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| “ | The law? The law is a human institution. | „ |
| ~ Sheriff Cooley, alluding to his satanic nature. |
| “ | Sweet summer rain. Like God's own mercy. | „ |
| ~ Sheriff Cooley |
Sheriff Cooley is the main antagonist of the 2000 crime comedy-drama film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
He was portrayed by the late Daniel von Bargen.
Biography[]
Sheriff Cooley pursues the trio throughout the movie. First making himself known right after Pete's cousin rats them out. Later on, he has Pete brutally whipped and threatens to hang him if he doesn't tell him where they're heading.
The group sets out with Tommy to retrieve Everett's wife's ring, which is at a cabin in the valley that Everett originally claimed to have hidden the treasure in. When they arrive, the police order their arrest and hanging.
Everett protests, stating that they had been pardoned on the radio, but the policeman pursuing them ignores their pleas. The three begin to despair while Everett improvises a prayer to be saved. Suddenly, the valley is flooded and they are saved from their hanging. It is Implied he drowned.
Trivia[]
- There are numerous hints throughout the film implying that Sheriff Cooley is actually the Devil.
- He fits Tommy Johnson's description of the Devil as a white man whose sunglasses look like "big empty eyes", and he travels with a bloodhound. Additionally, Tommy immediately flees upon seeing Cooley, implying that he recognized him.
- His character is strongly associated with fire. When he first begins hunting the Soggy Bottom Boys, he burns down the barn they were hidden in an attempt to smoke them out. As he tortures Pete, there's a deliberate close-up on the flames reflecting off of his sunglasses, clearly alluding to hellfire.
- When Everett desperately points out that hanging the trio after they've been pardoned is unlawful, Cooley merely replies, "The law is a human institution." This heavily implies that the sheriff himself is not human.
- The main trio are only saved from Sheriff Cooley after Everett prays and begs God for help, causing a flash flood to occur that seemingly kills the sheriff but saves themselves. This is implied to be a case of divine intervention, as if God Himself stepped in to take out the Devil.