What Makes a Villain Cliché?
A cliché villain is a character who is so evil, so cruel, and so one-dimensional that they lack any kind of complexity or depth. They are often portrayed as a caricature of evil, with no redeeming qualities or motivations. This type of villain is often seen in movies, books, and video games, and can make a story feel stale and predictable.
Here are some of the common traits of a cliché villain:
• Over-the-top Evil: A cliché villain is often portrayed as a cartoonish caricature of evil, with no redeeming qualities or motivations. They are often overly cruel and sadistic, with no remorse for their actions.
• Unstoppable Power: Cliché villains are often portrayed as having almost superhuman strength and abilities. They are often portrayed as being nearly invincible, making them seem like an unbeatable foe.
• Lack of Motivation: Cliché villains often lack any kind of motivation or backstory. They are often portrayed as being driven by pure evil, with no real explanation for their actions.
• One-Dimensional: Cliché villains are often portrayed as one-dimensional characters. They are often portrayed as having no redeeming qualities or motivations, and lack any kind of complexity or depth.
• Unoriginal: Cliché villains are often portrayed in the same way, with the same traits and characteristics. This can make them seem unoriginal and predictable, making it difficult for the audience to be surprised or engaged.
• No Sympathy: Cliché villains often lack any kind of sympathy or empathy from the audience. They are often portrayed as being so evil and cruel that there is nothing about them that we can understand, recognize or feel within ourselves.
In this sense, a villain is just like any other main character. If he is so evil, so cruel that there is nothing about him that we can understand, recognize or feel within ourselves, the villain screams cliché. A good villain should be complex and multi-dimensional, with motivations and emotions that the audience can relate to. This will make the villain more believable and engaging, and will help to make the story more interesting and unpredictable.
