David Harken

"Listen to me, you stupid little runt. I own you. You're my bitch! So don't walk around here thinking you have free will because you DON'T. I can break you anytime I want! So settle in, because you are in this for the long haul!"

- David Harken

David Harken is the true main antagonist of the 2011 comedy film Horrible Bosses and a minor antagonist/anti-hero in the sequel Horrible Bosses 2. He is played by Kevin Spacey, who famously voiced Hopper and portrayed Lex Luthor and Frank Underwood.

Biography
Nick Hendricks hopes for a promotion at ComniDyne; however, Harken verbally abuses him for being only 2 minutes late and considers him drunk for having taken a Scottish alcoholic drink which Harken actually forced Nick to drink. Harken promotes himself, leading to Nick getting furious that his work for 8 years in a low position to become Senior Vice President has been all for nothing and encourages on murdering his boss along with his friends Dale and Kurt, both of whom have terrible bosses themselves. During their attempt, Harken finds Bobby Pellett's phone under his wife Rhonda's bed (Nick had dropped the phone sneaking into Harken's house). Suspecting that his wife is cheating on him, Harken drives to Pellitt's house, hands him the phone, and shoots him twice, with Nick witnessing the event. However, the film later proves that Harken's wife actually does cheat on him, immediately kissing Dale on the face and having sex wtih Kurt in the bathroom despite that she only recently met Dale and Kurt.

Nick, Dale, and Kurt attempt to get Harken to confess his actions, which he openly does at his surprise birthday party but threatens to kill the three. After a car chase, Harken finally catches up to the trio. Harken shoots himself in the leg and hands the gun to Dale just as the police arrive, attempting to frame them. However, Gregory, Kurt's car operator, had recorded Harken's plot before the police's arrival. Harken is arrested for the murder of Bobby Pellett and his three attempted murders. He is subsequently convicted on all charges and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

During the film, it is revealed that Harken has a serious peanut allergy.

In Horrible Bosses 2, Nick, Kurt and Dale visit Harken in prison, where he gives them some advice and continues to berate them for being idiots. At the end of the film, he purchases their company and allows them to stay employed, meaning that Nick works for him again. Since he is in jail, he can't order them around. Therefore, he is their silent partner and investor.

Trivia

 * Harken is similar to Mr. Walters from 21 Jump Street; while they served as the main villain in the first film, they return as minor characters in the sequel due to being incarcerated. Coincidentally, both sequels came out in 2014.