In Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Austin Butler’s portrayal of Charles Tex Watson, a key member of the Manson Family, stands out as a crucial element that reshaped the film’s climactic scene. Set in 1969 Los Angeles, Butler’s Tex injects unsettling seriousness into a narrative that blends historic horror with a surreal alternate ending, grounding the film’s tense finale in genuine menace. This portrayal anchors the focus keyword Quentin Tarantino Austin Butler Tex firmly at the heart of the film’s dramatic balance.
While Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth receive most of the spotlight, Butler’s Tex represents a pivotal force of dread. His composed and unwavering demeanor transforms a brief role into a lasting impression, quietly amplifying the impact of the chaotic home invasion that ultimately subverts history. Butler’s ability to inhabit Tex — a character based on a real and terrifying figure — with authenticity emphasizes the threat lurking beneath Tarantino’s stylized storytelling.
Conveying True Crime’s Menace Through a Restrained Performance
The horrific Manson murders left a profound cultural scar on the late 1960s, and Tarantino was deliberate in handling this material with gravity despite his revisionist approach. Casting Austin Butler allowed the director to capture the menacing calm of a fervent cult disciple. Butler’s Tex carries out his violent mission with a chilling, almost mundane focus, projecting the unsettling conviction of someone on a grim errand.
When Tex unexpectedly appears in Rick Dalton’s home and declares,
“I’m the devil, and I’m here to do the devil’s business,”
his delivery is devoid of theatrical flair, reinforcing the line’s chilling weight. —Austin Butler’s steady voice and controlled movements make this phrase resonate with an unnerving clarity, creating tension by fully committing to the character’s deadly purpose.
Tex Watson was notoriously one of Charles Manson’s most loyal and violent followers, tasked with leading the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969. Butler’s use of Tex’s genuine historical phrase deepens the scene’s authenticity, magnifying the dark historical shadows manifested by the brief inclusion of a young Charles Manson, played by Damon Herriman. Unlike a caricature of madness, Butler’s Tex is defined by certainty — a reminder of the dangerous influence Manson exerted over his followers.
Balancing Horror and Absurdity with a Straight-Faced Performance
The finale’s swift pivot from terror to unexpected comedy is a hallmark of Tarantino’s style and relies heavily on Butler’s serious portrayal for its effect. The tension Tex builds, calmly advancing toward violence, contrasts starkly with the chaotic retaliation by Cliff Booth and his dog Brandy, leading to moments both brutal and darkly humorous.
Scenes such as the can of dog food hitting a cult member’s face, Brandy attacking on command, Cliff’s acid-fueled laughter, and Rick Dalton’s flamethrower justice are theatrical and exaggerated. Yet, the humor lands powerfully because Butler restrains his role, never breaking character. His measured performance creates a believable threat, making the sudden comedic release feel earned rather than forced.
This interplay makes the film’s climax a thrilling oscillation, where the audience experiences the simultaneous fear of a genuine home invasion and the relief of its unexpected overthrow. Butler’s Tex is the linchpin holding these competing tones together, his seriousness allowing the absurd elements to resonate fully.
Austin Butler’s Breakthrough Through Subtle Intensity
Looking back, the role of Tex Watson was an early showcase of Austin Butler’s potential as an actor, even before his later stardom with Elvis. At the time of filming, Butler was primarily known for television roles with limited visibility, but Tarantino entrusted him with a part that demanded a commanding presence conveyed through restraint and precision.
Butler’s performance is notable for the minimalism he employs—his stillness and controlled delivery fill the screen with an eerie intensity, proving less can truly be more. This choice to simmer intensity rather than explode into overacting set the tone for his future roles, demonstrating his skill in embodying characters fully, regardless of how extreme the context.
Butler’s earnest portrayal becomes the unspoken backbone of the entire finale, allowing the more flamboyant performances around him to shine in contrast while also maintaining the scene’s necessary tension and believability. This pivotal role helped establish him as a rising star, confirming his ability to hold his own alongside established actors like DiCaprio and Pitt.
Tarantino’s Use of Tex to Strengthen the Film’s Climactic Impact
Though Butler’s Tex might not be the first character audiences recall from Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, he is undeniably one of the film’s hidden pillars. By refusing to trivialize a real-life killer’s voice and actions, Butler keeps the audience tethered to the scene’s dangerous undertone, enabling Tarantino’s sudden tonal reversal to hit harder and feel earned.
The line
“I’m the devil, and I’m here to do the devil’s business,”
could have easily slipped into caricature but instead anchors the entire climax through Butler’s committed delivery. His believable menace primes viewers for a tragic outcome before the film’s violent yet comically exaggerated twist intervenes. This balance enhances the finale’s tension and release, making it a memorable ending within both Tarantino’s filmography and Hollywood’s representations of real events.
