7 Films Where the Villain Wins
Mike DuinHere’s a story you might have heard: a hero leaves home, goes on an adventure, defeats a villain, then lives happily ever after. This story is as old as time. However, sometimes you want something unexpected. Sometimes you want a story without a happily ever after. Let’s toss traditional storytelling aside and honor the top seven films where the villain claims victory. Time to turn on your Roku device and get in touch with your inner pessimist. Needless to say, this list includes major spoilers.
Summary:
Set in 1930s Los Angeles, the wife of a high-profile engineer hires private detective Jake Gittes to expose her husband’s possible infidelity. As Gittes dives into the investigation, he finds himself in the middle of a vast conspiracy of corruption, water, real estate, and murder.
Victory Quote:
“Most people never have to face the fact that at the right time and the right place, they’re capable of anything.”
– Noah Cross
Summary:
After stumbling upon a drug deal gone wrong by the Rio Grande, Hunter Llewelyn Moss discovers two million dollars in cash. Instead of contacting the authorities, Moss keeps the drug money for himself. Despite Moss’ best efforts to protect his money and his wife, a cold-blooded contract killer is hot in pursuit of the cash, murdering anything that gets in his way.
Victory Quote:
“What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?”
– Anton Chigurh
Fight Club (1999)
YouTube, Google Play and Cineplex Store
Summary:
An insomniac office employee struggles to deal with his mediocre life until he encounters Tyler Durden, a man who lives by his own rules. Together they form an underground bare-knuckle fighting club, but it quickly spirals into an anti-capitalist domestic-terrorist organization.
Victory Quote:
“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”
– Tyler Durden
Summary:
Two homicide detectives, ambitious rookie David Mills and experienced veteran William Somerset, desperately try to capture John Doe, a sadistic serial killer who chooses his victims based on the seven deadly sins.
Victory Quote:
“I’m setting the example. What I’ve done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed… forever.”
– John Doe
Gone Girl (2014)
YouTube, Google Play and Cineplex Store
Summary:
On Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary, Nick reports that his wife has gone missing. As the media and the police start to pry into Nick and Amy’s life together, the public questions Nick Dunne’s innocence.
Victory Quote:
“Nick Dunne took my pride and my dignity and my hope and my money. He took and took from me until I no longer existed. That’s murder.”
– Amy Dunne
Summary:
Due to the combined effort of Lieutenant James Gordon, District Attorney Harvey Dent, and nighttime vigilante Batman, Gotham City’s crime dramatically drops. In an effort to regain control of the city, Gotham’s criminal underground turns to a sadistic psychopath, The Joker. As The Joker conducts a series of horrific attacks against Gotham, Batman must face his greatest challenge yet.
Victory Quote:
“You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!”
– The Joker
The Usual Suspects (1995)
YouTube, Google Play and Cineplex Store
Summary:
After investigating a cargo ship explosion, U.S Customs Agent Dave Kujan questions the boat’s sole survivor, deformed con artist Verbal Kint. Under pressure from Kujan, Kint reveals the series of events which led to the cargo ship incident.
Victory Quote:
“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist”
– Verbal Kint
What’s your favorite film where the villain comes out on top? Share them on the Roku social media channels!
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