Anthony Hopkins’ role in a 2007 film, which is streaming on Netflix, has been branded ‘underrated’ as fans note how his character is even more ‘evil’ than Hannibal Lecter. Film fans are raving about a gripping psychological thriller on Netflix that has Anthony Hopkins playing a character so “evil and despicable” that some viewers believe it surpasses his iconic role as Hannibal Lecter. The 2007 movie Fracture stars Hopkins as Ted Crawford, a wealthy and accomplished Irish aeronautical engineer living in Los Angeles with his wife, Jennifer. Upon discovering Jennifer’s infidelity with police detective Robert Nunally, Ted calmly confronts her before shooting her in the head and leaving her for dead in their home.
With meticulous attention to detail, he relocates her body, fires four shots from his gun, collects the spent casings, incinerates the outfit he wore during the gruesome act and scrubs away any gunshot residue from his hands. At first glance, the case seems straightforward – Ted doesn’t flee the crime scene, there’s no indication of another perpetrator and he calmly awaits detective Robert Nunally’s arrival at his home, insisting on speaking only with him. Following a tense negotiation with Nunally, during which they agree to disarm, Ted confesses to the crime, claiming he simply “snapped” and shot his wife. However, there’s more to Ted than meets the eye.
The moment Robert realizes Jennifer is the victim, he’s consumed by rage and assaults Ted, inadvertently falling into Ted’s trap. Ryan Gosling steps plays a district attorney, eyeing an easy win in his final case before trading public service for the glitz and glamor of a high-end corporate law firm. His nonchalant attitude towards the case catches the attention of Ted, who engages in a strategic game of cat-and-mouse with the young lawyer, having masterfully planned the crime with a series of inconsistencies to avoid conviction. In a twist of events, it’s revealed that Ted’s licensed firearm, which was removed from the crime scene and taken into evidence, isn’t the actual weapon that shot Jennifer. His confession is thrown out after he discloses in court that detective Nunally was romantically involved with his wife.
Gosling’s character undergoes a dramatic transformation, morphing from a cocky, self-assured winner to a desperate empath, hell-bent on securing justice against a cunning, intelligent and manipulative murderer. Despite Gosling’s William ‘Willy’ Beachum seeing right through him, Ted cleverly manipulates the evidence to fail, making it impossible for Willy to prosecute him. Hopkins’ ruthless Ted has drawn comparisons from some Netflix fans to the infamous cannibalistic murderer, Dr Hannibal Lecter. In a Reddit discussion about underrated movies, a Netflix fan raved about Anthony Hopkins’ performance in Fracture, saying, “People always praise Anthony Hopkins for his villainous roles in Silence [of the Lambs] and Westworld, but nothing compares to how evil and despicable he is in Fracture.”
They highlighted the character’s ruthless nature, stating, “Hopkins’ character is completely out of control with zero redeeming qualities.” The user also praised the movie itself, describing it as a “really good lawyering drama/thriller.” They added, “Ryan Gosling probably gives his most charming and effortless performance ever in it, playing a smug superstar lawyer who has just been handed a prosecution of nightmares.” Other users chimed in with their own praise for the film. One fan admired Hopkins’ portrayal, saying, “All of the pre-planning/premeditation by Hopkins was amazing. His ‘lackadaisical’ attitude in the courtroom made him a smug a-hole. Love this movie.”
Another user enthusiastically recommended the movie, writing, “I love this movie! One of the best thrillers in a long time! Anthony Hopkins is one of the most amazing actors ever! Definitely worth watching if you haven’t seen it!” Anthony Hopkins has always been a master of portraying the sinister. His chilling portrayal of Hannibal Lecter etched itself into cinematic history. But now, in Netflix’s eerie new thriller, he’s taken things to a whole new level — and trust me, it’s spine-tingling. This time, Hopkins doesn’t just play a villain — he becomes a psychological storm. The kind that creeps under your skin and stays there. Let’s dive into why this performance may be his most terrifying, and possibly even more despicable than Dr. Lecter himself.
