Why were those five suspects, all seasoned and hardened criminals, so easily manipulated by 'Verbal', who appeared to be the weakest and most inconspicuous? Does this suggest that the greatest fear often stems from the unknown rather than visible power?
You've hit the nail on the head! This is precisely what makes The Usual Suspects so endlessly fascinating. How did those seasoned criminals get completely outmaneuvered by a guy with a limp? Well, it boils down to several key layers.
1. They Were Fighting a "Legend," Not Just a Man
Think about it: those five men were never truly afraid of the seemingly frail, stuttering "Verbal" Kint. From start to finish, their real terror was directed at the elusive devil himself—Keyser Söze.
How is Keyser Söze portrayed in the film?
- Ruthless: To avoid being blackmailed, he personally killed his own family and then eliminated all his enemies and anyone who knew.
- Omniscient: He knew everyone's secrets inside out, including their most private crimes and the loved ones they cherished most.
- Omnipresent: He was like a ghost. You never knew who he was or where he was, but he could make you and your family vanish from the earth at any moment.
This wasn't just a "crime boss"; this was an urban legend, a "ghost story" within the criminal underworld. When they realized they had crossed this kind of "ghost," all their "battle-hardened" experience became useless. Because your experience is for dealing with people. How do you fight a ghost?
2. "Weakness" is the Perfect Disguise
This is where Keyser Söze's genius lies. He disguised himself as the least threatening, most vulnerable, even somewhat pitiable member of the group—Verbal.
- Psychological Blind Spot: Human instinct is to overlook the weak, especially within a team of strong individuals. The other four saw Verbal as a hanger-on, a sidekick. Who would suspect the guy who could barely hold a gun, the cripple, of being the mastermind? This is the classic "blind spot."
- Information Advantage: As the most inconspicuous person in the group, he could easily observe everyone, listen to their conversations, analyze their personalities and weaknesses, all without anyone suspecting him.
He used his perceived "weakness" to perfectly conceal his true "strength." This is far more terrifying than a muscle-bound, menacing boss standing right in front of you.
3. True Power Lies in "Information," Not Muscle
The "strength" of those hardened criminals was violence, robbery skills. But Keyser Söze's "strength" was information.
When his lawyer "Kobayashi" appeared, he didn't point guns at them. Instead, he recited each man's history, criminal record, and even secrets they thought were buried, like reading off a menu. At that moment, the psychological defenses of those criminals shattered.
It's like getting into a fight: your fists are strong, but your opponent knows all your weaknesses, knows where you live, where your parents work, where your kids go to school. Do you still dare to throw a punch? Your strength instantly becomes meaningless. That's how fear takes hold.
Conclusion: The Greatest Fear Stems from the Unknown
So, back to the core of your question: Does this illustrate that the greatest fear often stems from the unknown, rather than visible power?
Absolutely.
- Visible power is "known": A strong man stands before you; you know his threat is physical. You can assess the risk, choose to fight, run, or submit. It's a calculable problem.
- Keyser Söze is the "unknown": You don't know who he is, what he's capable of, or where his limits lie. He's like eyes watching you in the dark; you don't know when he'll strike or how. This uncertainty infinitely amplifies the fear inside you.
Put simply, those five criminals weren't defeated by Verbal. They were defeated by their own imagination and fear of the name "Keyser Söze." Verbal merely skillfully directed the play, letting them walk into the prison cell named "Fear."
As the film's iconic final line states: "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." But Keyser Söze was even more cunning. He made you believe he was an all-powerful devil, while disguising himself as the most harmless of men.