I found this in my drafts folder and had to repost it. It was originally posted on an old blog on Blogger called The Jodie Sue and Baker Show years ago.

The Billy Loomis Effect (TBLE)

[thuh, bil-ee, loo-mis ih-fekt] 

– noun (I think)

A common phenomenon in movies and television and hopefully not real life. When a seemingly normal, boring, somewhat good looking character suddenly begins to drip sex the moment they are revealed as the serial killer/bad guy.

It’s a real thing, we swear.

For example:

The movie: SCREAM

The character: Billy Loomis, Sidney Prescott’s too perfect, cute, boyfriend.

If you have seen the movie, which we are assuming you have since it’s over a 100 years old, you know that Billy starts off as the wrongly accused, only guilty of wanting a more physical relationship with his girlfriend Sid. Then they have sex, which is a BIG NO NO in horror films and Billy is stabbed by the killer. You’re left wondering just who is this masked man and how will Sid get away from him…when all of a sudden:

Billy Loomis, stabbed and bleeding, musters up enough strength to come save his girlfriend. He tries as he stumbles down the stairs. Yay, you say to yourself, he’s not dead. But, wait his bloody tee shirt doesn’t have any slash rips in it, oh no, the realization hits you that he just may be the killer after all.

Billy lets Randy in to the house, Randy is screaming how Stu has gone mad. Billy closes the door and turns around. He shoots Randy.

OMG He’s the killer! Sid get out of there! Get away from him! He’s crazy, he’s psycho, he’s………..

Then, there is the moment The Billy Loomis Effect happens:

Billy Loomis, Skeet Ulrich, scratches his head with the gun and says: “We all go a little crazy sometimes. Anthony Perkins, Psycho”

His eyes glimmer with mischief, his smile spread wide with evil. His demeanor now menacing and psychotic.

You now perk up a bit, taking notice.

Hmmm, ooooh, oh, well, wow, Billy Loomis is really kinda hot. 

He tastes the “blood” that he’s covered in. “Corn Syrup, like they use in the movies.”

WOW. YUM.

Then you are done. The Billy Loomis Effect has taken over.

And there are several instances to back up this phenomenon. 

Cary Elwes in Kiss The Girls. (The movie is from 1997, if this just spoiled it for you…well, you should have seen it already.)

Matt Davis in The Vampire Diaries. Alaric is cute but when evil Vampire Klaus possessed his body…WOW!

Jonny Lee Miller in Mindhunters. Which, IMHO, was a pretty good movie.

Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. No more needs to be said!

David Boreanaz as Angel was hot. But when he turned into Angelus he was sexy! 

And speaking of Buffy, bad Spike was so much better than restored soul Spike.

We’re sure there are several more that we just can’t recall right now.

And, The Billy Loomis Effect also applies to the moment you find out that the cute guy is part of the evil plan. Sometimes all it takes is that little evil glimmer in the eye!

So next time you are watching a thriller or horror movie, and you find yourself thinking: “Wow, he’s kinda hot.” at the moment the cute guy is revealed to be bad, that is The Billy Loomis Effect. 

If you have any other examples, please leave a comment. We never get tired of discussing TBLE!