ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXExample where antagonist wasn't a person?
6 years, 9 months ago - Kristopher Williams
Im thinking of my hero's journey, and my friend (producer/writer) was questioning me on what was stopping him, who was the antagonist or what is the physical manifestation of the antagonist, and all I could think of was the hero's addiction and mental health problems. This could be enough if it clearly stops him from achieving his goals but I want to research this more.
Can you think of examples of films where the antagonist wasn't a person/alien/talking animal?
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6 years, 9 months ago - Vasco de Sousa
Jaws didn't talk. There are quite a few natural disaster films, like The Day After Tomorrow, Asteroid. Then there are illness films like Outbreak.
For addiction, Leaving Las Vegas is kind of about alcoholism. Then there's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, kind of shows drug addiction.
Don't forget Ed Wood! Great film all indie filmmakers could see. I'll let you figure out the antagonist to that one on your own.
You can also do a keyword search on IMDB. IMDB was created for academics and film fans doing research on things just like that. (It wasn't created to vet talent, they have auditions for that.)
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Vasco de Sousa SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - Vasco de Sousa
I almost forgot! I blogged about mental illness in films this spring, and have a list for you (with trailers.)
http://ptara.com/2018/05/01/6-films-about-mental-illness/
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Vasco de Sousa SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - Kristopher Williams
Yeah, I'm very interested in the antagonist being the inner demon, or some kind of unseen presence.
Take Shelter, could be another good example.
I suppose now, I'm thinking that my protagonist's own worse enemy is himself, he is his own antagonist,
Anyone else have any other ideas of the pro/an-tagonist being one and the same?
Thanks for your input Vasco
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Kristopher Williams SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
2001? Moon?
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - simon Matthews
The Happening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIQ21m1Ks08
I applaud the fact they tried to make wind scary.
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - simon Matthews SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - Darren Roberts
Breaking bad, Alien, Predator, The Thing, The Matrix, most horror and sci-fi films really
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Darren Roberts SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - Ed Griffiths
Hi Kristopher, it sounds like you're really working on a story that is about an amplified aspect of the main character. In terms of drama there are few kinds of stories where the antagonist ISN'T a kind of alter-ego of the hero, since most psychological drama is predicated on inner conflict. But FATE might be the antagonist you're looking for - persistent bad luck or dangerous situations that seem to add up to a pattern. That's something that affects a great deal of us. A 'persecution complex' or fixed paranoid delusions (if they ARE delusions) can be an effective antagonist. Personally though, I love mad dehumanised computers like in TRON or DEMON SEED or assorted episodes of STAR TREK and SPACE: 1999...
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Ed Griffiths SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - Nathan Hannawin
Duel?
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Nathan Hannawin SHOW
6 years, 9 months ago - Kristopher Williams
Thanks guys, and Ed I like the idea of increasingly dangerous situations- if they have the same theme and/or are related to his addiction then it would be quite like a baddy - and now I need to see Duel too!
Response from 6 years, 9 months ago - Kristopher Williams SHOW