As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, I must say that these villains met their demise in the most memorable ways possible. From the grandeur of “Megalopolis” to the cartoony chaos of “Hundreds of Beavers”, each film offers a unique and entertaining take on what it means to be a baddie.
Villains. For on-screen heroes, they’re a tremendous burden that threatens the world they inhabit and provides endless obstacles. For moviegoers everywhere, though, the best movie villains can be captivating figures that you just love to hate. Sometimes, a great big-screen baddie is someone you get unexpectedly emotionally invested in. Others are just scheming evildoers that are just so enthralling to watch. In many cases, the inevitable dethroning of villains inspires mild disappointment in audiences simply because they’re so enjoyable. But that’s the inevitable outcome for so many individuals determined to kill the innocent or take over the world.
In most popular films this year, the villains met their end, just as they usually do. The antagonists that appeared in various movies, ranging from superhero stories to thrillers about serial killers or corrupt officials, faced inevitable demise. These villains, reflecting real-world fears, were a common sight in 2024 cinema.
2024 movies showcased numerous forms of villains and their demises, varying from gruesome product placements to protagonists unwittingly turning antagonistic. These deceased adversaries served as a sobering reminder in popular culture that death is an inevitable aspect, even for the stereotypical movie villain, leaving audiences pondering on this universal truth.
Ezekiel Sims in Madame Web
In “Madame Web,” Ezekiel Sims, portrayed by Tahar Rahim, is not driven to villainy with the goal of acquiring an Infinity Stone or ruling the world. Instead, he’s on a desperate mission to save himself. After witnessing a future vision where three powerful women end his life, Sims spends the rest of his days trying to eliminate these ladies before they become crime fighters. To carry out this plan, he adopts a super-suit resembling a dark version of Spider-Man’s outfit and chases after three New York teenagers in the year 2000, determined to prevent his own demise.
Little did Sims realize, he was a villain in a superhero film. Except for occasional characters like Thanos or Darkseid, these figures are often short-lived. Main comic book antagonists, such as Ronan the Accuser or Two-Face, usually only appear in one movie before meeting their on-screen demise. Consequently, Sims never gets a chance to live beyond his role. In the finale of “Madame Web,” Sims makes an attempt to eliminate these teenagers permanently, but clairvoyant Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) eventually thwarts him. Her determination to protect these teens results in Sims’ demise when Webb drops a massive Pepsi billboard on him. A man with superhuman powers who tirelessly strives to evade his own death, ultimately meets it… but the film itself fades away much sooner than that.
Sentinel Prime in Transformers One
In the next “Transformers” movie, if Sentinel Prime makes an appearance, it might be as a deceptive villain masquerading as a legendary hero and trusted confidant to Optimus Prime – similar to his portrayal in 2011’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” In 2024’s “Transformers One,” Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm) is initially presented as a revered savior on Cybertron, a figure admired by every robot, including Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-17 (Brian Tyree Henry). However, their admiration turns to shock when they uncover Sentinel Prime’s true colors – he is indeed a traitor to Cybertron. Instead of protecting the planet from harm, Sentinel Prime has been working hand in hand with the malevolent aliens, the Quintessons. Moreover, he has established a hierarchical system on Cybertron and stripped many of its inhabitants of their transforming abilities.
As a gamer, Orion Pax and I are both reeling from this devastating news, but we’re handling our grief differently. I’m yearning for the oppressed Cybertronian robots to seize control of their own fate, while Orion wants to help them stand up against tyranny. On the other hand, D-17 is consumed by a desire for vengeance against Sentinel Prime. In a pivotal scene, he ignores my protests and brutally kills an unarmed Sentinel Prime in front of a crowd, tearing him apart. This ruthless act marks the beginning of D-17’s transformation into Megatron, while also making it clear that the once powerful ruler of Cybertron is now just scrap metal. However, even with Sentinel Prime out of the picture, a new evil robot has emerged on the scene.
Skar King in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
In the movie “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla and Kong, initially at odds, unite to face a foe – MechaGodzilla, a technologically advanced version of the lizard king. A sinister twist on Kong is introduced as Skar King, a colossal red ape with roots tracing back to before the first ice age. This menacing figure resides within the depths of Hollow Earth and controls both an army of gorillas and an icy beast known as Shimo. With the aid of Shimo, Skar King momentarily overpowers Kong, setting in motion a plan to wreak havoc across the surface world.
In terms of physique, Skar King stands out as a more agile and slender character compared to both Godzilla and Kong. He may lack bulky muscles, but he’s a swift and tenacious fighter with an abundance of nimbleness. His abilities, including his control over the crystal named Shimo, become particularly useful when he starts wreaking havoc on ordinary people in Rio de Janeiro. This ancient foe is so powerful that not even two Titans are enough to defeat him. Mothra and a liberated Shimo eventually prove crucial in halting Skar King’s rampage. The ape’s ultimate downfall occurs when Shimo freezes him, prompting Kong to destroy the powerful simian. With this, the latest villain who brought Godzilla and Kong together meets his end, leaving a significant impression on both monsters and humans alike.
The symbiote in Venom: The Last Dance
Is Venom more of a villain or an anti-hero? Given his complex moral allegiances, he’s as elusive as the gooey symbiote he embodies. While he doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a superhero, he’s undeniably portrayed as a villain in numerous comics, TV series, and films. However, in “Venom: The Last Dance,” there is a moment where the symbiote separates from Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and performs an act of selflessness or sacrifice. This suggests that Venom might not be strictly evil but could lean towards the anti-hero spectrum.
In this scenario, Venom and Eddie find themselves in a desperate situation where they discover the sole method to annihilate an alien menace, the xenophage. To carry out this plan, Venom must act as bait. Despite Eddie’s objections, Venom makes the ultimate sacrifice by immersing himself in a torrential acid downpour, ensuring the destruction of the xenophage and preventing its regeneration. Although the symbiote assures Eddie that their farewell isn’t permanent, Venom meets his end in “The Last Dance.
In New York City, the final chapter of the Venom trilogy unfolds, with a poignant ending as Eddie visits a place his symbiote companion longed to go and reflects on the indelible bond they shared. Despite their history of causing chaos together in the three Venom films, it’s undeniable that fans who have followed this series may feel a pang of sadness witnessing Venom’s selfless act – an act that showcases the complexity and depth of this morally ambiguous character.
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two
No matter what your societal status, life can throw any of us for incredible loops. One minute you’re up, the next minute you’re so far down on the ground you can see every crack in the tile flooring. So it is with Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) in “Dune: Part Two,” a figure of tremendous stature and power in the “Dune” universe. This man, who spends his days bathing in oil and lounging while watching folks dismember each other, wields incredible power as House Harkonnen’s leader.
In the initial “Dune” movie, Harkonnen instigates an assault on House Atreides to gain dominance over the spice trade in Arrakis. This ruthless action stirs a desire for retribution within Paul Atreides (played by Timothee Chalamet). After approximately six hours of screen time, “Dune: Part Two” concludes with Paul avenging his father’s death and the loss of numerous lives.
Following a fierce battle under the alias Lisan al Gaib, Paul enters a chamber where Baron Harkonnen, who he now knows is his grandfather, lies injured. In an act of vengeance, Paul stabs the wounded man and utters, “You die like a beast.” The manner of Baron Harkonnen’s death isn’t merely significant because it demonstrates that even a powerful figure can be vulnerable. It also symbolizes Paul’s descent into darkness, as he is increasingly emulating the brutal ruler he has just killed. Instead of upholding his biological father’s ideals, Paul is gradually transforming into this ruthless character.
Longlegs in Longlegs
2024 saw Nicolas Cage’s chilling portrayal as the title character in “Longlegs” stand out as one of the year’s most unsettling inventions. An enigmatic figure with a propensity for malevolent acts and peculiar singing, Cage’s convincing performance, coupled with Osgood Perkins’ meticulous direction, made this character genuinely terrifying rather than unintentionally comedic. With eerie similarities to numerous real-life serial killers, “Longlegs” leaves a trail of deceased victims…despite never being caught on camera in the homes of his victims at the time of their demise.
Mysterious events compel FBI agent Lee Harker (played by Maika Monroe) to chase after a subject known as Longlegs. This pursuit leads to a confrontation between them in an interrogation room. In this encounter, Longlegs becomes increasingly unsettling and ends up violently banging his head on the table multiple times, disfiguring his appearance. Eventually, he takes his own life. Typically in movies, with the villain’s death, the story would conclude. However, in this case, Longlegs’ demise sets the stage for more chilling revelations to unfold.
In a twist, the villainous Longlegs is tied to Satanic forces and Alicia Witt’s character, Harker’s mother. This suggests his evil continues unabated even beyond his demise. This dark influence is vividly portrayed in the film’s finale where Harker frantically attempts to rescue William J. Carter (Blair Underwood) and his family from becoming victims. To underscore Longlegs’ enduring presence, the final scene flashes back to him in that interrogation room, saying “Hail Satan” and blowing a kiss. The enigmatic Longlegs remains a terrifying figure, seemingly immune to death’s constraints as he continues to claim more lives.
Cassandra Nova in Deadpool & Wolverine
In the first two “Deadpool” films, the main adversaries were mostly expendable characters who served as a backdrop for Deadpool’s (Ryan Reynolds) witty remarks. Particularly in “Deadpool 2,” numerous temporary villains such as Cable were introduced before it was revealed in the climax that the Juggernaut was the main antagonist. For the upcoming film, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the two lead mutants (Deadpool and Wolverine) will encounter a significant and formidable enemy during their time in The Void.
In this storyline, one formidable antagonist emerges as one of the MCU’s most powerful mutants (thus far), Cassandra Nova, portrayed by Emma Corrin, who is the sister of Charles Xavier. From birth, she possesses immense psychic abilities and is taken to The Void by the Time Variance Authority. Later, she amasses a force of mutants to carry out her commands and thrives in some of the toughest environments conceivable.
In these restrictive spaces, Cassandra stands as an intimidatingly powerful mutant. Much like numerous other seemingly invincible Marvel antagonists in films, she is not immortal. However, Cassandra devises a plan to eliminate multiple realities using the Time Ripper provided by the TVA. This scheme is taken up by Deadpool and Wolverine (portrayed by Hugh Jackman), who join forces despite the risk of their own demise. In the end, this dynamic duo manages to destroy the Time Ripper, leading to Cassandra’s death as she was connected to the device. Despite facing many perils in The Void, even Cassandra couldn’t withstand the might of a Ryan Reynolds superhero. At least she leaves an impression as a notable villain in the “Deadpool” series.
Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux
A popular meme from the successful 2019 movie “Joker” featured Joaquin Phoenix’s character, Arthur Fleck, with text at the bottom saying “I’m going to become the Joker.” This was a funny inside joke, implying that Arthur would become Batman’s future enemy. However, in the sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux,” it is revealed that Arthur isn’t actually the Joker; he’s just a mentally troubled man in need of treatment. This truth doesn’t sit well with some Gotham residents who have built their identities around the idea of Arthur being the Joker.
In the debatable climax of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” I, Arthur, momentarily engage in conversation with my fellow Arkham asylum inmate, Jack Oswald White (played by Connor Storie). To my surprise, he shares a joke with me, but the punchline turns out to be fatal – a stab wound that leaves me gasping on the ground. As I slowly succumb to my injuries, listening to White’s hysterical laughter echoing around me, it becomes clear that I won’t transform into the Joker as expected. Instead, I’m just another disturbed soul meeting an untimely end, far from the grand finale one might anticipate for a notorious comic book villain.
Baba Shakti in Monkey Man
In a new turn of events for Dev Patel, his first directorial effort, titled “Monkey Man,” unfolds as a traditional tale of revenge. The protagonist, played by Patel himself, harbors a fierce desire to mete out brutal retribution against those who devastated his village and took the life of his mother. Shockingly, the mastermind behind this carnage is revealed to be Baba Shakti (Makarand Deshpande), a revered spiritual guide.
In the film “Monkey Man,” unlike most apolitical villains in modern action movies, Shakti is explicitly portrayed as a malevolent character. He’s not only harmful to the protagonist Kid, but also hostile towards the working-class heroes of the movie due to his conservative, anti-Muslim, and transphobic views. These hateful sentiments have made Shakti a well-liked figure, so much so that Kid encounters numerous bodyguards just to reach the man who caused all his distress.
Following the elimination of Shakti’s multiple security units during Diwali, it is eventually Kid who confronts Shakti directly. Although Shakti is significantly older than Kid, it’s not a question of suspense whether or not Kid can eliminate his adversary. Instead, the tension arises from Shakty’s persuasive propositions to Kid and his occasional deployment of hidden blades to disable this combatant. However, in a twist reminiscent of past action movie villains like Hans Gruber from “Die Hard” or Eric Qualan from “Cliffhanger,” Shakti ultimately succumbs to Kid’s extraordinary fighting abilities and perishes. With the death of Shakti on the uppermost floor of his grand, opulent compound, Kid can finally find peace. His quest for vengeance has reached its conclusion.
Wow Platinum in Megalopolis
It’s quite clear why the film “Megalopolis” flopped at the box office. Despite the lofty aspirations of director Francis Ford Coppola, the finished product is essentially well-known actors struggling to deliver lines from Shakespeare in sets that look low-budget. Many scenes resemble “Battlefield Earth” or a film by Tommy Wiseau more than the controversial yet acclaimed films like “Cloud Atlas” or “Southland Tales.
The standout aspect of this experience, nonetheless, is the character Wow Platinum (Aubrey Plaza). This individual not only boasts an intriguing name but also brings energy and spirit that seems to be missing among other residents of Megalopolis. In essence, Platinum is a grand schemer in a world where many seem to be passively performing their roles.
In a cunning scheme, Platinum devises a plot to seize the riches and authority of her husband Hamilton Crassus III (Jon Voight), colluding with his son Clodio Pulcher (Shia LaBeouf). Their sinister objectives lead to Crassus discovering their treachery, which in turn triggers a stroke. Later, Pulcher and Platinum visit the ailing Crassus, gloating over their triumph; however, Crassus surprises them with a hidden crossbow beneath his bed, using it to fatally wound Platinum. This ruthless character from “Megalopolis,” often considered its most intriguing villain and one filled with delightful wickedness, meets an unforgettable end. Despite her departure, Aubrey Plaza’s captivating portrayal of this character will be long remembered.
The beavers in Hundreds of Beavers
In many films, villains often suffer a violent end. However, it’s rare to find sequences where these villains come across the desecrated bodies of their allies or scenes involving a character opening up a dead villain’s body and displaying its insides, as seen in the imaginative, cartoonish world of “Hundreds of Beavers.
In the style reminiscent of Buster Keaton and “Looney Tunes” cartoons, “Hundreds of Beavers” creatively employs visual effects, sound design, and humor to depict a protagonist, Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews), who embarks on a gruesome, seemingly impossible task: eliminating hundreds of beavers as part of his quest to win The Furrier’s (Olivia Graves) hand in marriage. Throughout the film, viewers witness numerous ingenious methods for getting rid of actors donning oversized beaver costumes, offering a unique twist on traditional slapstick comedy.
This involves Jean Kayak using creative Rube Goldberg contraptions to eliminate beavers, either by chopping, slicing, or knocking them out until they’re dead. In the climax of the movie, Kayak even engages in a physical fight with a group of beavers, resulting in one of these animals landing on an operational buzzsaw. In a comical scene, this triggers the beaver’s internal organs, resembling countless packing peanuts, to scatter everywhere. Another disturbing scene showcases Kayak kicking a beaver into a fireplace, which predictably causes the animal to explode. As the movie progresses, Kayak demonstrates his growing proficiency in dispatching forest creatures, leading to an endless supply of inventive and amusing methods he uses to kill off the various beaver adversaries in the film.
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2024-11-29 18:31