Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

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  • #16
    Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

    Another approach is to take on a system/nemesis that is already universally hated - and then add the personal touch. Like big corporations, or some extreme political group. Something that the everyday person already feels a bit uncomfortable or nervous about.

    I'm thinking of a small local film called...

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    The Bank. (Including this film in this context is a spoiler, in effect.)

    MORE SPOILERS






    Banks are roundly and soundly hated by most Australians but for the first two acts of this film, we believe the hero is making his way (the self-made man) then getting caught up in the heady world of money, until we realise that this was all part of the plot to undo the bank that did over his parents when he was young, and brought about his father's(?) suicide.
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    • #17
      Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

      Originally posted by Adam Isaac View Post
      If revenge stories are your forte, Count of Monte Cristo is the Bible.
      I love the 2002 film with Guy Pearce and James Caviezel. Enormously under-appreciated.

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      • #18
        Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

        Originally posted by Adam Isaac View Post
        If revenge stories are your forte, Count of Monte Cristo is the Bible.
        Amen.
        @TerranceMulloy

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        • #19
          Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

          Originally posted by gravitas
          They're deceivingly hard to write.
          Two core challenges:

          1. How to explore the *emotional* aspects of a revenge yarn, and--
          2. How to twist the plot in *fresh* way.

          Wait. Those core challenges--deep Emotions and clever Plot--exist regardless of genre!

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          • #20
            Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

            The act of revenge in films almost always stems from personal loss. The protagonist's motivation comes from personal sadness manifested as anger for the Antagonist. HAMLET is the best example. Probably one of the best stories ever, and it's a revenge story. It's the simplest form of storytelling. The emotions are simple, the goal is clear and the bad guy is unequivocally bad. The good ones, however, also explore moral dilemma as well (MUNICH comes to mind).

            Also, UNFORGIVEN isn't a revenge story, IMO. It only becomes a revenge story in the last 10 minutes of the film.

            This time, it's personal!

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            • #21
              Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

              Originally posted by SNAFU View Post
              Wait. Those core challenges--deep Emotions and clever Plot--exist regardless of genre!
              ...oh s***.

              But seriously, the biggest thing you must do is something different. A different style chase, a different kind of character, a different spin on a familiar tale.

              Don't show us what we've seen before. We've seen stereotypes and ordinary action and generic revenge stories before. Nobody wants to see them again. We want something that piques our interest, and something fresh and inspired is a sure-fire way to do that.

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              • #22
                Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

                Originally posted by omovie View Post
                The act of revenge in films almost always stems from personal loss. The protagonist's motivation comes from personal sadness manifested as anger for the Antagonist. HAMLET is the best example. Probably one of the best stories ever, and it's a revenge story. It's the simplest form of storytelling. The emotions are simple, the goal is clear and the bad guy is unequivocally bad. The good ones, however, also explore moral dilemma as well (MUNICH comes to mind).

                Also, UNFORGIVEN isn't a revenge story, IMO. It only becomes a revenge story in the last 10 minutes of the film.

                This time, it's personal!
                Well they killed NED gotdamnit! They shouldn't have shot old Ned!
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                • #23
                  Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

                  Originally posted by omovie View Post
                  Also, UNFORGIVEN isn't a revenge story, IMO. It only becomes a revenge story in the last 10 minutes of the film.

                  This time, it's personal!
                  It was definitely about revenge for Strawberry Alice.
                  Chicks Who Script podcast

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                  • #24
                    Re: Revenge Stories--what makes 'em work?

                    Originally posted by emily blake View Post
                    It was definitely about revenge for Strawberry Alice.
                    True. But she's not the protagonist.

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