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You'd do better to tell us everything. But to make sure it happens, I brought along a few tools. Just things you pick up along the way. [Holds a hammer] At first I won't be able to trust you, but after I use this, you'll own up to a few things. [Holds a pair of plyers] When we get to these we'll have developed a... how can I put this? A closer bond, much like brothers. You'll see. [Holds a knife] And when we get this one, I'll believe anything you tell me.
~ Captain Vidal's monologue before torturing his prisoner.

Captain Vidal is the main antagonist of the 2006 hit Spanish dark fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth and its 2019 novelization.

A Civil Guard officer enforcing the laws of the Franco regime, Vidal was tasked with hunting down and eliminating any anti-fascist resistance and dissent. A proud fascist and fanatical individual devoted to Falangism, Vidal was obsessed with fathering a son to carry on his name and legacy. He is the abusive stepfather and archenemy of Ofelia.

He was portrayed by Sergi López.

What Makes Him Pure Evil?[]

  • Although he has a tragic past in the form of him losing his father when he died in the war, he actually seems to posthumously resent him because he feels he could never live up to him. Even if he did admire his father, it still in no way makes him tragic due to his villainy.
  • He stands behind and enforces the laws of the fascist Franco regime.
  • He enjoys warfare, stating that he's there by choice, will show no mercy to the freedom fighters and rebels, and will kill every last one of them if that's what it takes.
  • He brutally murdered two innocent farmers, a father and a son. He mercilessly struck the son's face with a bottle multiple times and shot the father in the chest. He then showed no remorse when learning that they were not rebels, only being annoyed that it was a waste of his time.
  • When his wife's condition began to deteriorate, he ordered Dr. Ferreiro that, if he had to choose, he was to save Vidal's unborn child over the mother. This resulted in his wife's death during childbirth.
  • He has his men execute a group of rebels who were unarmed and helpless, and sadistically, he toys with one rebel, letting him keep trying to push his gun away before shooting him multiple times.
  • He captures a rebel named Tarta and psychologically tortures him by saying he'll be free to go if he can count to three without stuttering, correctly predicting that he would fail the test. He then tortures him to the point that Tarta wishes to die. It's unknown if he would have let him go had he passed the test, but given his sadism, he likely would not have, or at best would only have done it to appear honorable in front of his men.
  • Although he allowed Dr. Ferreiro to treat Tarta's wounds, it was only to prepare Tarta for another round of torture.
  • He guns down Dr. Ferreiro for euthanizing the tortured Tarta.
  • He captures Mercedes and Ofelia when they try to escape, then locks Ofelia up, slapping her and ordering her killed if the rebels try to free her.
  • He tries to torture Mercedes, but she escapes.
  • He fatally shoots Ofelia for trying to run away with her brother.
  • His death of getting shot is played for satisfaction rather than sympathy and is well-deserved for what he did to Ofelia and others.

Trivia[]

  • Sergi Lopéz actually considers Captain Vidal the most evil character that he has ever played in his career, describing him as a deranged psychopath impossible to defend, citing that while the loss of his father was a factor behind his mental disorder, it would be very cynical to use such disorder as an excuse to justify his crimes.
  • Vidal was not intended to be Pure Evil, because on the film’s DVD commentary, Guillermo del Toro states that the scene where Vidal hands his child to the rebels and emotionally says “My son,” was intended to be a humanizing moment, saying that he likes to give all his villains a human moment before their deaths. However, this does not disqualify Vidal, as the film itself does not confirm that he truly loved his child, as opposed to merely seeing him as an extension of himself.
    • In addition, del Toro stated that he didn't think Vidal was inherently evil from the start but rather became capable of monstrous crimes due to his blind obedience to the Franco regime, stating that his speech in the dinner scene is meant to show that despite being a sociopath, he believes in his own mind that he is acting for the good of the community.
  • It's fitting that Vidal is Lawful Evil and Pure Evil, while Ofelia is Chaotic Good and Pure Good, showing how they are polar opposites.
  • Vidal is one of two Pure Evils in Pan's Labyrinth franchise, alongside the novelization incarnation of Pale Man.

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