Villain Monologues: How to Write a Villain Monologue
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Loading... - Peter Larsen
- 27 Apr 2023
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From Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds to Agent Smith in The Matrix, the best villain monologues illuminate the themes of a film while also giving the actors a meal of text to play with to create a memorable character. Learn how to write a compelling villain monologue.
What Is a Villain Monologue?
A villain monologue is a long speech by an antagonist, antihero, or “bad guy” in a screenplay. Monologues can address other characters in the scene or be one character talking to themselves or the audience. Monologues serve a specific purpose in storytelling—to give the audience more details about a character or the plot. Used carefully, they are a great way to share a character's internal thoughts or backstory or to give more specific details about the story. The word “monologue” derives from the Greek roots for “alone” and “speak,” and it is the counterpart of the word “dialogue,” which comes from the Greek word for “conversation.”
Villain monologues may reveal the speaker’s inner humanity or be an opportunity to showcase the bad guy’s wickedness. Strong performers can bring these characters to life, but movie monologues start with a great screenwriter.
How to Write a Villain Monologue
Follow these steps to craft the best version of your villain monologue:
1. Define the purpose of the monologue. Monologues can progress the plot, delve into character backstories, and much more. Understand how your monologue operates and how its placement fits into the architecture of your script. Ensure you are intentional with each word.
2. Hear your monologue read aloud. When you have a draft of your monologue, read it aloud and then hear an actor or peer read it. Assess how natural the speech sounds and ask yourself if your specific villain would speak this monologue. Read More…
