The Man Comes Around

Brad Pitt's new trailer for Killing Them Softly has been recently released.  The movie has a stellar cast, intriguing story, and if we can take the trailer at face value: a sense of wry humor.  But what stood out the most for me was the trailer's use of Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around."



What is it about this song?  It's one of my favorite Cash songs, mainly because it is downright foreboding.

I did a little internet research and gleaned that Cash was the sole writer of this song and refused any outside editing.  Written later in his life after Cash became particularly religious, the song is about the Revelations and second coming of Christ.

Directors must love the chills Cash delivers here because the song has popped up in lots of places.  I include this scene from the very underrated but very cool TV series The Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:



I don't think the above scene uses Cash as effectively as the Killing Them Softly preview, and nothing can beat the use of "The Man Comes Around" as the opening credits of the Dawn of the Dead remake. Not for the squeamish, but if you want to take a peek, check it out here on youtube.