When it comes to portraying villains, actors often emphasize the importance of “finding their humanity.” This was the challenge faced by Edward Norton in his role as Derek Vinyard, a former neo-Nazi leader, in the 1998 dramatic thriller American History X, which celebrates its 25th anniversary on Monday.
In a 2019 Role Recall interview, Norton explained, “It’s always better to connect with the fact that a character, in their own mind, feels justified.” He cited Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of Voldemort in Harry Potter as an example of a supernatural villain, contrasting it with the complexity of a human character.
Written by David McKenna and directed by Tony Kaye, American History X was known for its gritty crime drama and unexpected moments. One scene, in particular, stands out: Derek shooting a Black man and then “curb stomping” another.
However, Derek’s character was not one-dimensional. The death of his father, a firefighter killed by a Black drug dealer, led Derek down a path of white supremacy. After attacking two men who tried to steal his truck, he is sent to prison where he joins the Aryan Brotherhood. Eventually, he becomes disillusioned and breaks away, only to face a brutal beating and rape.
Upon his release, Derek tries to steer his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) away from following the same path of hate. Tragically, Danny is attacked and killed by a Black classmate as retaliation.
Norton views the film as a modern-day Shakespearian tragedy, drawing upon timeless themes. He explains, “This is a guy with enormous potential, not a marginal figure. We wanted to show all the qualities he had that could have been used positively and how his rage and anger ultimately destroyed him.”
American History X is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
