I need to talk about Rictus. I have seen him mentioned a few times here and there, and I have come across some fanfiction as well, so I think I am not alone. But I have some thoughts that need to come out. Not even necessarily headcanon, but justā¦ pondering/thinking.Ā
I actually kind of like Rictus. I do not see him as a true villain in the this story. If anyone could have been reached by the Wives after Joe`s death, I think it`s him. He genuinely seems delighted to see Cheedo, and is happy to follow her orders; I think if he had no one else to tell him what to do, he would listen to her.
There. I said it.
*deep breath before I get hated on and/or disagreed with*
Rictus is repeatedly referred to as a man-child in interviews with both Nathan Jones and George Miller, and it is clear from his behavior that he has cognitive and perhaps even other developmental disabilities. His chin strap is to conceal an ostensible slack-jaw (is this canon? Or is it speculation? Either wayā¦), so while it does sort of fit with the scary-as-fuck-giant-guy look, it also covers up a major weakness and flaw.Ā
In an interview with WWE.com, Nathan Jones talks about Rictus`s backstory a little:
āIām sort of like my fatherās right hand man. His nameās the Immortan [played by Hugh Keays-Byrne]. Heās this narcissistic megalomaniac; heās a bit of a tyrant. I have a love-hate relationship with my father. [Iām] more of an enforcer. I never do anything good enough for him, so heās always putting me down, and Iām always trying to impress him and earn his respect. But basically, Iām a big kid. Itās kind of a contradiction.ā
While Rictus` physicality may offer him a layer of protection (as does his status at the Immortan`s youngest son), the film does hint at his being treated like a kid. He is ordered around a lot, in the film, and he obediently does as he is told, and it does seem like someone else has to be around to control him at all times.Ā
When Rictus plaintively asks to take a peek through Corpus Colossus`s looking glass, he gets talked down to, scolded like a naughty kid. āGo see what`s agitatin` Dad!ā and so he does. When he is having a grand old time intimidating the War Rig with a flamethrower, an imperator has to tell him to simmer down. Clearly, Rictus is too stupid to carry on unchecked, and especially in Corpus Colossus`s case, Rictus must serve as the legs and the brawn that he lacks. And, as I said before, Cheedo needs only ask Rictus to take her and he immediately does.Ā
However, Rictus also seems to me to be battle fodder; we never once see Joe treating Rictus like he is special (though I am sure he was treated quite well), and he is expected to be right at the front line of battle. Granted, Corpus Colossus cannot get out into the thick of things, but he *could* ride along in theory. Rictus may be the Immortan`s son, but clearly he does not warrant concern in the safety department. If he dies, he goes to Valhalla and that`s that, I guess.
But all that is NOTHING when it comes to what Rictus does in what, to me, is one of the top five character-building moments in the film.Ā
As Joe clutches Angharad`s lifeless body, Rictus futilely fires off round after round in rage as the War Rig pulls further into the distance. He knows what her fall means.
When the Organic Mechanic is working on her in Gigahorse, Rictus is right outside with Joe, concerned. And when the doc tells him about the poor dead baby, what does he do?
He lifts his voice to the sky, and he shouts for all the world:
āI had a brother! I had a little baby brother! And he was perfect, perfect in every way!ā Ā
There is genuine grief and pride in his voice when he says this. He is so excited to know that he had a brother, but he is also devastated that he did not live.Ā
So in a very roundabout way, I am saying this (but borrowing another`s words):Ā āAmid all the glorious blood and thunder of Mad Max: Fury Road, there are a few moments of genuine pathos. And the one that sticks with me the most is Rictus Erectus, the terrifyingly huge and tragically simpleminded son of lead villain Immortan Joe, bellowing about his baby brother to his fatherās assembled vehicular mass. The weight of that moment comes from the characterās story: Rictus is a physical powerhouse with unspecified mental problems, treated like dirt by his father for not being the āperfectā heir.ā (Tom Breihan on Grantland)
Let`s not forget his collection of baby heads; everyone else is covered in skulls and shit, but Rictus chooses baby heads. Why? I will digress into a head canon here, but could it not be that he has lost many little brothers, even little sisters, over the years, and these heads make him feel less alone-remembering each and every one of them by surrounding himself with substitutes? What if there is a head for every lost baby? Did he start by decorating his own body, then his car, and probably even his room back in the Citadel? How old was he when he started doing this?Ā
(On a roll now, bear with me!) I can imagine little Rictus, fawning over a pregnant Wife, touching her belly,Ā āBabies come from here?ā and then inevitably, the baby is born wrong or comes too earlyā¦ and all the anticipation turns to hurt.Ā āWhy did it die?ā he asks the Wife.Ā āSometimes they just do,ā she would say, and then later, she would hand him a little doll.Ā āPlay with this for now. Wait for the next baby.ā Joe can`t stand the sight of his son with a baby doll, so he rips its head off when he sees Rictus playing with it. āDon`t be stupid, Rictus!ā
Rictus, feeling like he`s lost the baby all over again, takes the head and fashions it into a necklace. Joe doesn`t object, and Rictus wears it until the string holding it around his bull neck is too tight. By now he has many doll heads, but he takes that first one and puts it on his belt. He will never forget that first baby that died, or the doll that Joe killed.
Ok. I`m done.
RICTUUUUUUUUUUUS!
Sources:
Ā http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/behold-rictus-erectus-the-action-stylings-and-wrestling-history-of-the-musclebound-monster-in-mad-max-fury-road/Ā
http://www.wwe.com/inside/nathan-jones-mad-max-interview-27383734
Wonderful thoughts and insights! <3
Iāll be honest: Far before I was into Slit and shipping Slit/Nux, I was fascinated by Rictus. I briefly considered a Rictus RP blog but I donāt think Iād be able to RP his character in a way that wouldnāt feel problematic to me, to say the least.
But Rictus. Rictus is important, and I feel for him.Ā