Narrative technique · used in 3 films

Vigilante Hero Misreading

Giving a violent, delusional character the shape of a hero's story, with a quest, obstacles, a climax and a reward. The heroic framing is there to be questioned, and it is the film's criticism.

Examples

3 films that use it

  1. Taxi Driver (1976) poster

    Taxi Driver

    Martin Scorsese · 1976

    The finale gives Travis a massacre, a newspaper headline that calls him a hero and Betsy riding in his cab with admiring eyes. The way it is filmed says 'triumph' while what happens says 'psychosis'. Scorsese and Schrader deliberately used Hollywood's storytelling habits against you. Those habits usually deliver satisfaction, and this ending should leave you disturbed with none of it.

    Where to see it: The overhead shot of the aftermath. The camera floats above the carnage before the newspaper montage recasts it as heroism.

  2. Network (1976) poster

    Network

    Sidney Lumet · 1976

    Howard Beale's 'mad prophet' speeches are truly electrifying, and his anger is truly righteous. You're meant to feel the pull. At the same time, the film shows you the network turning his breakdown into a product to sell. The hero and the product are the same person, which is Chayefsky's point about how television treats anything authentic.

    Where to see it: Beale's 'mad as hell' speech. The audience at home opens their windows and shouts. Their real anger is immediately harvested as a ratings event.

  3. Irrational Man (2015) poster

    Irrational Man

    Woody Allen · 2015

    Abe frames the killing as a favor for a mother who will lose her children. He has never met the judge and decides to help her in secret. The story gives him a hero's mission, but the film questions it, and Jill's discovery shows how self-serving it is.

    Where to see it: The diner. Abe and Jill overhear a woman describe losing custody because of a corrupt judge, and Abe decides to act.

Questions

Quick answers

What is vigilante hero misreading in film?
Giving a violent, delusional character the shape of a hero's story, with a quest, obstacles, a climax and a reward. The heroic framing is there to be questioned, and it is the film's criticism.
Which films use vigilante hero misreading?
Taxi Driver (1976), Network (1976), Irrational Man (2015).
What kind of technique is vigilante hero misreading?
It is a narrative technique. Related narrative techniques include Deteriorating Diary Voiceover, Direct Address, Environmental Satire.

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