Paul Dano is Edward Nashton aka "The Riddler"

[The Guard]

It feels suspiciously like they used the Riddler as a commentary on

Spoiler

certain militias. Batman pretty much called them pathetic.

.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Dano was very good as Riddler. More over the top than I was expecting. He got a little hammy in his final scene. I was surprised he was just more a catalyst for events, instead of the real central threat which is fine. I wish there was a little more to him in terms of his motivation.

 

[WayneMB]

i found his motivation well explained

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Dano is the new gold standard for The Riddler. I'm not that well versed in his filmography, but for this film he really, really frightened me and I don't scare easy.

It was like watching the Son of Sam in Gotham.

 

[emielaen]

I thought the scene of him in his apartment, in the suit and mask, addressing his "community" with such genuineness was really good and legitimately creepy. He dropped the Batman imitation that he put on for the media and when he tried to instill fear like him but reverted to his normal voice, but didn't drop the theatrical appearance. He had already turned himself in as well so the whole idea of that being his true self was spot on there.

The scene in Arkham was also just nice, palpable tension as well. Pattinson's acting stood out there too as he waited to see if Riddler had known his identity or not.

 

[Drizzle]

Dano is the new gold standard for The Riddler. I'm not that well versed in his filmography, but for this film he really, really frightened me and I don't scare easy.

It was like watching the Son of Sam in Gotham.

One of the standout moments in TDK for me was when the Joker was torturing that fake Batman on camera and he screams “LOOK AT ME!”. That was Heath’s Joker at his most frightening and unsettling and that was basically the same level Dano was at for the whole movie. Because of his Riddler, I literally have not been this scared watching a Batman movie since I saw Penguin bite a dude’s nose in Batman Returns when I was 5.

 

[WayneMB]

One of the standout moments in TDK for me was when the Joker was torturing that fake Batman on camera and he screams “LOOK AT ME!”. That was Heath’s Joker at his most frightening and unsettling and that was basically the same level Dano was at for the whole movie. Because of his Riddler, I literally have not been this scared watching a Batman movie since I saw Penguin bite a dude’s nose in Batman Returns when I was 5.

when he lashes out at Colson at one moment during the bomb defusal. genuinely terrifying.

 

[The Caped Knight]

Seems there’s a riddle unsolved left behind on the viral marketing website. With a cryptic promise of a return embedded in the message. It kinda reminds me of the Joker’s viral marketing from The Dark Knight .

 

[WatchProtect]

It says

Spoiler

Maze Of Riddles

 

[Mindreaper21]

Riddler definitely gave off Michael Myers vibes when he first appeared. He looks non threatening until that mask is on. Then he’s absolutely primal.

 

[JackWhite]

I think my second viewing of the movie really allowed me to appreciate Dano in this role. I liked him when I first saw the film, but I was able to truly key in on the subtle nuances in his performance. I could see how some would say he got a little hammy in his big reveal scene with Batman, but....I think he absolutely nailed it.

It reminded me a lot of Joaquin in Joker when he is on Murray's talk show. It's not exactly showy or quotable villain speech. It's more raw and a little cringe because of how earnest he is. A very fine line to walk when giving that type of performance.

 

[Doctor Jones]

On my second viewing, I loved Dano this time and got it. He really is the shadow side but deranged and out of control.

 

[Deck Rickard]

That voice. I’m going to be hearing it in my nightmares. Heath Ledger’s Joker will always be the gold standard when it comes to Batman villains but Dano’s Riddler is definitely the creepiest.

 

[The Caped Knight]

 

[BatLobster]

I think my second viewing of the movie really allowed me to appreciate Dano in this role. I liked him when I first saw the film, but I was able to truly key in on the subtle nuances in his performance. I could see how some would say he got a little hammy in his big reveal scene with Batman, but....I think he absolutely nailed it.

It reminded me a lot of Joaquin in Joker when he is on Murray's talk show. It's not exactly showy or quotable villain speech. It's more raw and a little cringe because of how earnest he is. A very fine line to walk when giving that type of performance.

I can concur with this experience on my second viewing. I really wasn't feeling it the first time around, but I think I also think the movie pulls out the whole "it's an incel metaphor!" thing somewhat out of nowhere, so I wasn't completely attuned to it right away. Watching it a second time with that in mind, I was able to better appreciate Dano's performance from that perspective.

I think his best sequence in the film is the Colson bomb/riddle sequence.

Overall a very, very clever reinterpretation of the character. It is kind of a deconstruction of a classic bombastic Batman villain while delivering some of the "big" elements of that.

 

[Gothamsknight]

Dano really was phenomenal. I think they managed to keep some of the "loony" aspects of the Riddler in tact here while making him explosive and terrifying at the same time. The bomb collar scene, which I brought up before, is one of my favorite Batman scenes ever and one of the best scenes from a comic book movie in recent memory. The tension was exactly what I was hoping for from that scene. The live action reinvention we needed.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Despite the differing origin, this Riddler was surprisingly more like comic Riddler in personality than I was expecting. When he doesn't get his way, he just becomes a petulant child. Fantastic performance from Dano.

 

[lime]

Anyone have better quality of this image?

 

[Captain Tired]

One scene that keeps randomly playing in my mind is during the face to face confrontation between Batman and the Riddler, where Nashton backs away into his corner of the cell and just starts yelling/screaming in such an unnerving way rofl. I was worried he was going to start doing something really demented, like repeatedly bash the back of his head into the cell wall rofl. Dano was excellent.

 

[Nemeres]

 

[Captain Tired]

And the constant opening of the mouth, like a helpless fish gasping for air. So creepy lol. His delighted smile when he first saw Batman outside the diner reminded me so much of Gorshin.

 

[RokMeAmadeus]

And the constant opening of the mouth, like a helpless fish gasping for air. So creepy lol. His delighted smile when he first saw Batman outside the diner reminded me so much of Gorshin.

His up and down inflections and yells gave me the sense of a twisted perversion of Gorshin tbh

 

[signalman]

Paul Dano is writing a RIDDLER YEAR ONE mini-series for DC.

The Batman Star Paul Dano Is Writing a Riddler Origin Series for DC

 

[Daltonio]

Jim Carrey Has "Mixed Emotions" on Paul Dano's "Dark" Riddler in The Batman

"I've not seen it. It's a very dark version. I have mixed emotions about it. To each his own and all that. I love him as an actor, he's a tremendous actor," Carrey told Unilad. "There's a spot of worry in me over gaffer-taping people's faces and encouraging people to do the same. Some sickos out there that might adopt that method. I do have a conscience about the things I choose. Robotnik has cartoon bombs and no-one gets hurt. I know there's a place for [The Batman], and I don't want to criticize it, but it's not my kind of thing… it's very well done, those movies are very well done."

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

There were a few moments of the performance that were a bit over the top for me, but scenes like the diner totally make up for it.

When his head is on the counter, his expression is so captivating. It’s like he’s scared, excited, angry all at the same time, but trying to keep a lid on it. Like he’s overwhelmed and no longer has control of normal facial movements.