How to Look Creepy 101

Did you notice that Anthony Hopkins looks incredibly creepy in Silence of the Lambs? It's not just the fact that he eats the other red meat; if you watch closely, you'll see that he never blinks. He closes his eyes with great relish and breathes in deeply to freak Clarice out a bit, but the real creepy comes in with his ability keep his eyes wide open for minutes on end.

So, that's number one.

My great artist friend, Jason, spends the bulk of his time noticing things as I do. He keyed into a second quirk which renders one immediately creeptastic: don't swing your arms when you walk. Working in an art supply store for many years, Jason came into frequent contact with creepy guys--he realized they all had one thing in common: they hold their arms stock still, glued to their sides, as they walk to and fro. Jason delighted in this revelation, and so, to creep all of us out, began to practice this walk. Of course, like so many jokes gone awry, he began to walk in this way without purpose, and now, can no longer break this habit.

Anyway, that's number two.

The thing about both of these behaviors is that, usually, one can't put his/her finger on why they're soooo freaked out by the person--they're subtle maneuvers, and if practiced correctly, can bring you hours of fun in bars, malls, and classrooms!