When the filmmaker lets the villain win early, somewhere around the midpoint reversal, I know I’m in for quite a spectacular end. That’s because suddenly the question isn’t whether the hero will win; rather, it's about how he will win. Suddenly, the stakes are no longer in a simple “yes” or “no.” With a single writing trope, “villain wins early,” the writer has turned the spotlight on the journey instead. In this article, we’re discussing the “villain wins early” trope, why it works, and how to use it in your screenplay.What Is the “Villain Wins Early” Trope?The villain wins early is a structural narrative premise in which a pivotal event appears to destroy the hero’s chances of victory, forcing them to accept defeat. It could be a planned attack by the villain or just bad luck for the hero, but that one incident sets the hero miles behind in the race. The common practice is to introduce the trope either early in the film or around the midpoint to heighten the tension and stakes in the hero’s quest. 'The Lion King' (1994)Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Why Does the “Villain Wins Early” Trope Work?1. It Raises the Stakes InstantlyNobody normally expects the hero to be defeated. When the villain emerges victorious in the first two acts, it comes as a shock. At the same time, the villain’s early win also puts the audience in doubt. Overall, this one defeat can skyrocket the stakes in the story and induce claustrophobic...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today