The threat of death is ever present in No Country for Old Men. The story’s law-and-order characters can’t contain the evil unleashed upon them, although Chigurh’s heinous deeds force Bell to reflect on his own spiritual state. His attempts to make sense of the carnage form the moral core of the film, but there’s an emptiness there. The film offers no firm answers on how to grapple with darkness, although its unconventional ending may offer a faint glimmer of hope.
The psalmist wrote, “Concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong” (Psalm 36:1-4).
No Country for Old Men is a study of that evil, but unlike the psalmist, it finds no refuge in the Lord. Its portrayal of Bell’s effort to do good to others out of duty, but absent the Lord’s leading, is worth considering, but even better is the stark exposure of the frailty of such efforts. In a world where evil runs rampant, God is our only hope, the source of joy in a world full of despair: “Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name” (Psalm 97: 10-12).
What do we do when we feel helpless against the assault of culture? Where do we turn when wickedness is rampant? Who will protect us against evil? No Country for Old Men is exemplary in raising such questions, but those looking for hopeful answers won’t find them here. The story is set in God’s “country,” but the characters don’t have access to anything beyond what they can see in front of them.
Questions? Contact the writer at crosswalkchristian@earthlink.net.
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