Can your main character also be the villain of the story?
Antagonists are tricky. They have to fight the hero at every turn and have their own motivations. But what happens if your antagonist is your protagonist?
Actually, is that even a thing? Today, I want to figure that out, using the movie There Will Be Blood.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood will go down in history as one of the best movies ever made. It’s the study of a man who antagonizes the world in search of oil. The terrifying portrayal of Daniel Plainview by Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the greatest performances in history as well. Daniel Plainview is the backbone of There Will Be Blood, and his intensity can be felt by every person that sees the film. But could he actually be the antagonist and not the protagonist?
Check out this video from Nerdstalgic, and let’s talk after.
Is Daniel Plainview Actually the Villain of There Will Be Blood?
Up top, I won’t waste your time. I don’t think Daniel Plainview is the antagonist of the story. I think there are some semantic reasons why.
Author: Jason Hellerman
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
