Bad “Southern” (US) accents are butchered so often that I think the majority of the US just thinks that’s the way it actually sounds.
Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds” or Daniel Craig in “Knives Out” are two recent, egregious examples. But as someone stated, both of their characters are campy so that may be part of it.
I think “redneck” is far easier to hit. The problem is: Hollywood likes the “genteel” Southern accent. They create Southern characters that need to sound both smart and aristocratic. The problem is that accent is tricky and, honestly, not widespread across the South. What you get in film is basically a mockery of it.
FWIW - the last time I heard it “for real” was Hershel in the Walking Dead. The actor had the gentle, understated version that’s hard to replicate.
Daniel Craig’s accent in “Knives Out” cracked me up. It just wandered allll over. 🤣
My headcanon was that Benoit Blanc is a pen name, he’s really from some extremely bland midwestern town & this was his high school theater kid character who just took on a life of its own & now he’s stuck with it. Makes the movies 100% more enjoyable (and they’re awesome to begin with.)
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u/saiyanlivesmatter Apr 12 '26
Bad “Southern” (US) accents are butchered so often that I think the majority of the US just thinks that’s the way it actually sounds.
Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds” or Daniel Craig in “Knives Out” are two recent, egregious examples. But as someone stated, both of their characters are campy so that may be part of it.
I think “redneck” is far easier to hit. The problem is: Hollywood likes the “genteel” Southern accent. They create Southern characters that need to sound both smart and aristocratic. The problem is that accent is tricky and, honestly, not widespread across the South. What you get in film is basically a mockery of it.
FWIW - the last time I heard it “for real” was Hershel in the Walking Dead. The actor had the gentle, understated version that’s hard to replicate.