Peter Cushingonce remarked, “If I played Hamlet, they’d call it a horror film.” While made in jest, the remark spoke to the actor’s close association with the horror genre. Many fans of the late actor remember his roles in multiple Hammer movies, in which he portrayed Van Helsing or Dr. Frankenstein, often opposite his close friend and contemporary Christopher Lee. The aristocratic and sometimes cold demeanor that Cushing brought to many of his portrayals served him well when he appeared inStar Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. Peter Cushing’s performance as Grand Moff Tarkin introduced audiences to the most enigmatic and terrifying villain in theStar Warsuniverse.
An Enigmatic Villain Shrouded in Mystique
Real horror is always what one doesn’t see, or in the case of Grand Moff Tarkin, what one doesn’t know. Some of the most iconic villains have a mystique from a shrouded past and minimal screen time. A space opera such asStar Warsthrives on world-building and developing a self-contained mythology with many characters. And yet, despite his pivotal role, very little is established about Tarkin. We’re made aware of hisauthority over Darth Vaderand his role as the commander of the Death Star, yet his past is shrouded in mystery. From his brief conversation with Princess Leia, we can assume that he’s ambitious and unscrupulous, someone who’s usurped power at the expense of others.
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Truthfully, the less we know about Tarkin, the more we feel drawn to the complexities and intricacies of the character.Tarkin’s ruthless efficiency in accomplishing the tasks in front of him and his aristocratic demeanor give off the impression of someone like Julius Caesar, cunning, vindictive, and ambitious. The deep-fakeappearance of Tarkin inRogue One, while controversial, might have built up some additional lore pertaining to the character, but ultimately does more harm than good. Besides relying on technology to replicate Cushing’s performance, it diminishes the mystique established inA New Hope.
The Evil of Ruthless Efficiency
TheStar Warsuniverse has no shortage of villains that populate it. As the series progressed fromA New Hope, the villains, such asthe multi-lightsaber-wielding General Grievous, became more exaggerated. While Darth Vader is the most recognizable villain in theStar Warscanon, his redemption, origin, and character arc make him something of a tragic figure whose youthful mistakes led him down a tragic path. So, what is it that makes Tarkin the most terrifying?
InA New Hope, we see how far Tarkin will go to accomplish his tasks for the Empire. Leveraging Alderan to obtain the location of the Rebel base and then wiping out a planet without demonstrating any disregard.A historical precedent should be noted when attempting to analyze Tarkin’s demeanor when he initiates the destruction of an entire planet. During the Nuremberg Trial, psychologist G.M. Gilbert took note of the defendants on trial, stating:
“I was searching for the nature of evil and I now think I have come close to defining it. A lack of empathy…a genuine incapacity to feel with their fellow men. Evil, I think, is the absence of empathy.”
It’s no secret that the Galactic Empire in Star Wars was fashioned after fascism, be it uniform designs or referring to their army as Stromtroopers, a name given to street thugs used by the Nazi Party in their formative stages, the Sturmabteilung. When compared to the behavior of the most evil regime in history,Tarkin becomes emblematic of the terror and murder performed by the Empire.
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The disconnect and lack of empathy demonstrated by Tarkin as a character are bolstered byPeter Cushing’s aristocratic demeanor. History has shown us that the most unspeakable evil acts are portrayed not by drooling beasts and monsters, but by normal human beings.For all the evil Tarkin perpetrates, his articulate disposition and mannerisms display a cold and calculating nature that some of the most terrifying historical figures have possessed. Tarkin exhibits these individuals' unchecked ambition and unscrupulous nature and manifests them in a galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
