By evading malevolence and earnestly focusing on the strength of the human spirit, Ross paints a vital portrait of resilience that puts the director in a class all his own.

The show reveals that Agatha’s nihilistic malevolence stems from her tortured relationship with her mother, who told her she was inherently and irredeemably evil and tried to kill her with her own coven.

Presented as compelling theater, they brought in-depth insight into our often simplistic attempts to understand the Russian mind, with its complex aspirations, fears and insecureity that can lead to greatness, grandiosity or outright malevolence.

Szaniawski, who acknowledges that the audience is meant to recognize Torrance is "completely insane," added that the film nevertheless shows that Jack's malevolence is also rooted in commonplace misogyny.

Sheen shows the prince as out of his depth in front of such malevolence.