Write a Film Using the Revenge Story Trope
The revenge or retribution story trope has been used by almost all the major directors of our generation.
It’s a narrative device where a character goes on a journey of vengeance outside of the usual justice system in order to right a wrong. What makes it incredibly popular is that, like other story tropes, there’s a common human experience at its source. It taps into something universal that transcends cultures and nationalities – much like falling in love, coming-of-age or a fish-out-of-water.
Many of the major directors and auteurs have a revenge story in their oeuvre:
Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill
Ridley Scott Gladiator
Steven Spielberg Munich
Martin Scorsese Cape Fear
Jane Campion The Power of the Dog
Park Chan Wook Vengeance, Old Boy, Lady Vengeance
Christopher Nolan Memento
Emerald Fennell Promising Young Woman
Write a Film about Revenge, but ask these questions of your main character first.
There are usually unintended consequences to deal with that make revenge stories a thrilling and often binge-worthy watch.
Compelling narratives are born from this story trope, especially if we interrogate our protagonist about their true motives. We can dig deeper into our main character’s psyche and figure out where this journey will take them emotionally by asking some tough questions of them.
What's the subtext and emotional truth beyond the surface level revenge story?
Does the character really want revenge or is it a futile effort to claw back control?
Or is it their own guilt they’re trying to erase?
Will they eventually attain meaningful closure at some point?
What are the mental and moral ramifications in getting revenge at any cost?
Can a revenge plot ever be called successful, even when it goes to plan?
Will it change the protagonist irrevocably?
Does it threaten some other, deeper desire within them?
In other words, can revenge really help the main character or will the cost/sacrifice take something else from them?
Will the obsession with revenge and avenging a wound become a way to avoid healing?
Psychologically, this could bind our protagonist even more closely with the person who hurt them and who they’re bent on taking down.
If you’re looking to expand your portfolio of scripts, writing a film about revenge could be a great idea considering there’s always a market for material based on tried-and-tested popular story tropes. Just don’t forget to incorporate a surprising twist or unique perspective.
Story Inkubator was founded by writer, scriptwriter and teacher, Kristina Jilly, an Australian living in Central Europe who's written for HBO Europe and RTL Television. She has an M.A. in Screenwriting and teaches at the University of Applied Sciences in Austria. Kristina also writes online content about the art of storytelling and topics that inspire creativity.
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