Don’t Look Now: The Dwarf Killer Explained

Don’t Look Now‘s dwarf killer adds to the impact of the movie’s iconic ending while also being one of the most chilling elements of the film. Don’t Look Now is a hugely influential psychological horror movie by director Nicolas Roeg and based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier. It stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie as grieving parents who, in the wake of the loss of their young daughter, travel to Venice to heal. However, they soon find themselves in a surreal nightmare with John Baxter (Sutherland) haunted by visions of their child.

Don’t Look Now is a slow-burn thriller with an amazing payoff which brings in the figure of the dwarf killer. For those who have seen the movie, the reveal is one of the most unforgettable and unsettling moments in the already dark and twisted story. It is a shocking scene that catches the audience off guard, but it might also confuse some people with what this sudden development means. A deep dive into the dwarf killer allows for a greater appreciation of Don’t Look Now.

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Don’t Look Now’s Dwarf Killer Explained

John Is Confronted With The Serial Killer Who Has Been Hinted At Throughout The Movie

The ending of Don’t Look Now brings to a conclusion John’s grief spiral. With the supernatural element of the story hanging over everything, he begins having visions of seeing a small figure in a red raincoat similar to the one his daughter wore. On seeing the figure again, John seeks to help them as a way of dealing with his guilt over the death of his own child. When the diminutive figure in the red raincoat finally turns to face John and the dwarf killer is revealed, it is a devastating moment in the film.

For the entire course of the movie, John has been suppressing his rational grief, somehow refusing to believe what happened to his daughter is real, until he confronts the dwarf killer and, inevitably, his own death. The grotesque female dwarf, who is the serial killer reportedly stalking the streets of Venice, pulls out a meat cleaver and slices John’s throat while he is frozen in terror.

Interestingly, the dwarf killer has very little to do with the overall plot of Don’t Look Now. While the couple goes through the grieving process while moving to Venice, a serial killer is said to be in the streets. Her victims are all young women who have been drowned and her motives are unknown. Even after she kills John at the end of the film, she is said to be at large.

Other than that, not much else is known about her. She has only a moment of screen time and no dialogue. However, since she normally only kills women by drowning, her murder of John with a blade is in stark contrast to what she normally does, which serves primarily to make the twist ending of Don’t Look Now all the more heart-wrenching.

What Makes The Dwarf Killer So Creepy

The Image Of The Killer And The Meaning Behind It Made For An Iconic Horror Movie Moment

Don’t Look Now is a horror movie that earns its scares through atmosphere and dread without any obvious horror moments for much of the story. However, the dwarf killer reveal is truly terrifying for audiences watching it for the first time. Unsure what to expect when the figure in the red coat turns, the sight of an older dwarf woman with a creepy smile is a startling image. There is a jump scare element to it as it is such a strange and unexpected reveal.

The actor playing the role of the dwarf, Adelina Poerio, is also wonderfully cast in the role as she adds a sinister menace to the moment. It’s not just the shock of seeing an older woman instead of a child, but the way the woman is smiling. It is immediately clear that she is a menace to John, although he is too shocked to register. There is also a devastating detail as she approaches him shaking her head as she knew what John was seeking this whole time and is taking glee in letting him know he was wrong.

However, it is also the circumstances that make the dwarf killer so effective. Don’t Look Now has a foreboding tone throughout that prepares the audience for an unhappy ending, but it is still devastating to see the fate that befalls John. Throughout the movie, he is consumed with grief but in the moment before the reveal, it is as if he finds a purpose again. He seems genuinely happy and proud he has found this “child” and can help her. The reveal of the dwarf killer shatters that hope and makes it clear John’s grief has led to his demise.

Don’t Look Now

Grieving parents John and Laura Baxter travel to Venice following the accidental drowning of their daughter, Christine. While in Venice, they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be a psychic who can communicate with Christine’s spirit. As Laura becomes increasingly convinced of the psychic’s abilities, John begins experiencing eerie visions of a small figure in a red coat, reminiscent of what Christine was wearing when she died.

Director

Nicolas Roeg

Release Date

November 18, 1973

Cast

Julie Christie , Donald Sutherland , Clelia Matania , Hilary Mason , Adelina Poerio

Runtime

110 minutes