Tropes of Carnage!
I’m fiddling with a new idea for a flick and reading a cool new book about the action movies of the 1980’s and 90’s called: “The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood's Kings of Carnage” by Nick de Semlyen. It got me thinking about the various tried-and-true tropes that add adrenaline to action screenplays:
The Impossible Heist: Picture a team of skilled individuals coming together for the ultimate challenge: pulling off an elaborate heist against all odds. We've seen this trope in movies like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Heat," where the planning, execution, and unexpected twists keep both scribbler and the audience on the edge of their seats.
The Reluctant Hero: Enter a protagonist initially content with a quiet life, only to be thrust into a world of danger and adventure. This classic trope, seen in films like "Die Hard" and "Taken," adds an element of personal growth as the hero rises to the occasion against their will.
The MacGuffin Hunt: A tale of chasing a valuable object that holds the key to immense power or destruction. Movies like "National Treasure" and the "Indiana Jones" franchise utilize this trope, leading the characters on a thrilling quest filled with challenging puzzles and overwhelming obstacles.
The Rogue Operative: Imagine a lone operative navigating a web of espionage and intrigue. This trope, seen in movies like "Mission Impossible" and "The Bourne Identity," delivers action, mystery, and spy games in a single explosive package.
The Betrayal Within: Trust becomes a fragile concept when one of the team members is revealed to be a traitor. This trope adds suspense and tension, with characters doubting their allegiances, as seen in "The Departed" and "The Fast and the Furious."
The Race Against Time: A countdown begins as the heroes must accomplish a monumental task before a dire deadline. This trope amps up the tension, as evident in films like "Speed" and "Mad Max: Fury Road," where every second counts.
The Mentor-Protege Dynamic: An experienced expert guides a younger, less-experienced character through a dangerous journey, setting the stage for personal growth and thrilling action. "The Karate Kid" and "The Mechanic" explore this trope.
The Underdog Triumphs: When faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, the every-man hero rises to overcome challenges and adversaries. Think of movies like "Rocky" and "Rudy," where perseverance and determination take center stage.
The One Last Job: A character who's retired from a life of crime is pulled back in for a final job that could change their fate forever. This trope, seen in "Logan Lucky" and "Heat," explores relatable and compelling themes of redemption and sacrifice.
The Cat-and-Mouse Chase: A relentless pursuit unfolds as the hero and the antagonist engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Films like "Catch Me If You Can" and "Collateral" thrive on the tension of this thrilling crowd-pleaser.
Know your genre. Embrace the tropes. But don’t forget to inject your own creative twists. Now, start scribbling and let the action unfold, shouting, “Yippee Ki-Yay, MF!”
