Kevin Spacey stares into your soul, compels you to do his bidding in new E-Trade commercials

Kevin Spacey is challenging you to a staring contest.

In a new set of online commercials for E-Trade, the House of Cards star speaks directly into the camera in the signature fourth wall-breaking style of Frank Underwood to dare you, the viewer, into a battle of unblinking perseverance. 

It turns out the Juilliard-trained actor isn't the best-suited for the contest; his eyes start watering just about 15 seconds into the competition.

"I'm not crying," he says. "These are sympathy tears."

But the three 15-second spots, created by ad agency R/GA, are spaced out across the commercial breaks of the streaming video to imply that Spacey has been staring at you the entire time. The ads will make their debut during Hulu's original series The Path on Wednesday.  

What he lacks in endurance, though, he makes up for with a quiet menace. He eventually resorts to accusing you of cheating in a low, threatening whisper that suggests that it would be unwise to protest.  

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.