Sometimes being a villain can be very complex. At times they
are completely right in their justifications and at other times they can be
understood for their acts. The more complex the villain is, the more compelling
the story. Listed are some of the villains that have motivations that most
human beings can relate to.
10. Frankenstein’s Monster – Frankenstein
Upon creation, Frankenstein’s monster is reviled and
tormented. It is abused and treated more like an abomination than a man. The
Monster is not compelled by malicious intent but more a childlike innocence and
a desire to find a place to fit in society. When he kills a little girl playing
with her it is more like the monster is a child that does not realize the wrong
he has committed.
9. Shere Khan – The Jungle Book
Shere Khan is the tiger that is after the “man-cub” Mowgli.
His only goal is to kill the boy because he knows inevitably Mowgli will grow
up and become a man with a gun. His motivation is basic survival and in that
situation where all the animals are sentient you would think they would fall
more into his camp than Mowgli’s.
8. Walter Peck – Ghostbusters
Walter Peck is the EPA agent that visits the Ghostbusters
early into the film. He has legitimate concerns but is dismissed with smartass
remarks. He is essentially doing his job and is attempting to protect the
environment from unknown technologies. His assumptions are even proven to be
right when he enforces the shut down of the Ghostbuster’s premises causing a
massive explosion.
7. Koba – Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Koba has a strong hatred of humans that is completely
understandable. After being tested on many times by human scientists, he has
seen their cruelty first hand. After gaining intelligence he is still very
angry with them for his mistreatment. He wants what he thinks is best for the
apes and in his mind it means ridding the world of humanity.
6. The Facility – Cabin in the Woods
The Facility works to send a group of college students to face
horrors beyond belief. They control all aspects of the scenario the youngsters
face but they have a much bigger scheme that is above them. They are working to
sacrifice these kids to ancient gods, which need to be lulled into sleep with
the acts of violence. They commit acts of horror for the good of the planet and
the safety of humanity.
5. Dad Meiks – Frailty
Dad Meiks seems insane. All signs point out that he is a
very prolific serial killer. Once the story is fully revealed, we find out that
he can see evil hidden in people. The ones he has murdered are killers
themselves and this allows him to use divine powers to act as a hand of
vengeance for God. It is an insane twist that changes the entire perspective of
the story.
4. Senator Kelly – X-Men
Senator Kelly wants mutants to register with the government.
The movie paints him like a bigot who simply hates mutants because they are
different. In actuality, mutants are incredibly dangerous. They can manipulate
metal, control minds of hundreds of people at a time, and control the weather-
just to name a few. It would be insane to not keep tabs on people that could
literally wipe out buildings or bridges with a misplaced eye-roll.
3. General Francis Hummel – The Rock
General Francis Hummel has experienced war first-hand. He
has seen his comrades become wounded and die and not receive their compensation
from the government. So he takes matters into his own hands, he gets a bio
weapon and threatens to destroy San Francisco if $100 million dollars from arms
dealers is not transferred to a fund for families of fallen soldiers. That is a
lofty and noble goal but one that is misguided as he has no actual intentions to
harm the innocents. He made the mistake of surrounding himself with followers
that will harm others in order to achieve their goal.
2. Roy Batty – Blade Runner
Roy Batty is a replicant with a four-year lifespan. His
motivation is to stay alive and hopefully find a way to lengthen his lifespan.
He commits violence and has to be hunted down. In the long run he is just
trying to fight of the grim reaper who is chasing at his heels. Roy has seen so
much of the universe and very desperately wants to experience more than this
predetermined lifespan will allow.
1. Edward Rooney – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Poor Ed Rooney. He knows that Ferris Bueller is skipping
school and he knows that Ferris’s parents are idiots. So he takes it upon
himself to catch Ferris in the act. Instead of vindication he has various acts
of tragedy befall him, including the loss of his car, assault, and a dog
attack. Sure he is not a nice man, but he very well might have been driven to
being so crazy after trying to stop this kid and basically becoming the kid
that cried wolf.
Honorable Mentions
The Borg – Star Trek First Contact
The Borg has long been a villainous entity on the television
show of Star Trek. However, they are not truly villainous. Yes, they go out of
their way to conquer species to add to their collective, but that is also their
nature. They are more like bees in that respect. You cannot really be upset at
a bee for stinging you. It is not doing it out of evil intent. It is simply
their nature.
Skynet – Terminator
Humans made Skynet to act as a missile defense system.
People had no idea that the program would become self-aware. In a panic they
attempt to pull the plug on the program, so Skynet struck back. They killed
millions in a nuclear attack and still had to fight off humans that are
constantly attempting to destroy the program. Essentially the program is just
doing everything in its power to defend its life. It is killing and fighting
just to maintain its own existence.
The Wicked Witch of the West – The Wizard of Oz
The Wicked Witch is justified in hating Dorothy. After
killing her sister, Dorothy steals the shoes that rightfully belong to the
Witch. Yes, Glinda, the good witch has a heavy hand in the killing and looting
of the Wicked Witch sister. At what point did Dorothy actively try to apologize
or give the ruby slippers back?
Dr. Freeze – Batman and Robin
Take aside the cartoonish effects and bad puns Dr. Freeze
has a very intricate motivation. His wife is dying of a disease that requires
him to keep her cryogenically frozen until he discovers a cure. He commits
crimes in order to keep her alive in the hopes that they will one day be
together again. The love of his wife motivates his icy terror over Gotham City.
Dalton Russell – Inside Man
Dalton Russell might be a bank robber but he has reasons for
his crimes. By committing the robbery he makes it evident that one of the
safety deposit boxes contains clues that the box holder worked with the Nazis.
In a sense his crime is minimal compared to the justice he is attempting to
give the victims of the Nazi war criminal.
