Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back have something in common. The bad guys win. It should be noted that this never happens in films of any kind because evil cannot triumph over good. Good should always, in theory at least, win. However, the concept of the antagonist winning is a compelling one as it shows us a big massive ‘what if?’ scenario. What if evil was more powerful than good? What if being good doesn’t lead to the desired outcome? It’s an idea that many films have explored and some in more detail than others. Heroes can become villains, and villains can become heroes. Nothing ever has to be black and white. Just look at The Dark Knight as a clear-cut example of this.
Who remembers Darth Vader entering the screen in the very first Star Wars film, with the music blaring out and the stormtroopers either side of him making him stand out that bit more? The presence of an antagonist on screen is what sells him to us. Most antagonists in films can feel one-dimensional and are only there to be a mere obstacle for the protagonist, but then you have these villainous icons such as Maleficent, Darth Vader, Lord Voldemort and Thanos, who are all flawed and but also show heart as well as a sense of terror.
So, what goes into creating these characters? A sense of familiarity is one thing. If you have a villain which is a floating head in space and wants to devour worlds - looking at you here Green Lantern - then it isn’t going to be compelling enough. However, if you have someone who is connected to the main character in an interesting way, and they are polar opposites but need each other to survive. Then, you have a bad guy as similar as Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter film series. Lastly, you need compassion. You need to see that they have a sense of humanity. If they show remorse, or a sense of duality to their personality, then you will feel for them and hope for them to go from bad to good. A bit like Kylo Ren in the latest Star Wars trilogy.
A film is just as much as a villain’s story as well as a hero’s story. The arc of a villain usually involves conquering worlds, becoming rich and powerful or achieving a goal of peace through any means necessary. Megalomaniacs, psychopaths and terrorists - it doesn’t matter how evil they are, they all have their own side of a story to tell. I’m not saying they are right in what they are doing, but they have a reason for why they are doing it. This is what filmmakers try to achieve, the perspective of the villain, and show us their motives for doing what they’re doing. It’s the only real window into their minds, into their worlds.
Next time you watch a film just keep an eye out for the villain and remember what makes a villain to begin with. You will notice how much they are involved in creating and shaping the story just as much as the hero. The classic hero versus villain format is an age old trope that is not dying any time soon. So be prepared for a lot more superheroes vs supervillains. Mortals vs immortals. Good vs evil. It’s what storytellers do best. They draw us in and make us feel for these characters.
If you haven't already, read the other side of the story in part 1.
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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