Chances are good we can all agree that Nightcrawler‘s (2014) Lou Bloom isn’t a “normal” human being. Played to eerie perfection by Jake Gyllenhaal, Lou is the textbook definition of a “messed-up” individual, and he’s one of the best movie villains in recent history. But is Lou more than just a bad guy with a camera? Is there something more going on inside Bloom’s brain? Is this nighttime predator actually a psychopath?

Well, before we answer that question, we need to clarify a few terms. Like what exactly is a psychopath, and how is he/she different from a sociopath? Well, according to psychologist Maria Konnikova and philosopher William Hirstein, there’s no difference at all. The term “psychopath” originally showed up in the 1800s but was eventually replaced by “sociopath” in 1930. However, as time went on, “sociopath” fell into disuse, and professionals are once again using the term “psychopath.” Basically, to many, the terms are interchangeable.

So what exactly is a psychopath/sociopath? What are the qualifications? According to Robert Hare, the psychologist who engineered the famous Psychopathy Checklist (PCL), the following criteria apply: Genuine psychopaths are glib and superficially charming. They’re narcissistic, extremely manipulative, and easily bored. They’re pathological liars who don’t feel empathy for other people or guilt for their misdeeds. Psychopaths lack normal emotions and never take responsibility for their actions. They’re human parasites who leech off other people and don’t have long-term goals. Genuine psychopaths have a hard time controlling their behavior and often experience early behavioral problems. They’re often guilty of many different types of crimes, and they tend to be sexually promiscuous with multiple short-term relationships.

With all this in mind, does Lou Bloom technically qualify as a psychopath/sociopath? According to Dr. Kirk Honda of the “Psychology in Seattle” podcast, Lou definitely meets some of the criteria. Obviously, Lou is quite versatile, criminally speaking. He assaults a security guard, steals a bicycle, tampers with private property, breaks into several homes, and (spoilers) eventually kills someone who gets in his way. And, despite his nasty inner nature, Lou comes off as a personable guy. While he’s awkward and doesn’t exactly speak like a real human, he knows when to say the right thing and how to charm people in authority - just like the glib and charming profile of a psychopath.

Also like many psychopaths, Lou is something of a thrill-seeker. He sneaks into crime scenes, gets right up in the middle of car accidents, and engages in a crazy climactic car chase. He’s a gifted liar, incredibly narcissistic, and perhaps most importantly, feels no guilt for his crimes. He has absolutely no empathy for other human beings. He sees them as pawns he can move around a chessboard. His partner, his boss, his rival cameraman, the car wreck victims on the side of the road: they’re all means to an end. Lou says it best when he tells Rene Russo’s character, “A friend is a gift you give yourself.”

So with all this evidence, Lou is definitely a psychopath… right? Well, as it turns out, Lou also shows some decidedly non-sociopathic behaviors. Unlike many psychopaths, Lou doesn’t partake in any form of substance abuse. Lou isn’t an impulsive person and often plots out his strategies step-by-step. Unlike Hannibal Lecter, real-life psychopaths generally don’t cook up elaborate, genius schemes implemented over a gradual time frame. And unlike most psychopaths, Lou has some very definite long-term life goals. He wants to become the best nightcrawler in the business and establish his own media empire, while psychopaths more often live for the moment.

As Dr. Honda further points out, sociopaths don’t remain cool and collected - they often lose control of their emotions under pressure. Aside from one scene where Lou attacks a mirror, he seems very much in charge of his behavior. As for sexual promiscuity, we see Lou blackmail his boss into a sexual relationship, but - other than that brief dinner conversation - we never witness Lou engage in any kind of sexual activity. Is the blackmail morally wrong? Of course. Psychopathic? Well, it fits the manipulative criteria but not necessarily the promiscuous one.

Lastly, as Leon Thomas of “Renegade Cut” points out, psychopaths don’t learn from their mistakes, whereas Lou is constantly implementing new information and making progress as a nightcrawler.

So is Lou Bloom a sociopath? Technically speaking, he doesn’t meet enough of the criteria for a conclusive answer either way. That’s fine because Nightcrawler - in addition to being fiction - isn’t really focusing on Lou Bloom’s mental state or applying psychiatric labels. It’s exploring how an evil person can achieve the American dream and how the world reacts to such a twisted individual. Whether or not he’s technically categorized a sociopath, Lou’s lack of empathy and inability to feel remorse make him as scary as any authentic silver screen psycho.