Boyd Holbrook’s The Corinthian Is The Sexy Queer Villain That Really Sells Netflix’s The Sandman
There’s a lot to love about a Neil Gaiman-penned fantasy. The detailed world-building, complex characters and intimate human aspects are a major draw. Netflix’s screen adaption of Gaiman’s The Sandman comics boasts another temptation; Boyd Holbrook playing The Corinthian as a charming and sexy serial killer who has a penchant for gay sex.
SEEKING A MAN WITH A KILLER SMILE
For fans of Gaiman’s other work, which includes Coraline, American Gods and Good Omens, the Netflix adaption of The Sandman is an exciting new venture that promises wild and exotic fantasy that parallels Gaiman’s other work. The casting of Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, or Sandman/Dream, was the perfect choice. Sturridge’s brooding and earnest performance is mirrored by Boyd Holbrook’s wickedly charming Corinthian.
As the story progresses through different eras and realms of reality, one thing appears to remain the same. The Corinthian is a murderous nightmare created to be a reflection of humanity’s worst traits; but he’s also so sexy.
The few times that we’ve seen The Corinthian actually murder someone, it’s been post-hook up and oftentimes his victims have been gay men. There’s probably some nuanced critical thought to be had about what that means in a broader sense, we’d rather just focus on how good Holbrook looks while on a century-long killing spree.
What the internet has proven from The Sandman is that even having teeth for eyes doesn’t exclude you from the dating pool; it can be hard to find a decent man out there. But to put things generally, Gaiman doesn’t shy away from giving his villains agency, motive and appeal and this is most certainly true of The Corinthian. Working in the grey offers these villains a chance to be understood and even respected despite their major corruptions and flaws.
The Sandman is now available to watch on Netflix.
