Crafting a Memorable and Engaging Film/TV Villain: Key Strategies for Success
A story wouldn't be a story without a good dose of conflict, and that's where your trusty antagonist steps in! They're the key source of friction for your protagonist, causing all sorts of headaches and forcing them to learn a thing or two about themselves. The antagonist isn't always a proper baddie, either - they can be a force of nature, a societal construct, or even the protagonist themselves.
Porteous and Lindsay (2019) put it like this: the antagonist carefully observes the protagonist, figures out their intentions, and strategically interferes to mess up their plans. A story can have multiple antagonists, each offering a unique obstacle for our hero to overcome.
There are several types of antagonists, each playing a different role in the story. Let's dive into the different types:
Personified Antagonists
These are physical beings with goals opposing the protagonist’s. They can be as simple as the classic villain or as complex as an anti-villain, anti-hero, or even the protagonist themselves!
Villains
Think of Cruella De Ville (101 Dalmatians), Scar (The Lion King), or Miss Trunchbull (Matilda), all bad-to-the-bone villains with a penchant for causing chaos. Supervillains, like Magneto (X-Men), Hela (Thor: Ragnarok), or Catwoman (Batman Returns), also fall under this category, as they possess superhuman powers to outsmart our hero.
Masterminds, such as Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), Amy Elliott Dunne (Gone Girl), or Tom Ripley (The Talented Mr. Ripley), prefer to play mind games, manipulating the protagonist to achieve their own goals.
Anti-Villains
Anti-villains have a justifiable goal from the audience's perspective. They're often selfish, but their actions can be sympathized with. Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter) and Thanos (Marvel Cinematic Universe) are prime examples of anti-villains, providing doubt among the audience as to who exactly is in the wrong.
Creators of Conflict
These characters may not be inherently evil, but their opposing goals and constant clashing with the protagonist create conflict.
The Protagonist
Yes, you read that right! The protagonist can be their own worst enemy. Internal battles can be the biggest obstacle in their journey, like Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye) struggling with his insecurities. When the protagonist's inner turmoil serves as the main antagonist, their backstory must be strong to maintain the conflict throughout the story.
Societal/Institutional Antagonists
These antagonists are entire societies or institutions standing in the way of the protagonist. Examples include the Capitol in The Hunger Games and Big Brother in 1984.
Nature
Natural disasters, like earthquakes or tornadoes, can also serve as antagonists. Just think of the ocean in Life of Pi or the desert in The Alchemist. They represent the unpredictability and challenges of life unknown.
The complexities of modern antagonists blur the lines between good and evil. They defy traditional notions of heroes vs. villains, and their motivations and actions are often hidden between empathy and disgust. Examples of these modern, complex antagonists include Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones and Walter White in Breaking Bad.
Antagonists play a vital role in storytelling, challenging the protagonist, developing their character, and reflecting societal and cultural contexts. So, when crafting your story, don't forget the importance of a good antagonist!
A story's plot often intertwines with the protagonist's intentions, as antagonists meticulously analyze them and manipulate events to disrupt their lifestyle, a prime example seen in the fashion-and-beauty world, where an antagonist might derail a model's career as seen in the novel 'The Devil Wears Prada'.
The vast array of books available on social media platforms offers readers an opportunity to engage with various personas birthed from an author's imagination, some of which serve as antagonists providing challenges, such as the morally ambiguous characters in Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl' and 'Sharp Objects', igniting discussions about fashion-and-beauty standards, social norms, and entertainment.
