History YMMV / Byzantium

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Is Darvell a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter who intended to turn Ruthven despite him being the worst possible candidate for vampirism, or did he intend for Clara to be turned, but did so indirectly to give him PlausibleDeniability with the Brethren? As the {{WMG}} points out, there's a fair amount of evidence for Darvell intentionally letting Clara know about the island's location in the hope that she'd take the opportunity to become a vampire.
** [[WordOfStPaul Sam Riley]] says outright in a behind-the-scenes interview that he gives the map to Clara deliberately, adding credence to the latter interpretation.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Is Darvell a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter who intended to turn Ruthven despite him being the worst possible candidate for vampirism, or did he intend for Clara to be turned, but did so indirectly to give him PlausibleDeniability with the Brethren?

* CompleteMonster: Captain Ruthven is the film's [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human antagonist]], and a sadistic pimp when not fighting in UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars. Ruthven preys on young women by kidnapping them and forcing them into prostitution, with [[SerialRapist a bit of rape]] as his own personal compensation, a fate which befalls a young girl named Clara. Ruthven considers her his "favorite" prostitute, having her gang-raped by his upper class associates and regularly violating and beating her himself. After she gives birth to her daughter Eleanor, Ruthven is discovered to be dying of syphilis and that he discovered the existence of vampires; he did so during the war when he abandoned his kindhearted friend Darvell to die, robbing him and revealing his hatred for the man. Ruthven plans on joining the vampire Brethren to escape death, but is cheated out of immortality by Clara, who became a vampire instead. In retribution, Ruthven rapes the teenage Eleanor to spite Clara; not only does he deliberately pass on his syphilis to her, but it's also implied that Eleanor could be he own daughter.

* CompleteMonster: During the Napoleonic wars, Captain Ruthven preys on young women by kidnapping them and forcing them into prostitution with a bit of rape as his own personal compensation. This fate befalls future vampire Clara. Ruthven considers her his 'favorite' prostitute, having her gang-raped by his upper class associates and regularly violating and beating her himself. After she gives birth to her daughter Eleanor, Clara later cheats Ruthven out of immortality by becoming a vampire in his stead. In retribution, Ruthven rapes the teenage Eleanor to spite Clara. Making this worse was Ruthven slowly dying from syphilis ''and Eleanor is quite possibly his daughter.'' After raping Eleanor, he coldly welcomes her to his world: a slow death. Even in a world of vampires, Ruthven stands apart as [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters the worst the film has to offer.]]

* CompleteMonster: During the Napoleonic wars, Captain Ruthven preys on young women by kidnapping them and forcing them into prostitution with a bit of rape as his own personal compensation. This fate befalls future vampire Clara. Ruthven considers her his 'favorite' prostitute, having her gang-raped by his upper class associates and regularly violating and beating her himself. After she gives birth to her daughter Eleanor, Clara later cheats Ruthven out of immortality by becoming a vampire in his stead. In retribution, Ruthven rapes the teenage Eleanor to spite Clara. Making this worse was Ruthven slowly dying from syphilis ''and Eleanor is quite possibly his daughter.'' After raping Eleanor, he coldly welcomes her to his world: a slow death. Even in a world of vampires, Ruthven stands apart as [[HumansAreBastards the worst the film has to offer.]]

* CompleteMonster: During the Napoleonic wars, Captain Ruthven preys on young women by kidnapping them and forcing them into prostitution with a bit of rape as his own personal compensation. This fate befalls future vampire Clara. Ruthven considers her his 'favorite' prostitute, having her gang-raped by his upper class associates and regularly violating and beating her himself. After she gives birth to her daughter Eleanor, Clara later cheats Ruthven out of immortality by becoming a vampire in his stead. In retribution, Ruthven rapes the teenage Eleanor to spite Clara. Making this worse was Ruthven slowly rotting of an STD ''and Eleanor is quite possibly his daughter.'' After raping Eleanor, he coldly welcomes her to his world: a slow death. Even in a world of vampires, Ruthven stands apart as [[HumansAreBastards the worst the film has to offer.]]

* CompleteMonster: During the Napoleonic wars, Captain Ruthven preys on young women by kidnapping them and forcing them into prostitution with a bit of rape as his own personal compensation. This fate befalls future vampire Clara. Ruthven considers her his 'favorite' prostitute, having her gang-raped by his upper class associates and regularly violating and beating her himself. After she gives birth to her daughter Eleanor, Clara later cheats Ruthven out of immortality by becoming a vampire in his stead. In retribution, Ruthven rapes the teenage Eleanor to spite Clara. Making this worse was Ruthven slowly rotting of an STD. After raping Eleanor, he coldly welcomes her to his world: a slow death. Even in a world of vampires, Ruthven stands apart as [[HumansAreBastards the worst the film has to offer.]]

* FridgeHorror: Can you imagine someone like Captain Ruthven [[spoiler: as a ''vampire?!'' The very thought of it is terrifying.]]

* CompleteMonster: Captain Ruthven is a man that takes great enjoyment in selling impoverished girls off to brothels and then raping them. Clara [[spoiler: and later Eleanor]] are strongly implied to only be the tip of the iceberg. Essentially he likes to destroy young girls lives just for his own sick enjoyment. [[spoiler: His death is far too quick.]]

* TheWoobie: Noel. A man so desperate for some semblance of affection in his life after the death of his only family that he goes to a prostitute. And promptly breaks down crying in front of her. The takes said prostitute and her "little sister" off the streets out of kindness. He doesn't really seem to care if he's being used, he just wants some companionship. [[spoiler: And then he dies accidentally.]]

* CompleteMonster: Captain Ruthven is a man that takes great enjoyment in selling impoverished girls off to brothels and then raping them. Clara [[spoiler: and later Eleanor]] are strongly implied to only be the tip of the iceberg. Essentially he likes to destroy lives just for his own sick enjoyment. [[spoiler: His death is far too quick.]]

* TheWoobie: Noel. A man so desperate for some semblance of affection in his life after the death of his only family that he goes to a prostitute. And promptly breaks down crying in front of her. He doesn't really care if he's being used, he just wants some companionship. [[spoiler: And then he dies accidentally.]]

* FridgeHorror: Captain Ruthven [[spoiler: as a ''vampire?!'' The very thought of it is terrifying.]]

* CompleteMonster: The Captain. Ruthven is a man that takes great enjoyment in selling impoverished girls off to brothels and then raping them. Clara [[spoiler: and later Eleanor]] are strongly implied to only be the tip of the iceberg. Essentially he likes to destroy lives just for his own sick enjoyment.

* CompleteMonster: The Captain. This is a man that takes great enjoyment in selling impoverished girls off to brothels and then raping them. Clara [[spoiler: and later Eleanor]] are strongly implied to be the tip of the iceberg. Essentially he likes to destroy lives just for his own sick enjoyment.

* CompleteMonster: The Captain. This is a man that takes great enjoyment in selling innocent poor girls off to brothels and then raping whilst calling them whores. Clara [[spoiler: and later Eleanor]] are strongly implied to be the tip of the iceberg. Essentially he likes to destroy lives just for his own sick enjoyment.