The final moments of Todd Phillips’s “Joker” (2019) remain among my most terrifying moments at a movie, as much for what was happening in the theatre as on-screen. As Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck gave into the madness of his costumed alter ego, Joker, and shot out a preening talk-show host’s brains on live TV, the crowd at my screening erupted in applause and a man a few seats down from me leaped to his feet, screaming “Yes!” and pumping his fist in triumph. There was a lot of loose talk around the release of “Joker” about the hero-ification of psychopathy and the specter of copycat violence, but in that instant, I saw a malignant spark arc from screen to audience, and I was afraid. Read More