No Country for Old Men

Lesson learned: never stop for gas in the middle of nowhere.
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Media that depicts how terrifying rural America can be is a micro-genre that I didn't realize I enjoy as much as I do. Fargo, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, and True Detective season 1 all use rural, barren landscapes to explore the human condition in the absence of societal constraints (to some extent), and I find each of them incredible works for their attention to that detail.
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Chigurh's psychological makeup is incredibly fascinating. It's clear to me why so many forensic scientists claim that Chigurh is the most realistic depiction of a psychopath in media. One particular facet of his psychology that caught my attention was his internal logic and code about fate and choices. He views his actions as 'fate' and, by doing so, assumes there is a prewritten 'destiny' etched into the cave walls, and, in turn, believes his actions are predetermined and intended to fulfill that 'destiny'. But by making this pivot, he absolves himself of any sense of guilt or remorse for his actions. According to his line of reasoning, if they were "bound to happen by fate or destiny", then he is not responsible for the consequences of his actions, because from his perspective, he doesn't have a choice for whether or not he ought to commit any one of those actions, for his fate was already prewritten and predetermined for him to execute the action. (purposefully cryptic so as not to spoil).

The idea that he "doesn't have a choice" and that everything is "left up to fate" also suggests that, according to his internal logic, the idea of "having a choice" is something very foreign to him. I wonder what causes one to develop the psychological scaffold that one does not have a choice, even when one does. Could that arise out of some traumatic event? Not sure, but the psychological explanation of how one becomes a psychopath or sociopath could perhaps provide some foodholds to answer that question. Seems like it could stem from feeling deeply unempowered and having no control over the present but I'm not sure. The prequel to No Country for Old Men about Chigurh's childhood would probably give the answer if it is ever made.

Also, something interesting is going on with how the film portrays psychopathic violence against Southern hospitality and culture, but I can't exactly put my finger on it at the moment.