Lou is one of the most interesting sociopaths I have ever seen in a movie. I think the last time I watched someone be so awesomely creepy on the big screen was when I watched MR. BROOKS with Kevin Costner. Mr. Gyllenhaal plays the character of Lou so well I am not sure I will ever look at him the same, and I'm really not sure I will be able to think of him as a sexy man again. In this film Lou was socially awkward, blackmailing son of a bitch who would do anything to get the footage that got him the big check.
There were times in this movie when I laughed, but honestly I'm not sure if I was laughing because something was funny or because Lou was so awkward he reminded me of all the socially awkward people I know. Then I was shocked by how normal and abnormal Lou seemed at the same time. The character had this face that was creepy and gentle and unassuming all at the same time and throughout the whole movie he seemed so innocent, but I also felt like he would be the type of guy to have a harem of women locked in his basement.
As the movie went on the audience doesn't really get to know Lou personally but they get an idea of what kind of man he is. He blackmails with a smile on his face, and a knife behind his back. He kills with a video camera, and while he does have someone killed he is never directly involved.
I highly recommend this movie. It felt new and fresh to me, and I've seen a lot of movies. I kept expecting more, but I feel like it had just enough awkwardness and discomfort that it was perfect. It made me squirm and the friend I went with was so creeped out by Gyllenhaal she said her skin was crawling even an hour later.