History Main / PsychoticSmirk

As far as [[MagnificentBastard the most devious and subtle of villains]] are concerned, when it comes to facial expression, less is more. A CheshireCatGrin only warns people that something's afoot; a SlasherSmile is even more glaringly obvious. No, when someone's about to walk straight into your DeathTrap or your EvilPlan is about to pay big dividends, it's best to show your smug superiority with a devious little smile, probably behind your victim's/lackey's back, or [[ClaspYourHandsIfYouDeceive behind your hand (or hands)]]. Only the villain and the viewers know that alarm bells should be ringing in the good guys' heads - but hey, they're the enemy, why give them advance notice? For obvious reasons, this subtle hint of treachery is especially likely to turn up as part of a TraitorShot.

* ''WesternAnimation/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas'' is pretty darn famous for this one happening when the Grinch gets the idea of ruining Christmas [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUUdW2bTa3Y]].

* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'': [[BritishStuffiness Stiff-upper-lip]] tactical officer Malcolm Reed does this when taken over by a non-corporeal alien in ''The Crossing'', and when he's just plain MirrorUniverse evil in "In a Mirror, Darkly" (check out the scene where Reed watches his own ship get destroyed).
** See also Mirror Sulu from ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' right after he announces his plan to kill off both Kirk and Spock while casually tilting his knife from side to side. These MirrorUniverse security chiefs seem to have a thing for being a SmugSnake...
** This is one of the more unsettling traits of [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine's]] resident MagnificentBastard Elim Garak. Whether he's hemming a dress or killing someone in cold blood, he almost always wears a small, pleasant smile on his face. It should be noted, though, that while this is his face's default setting, if you ever see that smirk disappear, it's already too late...

* Franchise/{{Batman}}'s enemy The Riddler is fond of doing these.

* [[HairRaisingHare Headon]] from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' at Baam's decision to take the test and climb the Tower. [[spoiler: As we know now, it's because Baam unintentionally set off the final stage of the age-old conspiracy against the Tower's king.]]

** Harry, [[spoiler: his student]], is a generally NiceGuy, who at worst (after an ''epic'' TraumaCongaLine) is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold and a grumpy KnightInSourArmour. However, 'generally' is not 'invariably', and he develops an occasional one in the sequel ''Ghosts of the Past'' that reminds people unnervingly of Strange. It usually appears when he's about to come up with something creatively nasty to screw over the bad guys.

* ''ComicBook/XWingSeries'': Every now and again BigBad ManipulativeBastard Ysanne Isard [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:IsardHead.jpg gets]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:IsardMR.jpg to]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:IsardMad_copy.jpg do]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Isards_plaything.jpg this]].

* Creafor/EdgarAllanPoe, in his humorous essay "Diddling Considered As One Of The Exact Sciences", declares that one of the defining traits of a ConMan is his grin, which he only permits himself in private when no one is there to see it.

* Since Shadow the Hedgehog is supposed to be a darker version of SonicTheHedgehog (Stalwart of the Sideways Smile), when he isn't scowling, he will occasionally drop one of these.

** ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' has the D-Reaper's only humanoid agent, the ADR-01, [[spoiler:or as Guilmon calls it, Scary Jeri]], has this as its default expression. [[BiggerBad Lucemon]] of ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'' sported this expression near-constantly as well.

** The Jacobi and [[http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/doctor-who-season-3/mr-saxon-the-sound-of-drums.jpg Simm]] Masters enjoy doing this too, which is incredibly startling to see on the Jacobi version after he's played a kindly old man most of the [[Recap/DcotorWhoS29E11Utopia episode]].

!!Examples

[[folder:FanWorks]]

[[folder:Film]]
* Emperor Palpatine from Franchise/StarWars does this quite a bit, one of the most notable examples would be when he was chuckling to himself behind Vader's back during the latter's infamous BigNo.
* Sean Miller, an Irish terrorist in ''Film/PatriotGames,'' uses this on Jack Ryan during his own trial for murder and attempted kidnapping.
* Creator/ArnoldVosloo's smirk is probably the main reason he got the part of Imhotep in ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy.''
* The VillainProtagonist of ''Film/MrBrooks'' employs a particularly impressive smirk during his SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.
* Pretty much the whole point of ''Film/{{Paranoiac}}'' is seeing Creator/OliverReed grin creepily.
* [[spoiler:Laurie]] has one of these at the end of ''Film/HalloweenII2009''.

* Robo-Maria from ''Film/{{Metropolis}}'', in every single scene she's in [[spoiler:(Even while she's being burned at the stake!)]].
* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** Loki wears an enigmatic, tight-lipped smile at least once in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' (when he comes to bargain with Laufey), ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' (before ripping out an eye of his victim in Stuttgart) and ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' (while staring down Kurse from his cell). Being more unstable in ''The Avengers'', he often sports a SlasherSmile instead. By ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', his expression softens to a SmileOfApproval ([[spoiler:on the bridge during the final battle]]) or [[WhenSheSmiles genuine happiness]] ([[spoiler:in his last scenes of the movie]]).
** Thanos is quite fond of this expression. He wears that smirk in TheStinger of ''The Avengers'' and several times throughout ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''.

* Marion Crane in ''Film/{{Psycho}}'' while driving along and imagining the reactions of everyone in her life upon realizing that she's stolen $40,000 and fled with it. [[spoiler: Norman Bates has one at the end after he's caught]].

* In ''Film/TheEqualizer'', when [[DragonInChief Nicolai]] is not keeping his menacing frown, he sports one of these for a small time.

** Jeremy Baines/Son of Mine of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E9TheFamilyOfBlood the Family of Blood]] is always wearing one of [[http://www.danielkanolik.co.uk/Images/harrylloyd.jpg these]], even after his defeat.
** The Jacobi and [[http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/doctor-who-season-3/mr-saxon-the-sound-of-drums.jpg Simm]] Masters enjoy doing this too, which is incredibly startling to see on the Jacobi version after he's played a kindly old man most of the episode.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Quite a few of Vladimir Putin's "happy" expressions" go into this territory, in [[PerpetualFrowner the few times his face shifts out of that menacing frown]]. Transition from Badass Prime Minister to "Are you ''sure'' this guy isn't a Bond villain?".

** Loki wears an enigmatic, tight-lipped smile at least once in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' (when he comes to bargain with Laufey), ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' (before ripping out an eye of his victim in Stuttgart) and ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' (while staring down Kurse from his cell). Being more unstable in ''The Avengers'', he often sports a SlasherSmile instead. By ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', his expression softens to a SmileOfApproval ([[spoiler:on the bridge during the final battle]]) or [[WhenHeSmiles genuine happiness]] ([[spoiler:in his last scenes of the movie]]).

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/MurdochMysteries'': James Gillies has a creepy smirk at the end of "The Murdoch Trap."
* Default expression for Lionel and ComicBook/LexLuthor in ''Series/{{Smallville}}''.
** [[spoiler:Chloe]] gets a small one when Lionel convinces her to do a temporary FaceHeelTurn.
* Sylar from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' does this occasionally. Apparently, Sendhil Ramamurthy who plays [[http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3416/mohinderla9.jpg Mohinder]] does a pretty good one, too!
** One particularly memorable smirk came [[spoiler:while he was shapeshifted as Micah to help him [[FakingTheDead fake his death]]. For a split second, "Sylar" shows through. The kid nails it]].

* Male {{Yandere}} Masato Kusaka from ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz'' used to do this when he was trying to separate Takumi from his friends... until episode 30, when it morphed into a creepy SlasherSmile.
* This seems to be the default expression of Ryan O'Reily in ''Series/{{OZ}}'', but seeing as he spends the entire series manipulating one side against the other it's hardly surprising.
* Kerr Avon from ''Series/BlakesSeven'' has one of the scariest and most ambiguous smiles in TV history. It's hardly ever obvious just what it portends until he acts.
* ''Franchise/{{Buffyverse}}'':
** Within the first ten minutes of the episode "Innocence", the Judge walks up to Angel, and tries to burn him. Since the Judge can only burn someone with humanity in them, it serves as a marker that Angel has lost his soul. He turns to Drusilla, and says "I'm back," with a very muted psychotic smirk.
** Angelus also sports a particularly evil smirk when he's watching Buffy and Willow break down upon being told about Jenny's murder. In fact, Angelus is nearly always wearing one.
** In Season 8, Buffy gives a particularly frightening one to a vampire as it's doused in fuel, threatening to KillItWithFire.
* ''Series/DoctorWho''
** Jeremy Baines/Son of Mine of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E9TheFamilyOfBlood the Family of Blood]] is always wearing one of [[http://www.danielkanolik.co.uk/Images/harrylloyd.jpg these]], even after his defeat.
** The Jacobi and [[http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/doctor-who-season-3/mr-saxon-the-sound-of-drums.jpg Simm]] Masters enjoy doing this too, which is incredibly startling to see on the Jacobi version after he's played a kindly old man most of the episode.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E10Midnight "Midnight"]] has such a smirk on the face of [[spoiler:whatever's [[DemonicPossession possessing Sky]]]] whenever things are going well for it.
** The Doctor gets a rather horrifying one when he completely loses it in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E16TheWatersOfMars "The Waters of Mars"]]. [[http://media.tumblr.com/45e988d61595c03d812ba7037e931824/tumblr_inline_mmxdgumfHl1qz4rgp.gif Behold.]]
** This is to the First Doctor what the CheshireCatGrin is to the Fourth -- it's his trademark "I've-just-done-something-very-clever" expression. Excellent examples are when he knows he's got the Daleks beaten at the end of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E2TheDalekInvasionOfEarth "The Dalek Invasion of Earth"]], when he's teasing his torturer with a PsychicBlockDefense in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E7TheSpaceMuseum "The Space Museum"]], and when he's embarrassing Emperor Nero in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E4TheRomans "The Romans"]].
* Hilary Briss on ''Series/TheLeagueOfGentlemen'', who has this hideous, almost mocking smile.
* Anna Espinosa, a recurring antagonist on ''Series/{{Alias}}'', was fond of this trope. Sark, too, if memory serves.
* ''Series/MrRobot'': Post her FaceHeelTurn, [[spoiler: Angela]] sports one of these when Mr.Robot calls her out on exploiting Elliot's mental illness.
* On ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'', we have [[spoiler:Morgana]]. Dear God [[spoiler:Morgana]]. Everytime she does something ''evil'' her psychotic smirk goes on a rampage and smacks us in the face. Worse? She does it in broad daylight in front of the people she is convincing that she is [[spoiler:still]] good. ''And they never notice it.'' It does [[spoiler:''finally'' blow her cover]] when [[spoiler:Gwen]] notices it.

* Jeff Winger on ''Series/{{Community}}'' (the AntiHero version).

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* At the start of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', Miranda is seen first conferring with [[Creator/MartinSheen The Illusive Man]] and then watching over Shepard with a genuinely warm smile. She reappears after losing contact trying to aid Shepard, flashes a smirk at Wilson, before killing him for trying to lead Shepard into a trap and abandon her to die.

* WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}:
** BigBad [[MeaningfulName Cinder]] [[PlayingWithFire Fall]] ''loves'' this trope.