmise saying such a factor, Dennis Quaid was in all probability not the one you have been considering of. Beginning his profession 50 years in the past, the American actor tended to search out success within the drama and comedy genres. Such titles like 1998’s The Father or mother Lure and 2002’s The Rookie show this to be true. However identical to all of the others who discovered themselves in the slightest degree typecasted, he wasn’t happy with himself. He wished to attempt one thing exterior the field and be nice at it.
Horror was one thing that Dennis Quaid would sporadically step into — however these appearing experiments had terrible outcomes. 2009’s Pandorum flopped on the field workplace and 2019’s The Intruder failed extra on a vital stage. In a brand new true crime drama on Paramount+ known as Pleased Face, Quaid steps into the sneakers of Keith Hunter Jesperson, a real-life serial killer from the early Nineteen Nineties. Does this present lastly create a rewarding house for the actor within the violent villain class? Or is it simply one other amateurish try?
‘Pleased Face’ Has a Lot of Potential
Pleased Face
3
/5
- Launch Date
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March 20, 2025
- Community
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Paramount+
- Administrators
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Michael Showalter
Clocking in at about one hour every, the primary two episodes of Pleased Face premiered on March 20 to common reactions. Whereas the collection primarily revolves round Melissa, the daughter of the notorious assassin (performed by Annaleigh Ashford), and the way she balances life with a monstrous mum or dad, Quaid’s Jesperson haunts audiences from contained in the jail. The primary episode, titled “The Confession,” explores the truth that Jesperson killed one different individual not on the recognized victims record and likewise explores who is aware of/doesn’t know that Keith is Melissa’s dad.
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“Killing Disgrace” then reveals how Jesperson has put harmless lives on demise row and likewise how this dynamic modifications Melissa’s perspective on the general public figuring out her connection to the case. Let’s be clear about one thing, although. Whereas Ashford, James Wolk (The Loopy Ones), Tamera Tomakili (Fruitvale Station), and the remainder of the forged are simply wonderful of their roles, Dennis Quaid is the anchor of this present that everybody got here to see. Sadly, he simply doesn’t carry the gravitas of a serial killer onto the small display screen. He comes throughout as extra like a petty thief who doesn’t perceive the difficulty he’s in.
Is Dennis Quaid Plausible in ‘Pleased Face’?
This may occasionally all very properly be a case of Pleased Face slowly build up its most vile character. The behind-the-scenes staff might want the viewers to really feel comfy round Quaid’s character to get the shock of their lives afterward. That might certainly be one of the best plan of action, seeing how the daddy/daughter historical past is being performed up. However, as of proper now, the suspense and trepidation are simply not there, which is obvious from the primary 20 minutes. The primary mistake was introducing the viewers to Jesperson via a telephone name.
He calls the identical TV studio the place Melissa works and requests to speak to her in individual. Such a scene ought to be gradual and intoxicating in probably the most terrifying of the way. The digital camera work ought to be dragging and methodical. The dialogue ought to be cautious and short-worded. Most of all, the killer’s presence, even when it’s via a speakerphone, ought to be gradual and calculative. Quaid lets an excessive amount of casualness present.
Jesperson’s informality was probably attempting to point out us how deranged he’s, however as an alternative, it comes off as threatless. Regardless that this will get higher when Melissa meets her father in individual (within the subsequent two interactions), the levity of the state of affairs remains to be lower than it ought to be. There’s a sense of hazard, however Quaid doesn’t know the best way to push the scene ahead into uncharted territory. The facial mannerisms, the crooked smiles, and the extensive eyes solely take the persona up to now. The spectrum of feelings wanted to be performed round with extra.
This True-Crime Collection Wants To Deliver the Warmth
Surprisingly, the second episode solely has a few minute of Jesperson — however he’s a bit extra comfy right here than the final time round. With a sadistic grin, he’s telling the opposite inmates (whereas enjoying playing cards exterior) that his confession about having a ninth sufferer is definitely saving another person from getting the demise penalty.
He’s in the identical kind of state of affairs, truly, sitting at a desk with individuals throughout from him, however the merciless killer facet that we must always all worry comes throughout so much smoother. It may very well be as a result of Quaid is tending to one thing along with his fingers, however there’s simply extra of a stream available along with his wicked nature.
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His phrases present us that it is a completely different Jesperson than the one we noticed speaking to Melissa. This facet must take over for the viewers to truly be intimidated. The general villainous efficiency on this very quick sequence is one thing to pay attention to right here. The character’s twisted mentality and the actor’s personal supply fortunately merge right here in an nearly unhinged vogue. The dedication put forth by Quaid to that of a killer’s thoughts remains to be in its infancy, however hopefully, this tease of a real Jesperson continues to come back via. The general efficiency will probably be higher due to it as properly. Pleased Face is presently streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes premiering each Thursday.