The conflict is filled with this, considering it's about a charismatic Serial Killer wife murderer and thief hunting after money while threatening two children who know its whereabouts.
Powell's introductory scene: Driving away from the scene of his latest murder, having a conversation with God alone in his car. Creepy. Even creepier, he says God approves of his murders because the Bible is full of killings. As he says this he passes a graveyard and joyfully gazes at it as it goes by.
The sheer speed with which Powell charms the adult townsfolk, especially Willa, to a point of cultish admiration.
Willa's burial at sea stands out especially in how she's enamored by Powell due to self-loathing right until he kills her and dumps her in the river.
Powell with murderous intent chasing John and Pearl up the basement stairs; they barely manage to lock him in the cellar in time. As they flee the house to find help, we can hear the sound of Powell hammering on the door — and finally the almighty crash as he breaks it down.
Powell's bloodcurdling scream when he staggers into the river as John and Pearl escape in the boat.
Powell's utter relentlessness in pursuing John and Pearl, as seen when John wakes up in the hayloft and hears Powell singing in the distance, riding a horse along the horizon. John lampshades this as Powell rides past, unaware of their presence: "Don't he never sleep?"
The climax of the film has the Spoons leading a lynch mob to kill Powell, complete not only with Torches and Pitchforks but axes. Powell is hurried out of the back of the police station by officers, but they jovially call out to the hangman that "we're saving this bird up for you!" and he replies that it'll be a privilege.
The look on Powell's face as he watches a burlesque dancer perform: a mixture of lust, disgust, and murderous, hateful rage. The switchblade popping out from his pocket (with the hand marked "HATE", no less) only underscores it, and who knows what he might have done with her if the police hadn't arrested him for car theft?
