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DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism Across Genres

How can you apply horror ideas to action and comedy?

1 OCT 2025

Show Notes

In this episode Chas, Stu and guest Kim Ho continue their exploration into the power(s) of antagonism and how focusing on them can develop story.

While Part 1 looked at the horror film SINNERS, in Part 2 we venture into genres beyond horror with the action-thriller REBEL RIDGE, and the comedy classic MEET THE PARENTS.

To both these films we apply the generative story framework TOMBS (Transgression – Omens – Manifestation – Banishment – Slumber) and are surprised at just how well it maps. TOMBS comes from the MOTHERSHIP sci-fi horror table-top role-playing game. Which we love.

We explore how TOMBS, and thinking about antagonism in general, allows writers to deepen their understanding of their characters, their relationship of the heroes with the antagonists, and generate story fuel in a way that escalates the story.

We discuss how thinking of your hero as the horror for your villains helps everything become more dynamic.

Oh, and we talk about launching an actual play podcast. Which is happening. Stay tuned!

"You could see Transgression as being the opening of the film, Omens being the rest of the first act, the whole second act being Manifestation, and then the final act being Banishment, and then ending with slumber."

— Chas Fisher  |  DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism Across Genres

Like this episode? Discuss with our Patrons on Patreon.

Thanks to our Patrons, especially Lily, Paulo, Alexandre, Malay, Jennifer, Thomas, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis and Khrob.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

Resources

Transcript

Read the transcript for this episode.

Chapters

  • 00:00:00 – Cold Open
  • 00:00:12 – Escalating Antagonism Part 2
  • 00:03:29 – REBEL RIDGE
  • 00:09:30 – › Writing loglines from the antagonist's perspective
  • 00:14:36 – › Tombs cycle maps onto hero and villain escalation
  • 00:25:07 – › Solve, survive, save structure in action films
  • 00:33:16 – › Self-restraint as survival within systemic corruption
  • 00:45:30 – MEET THE PARENTS
  • 00:51:55 – › Greg's lying as the true transgression engine
  • 00:57:41 – › Structural turning points and escalating disaster beats
  • 01:01:28 – › Jack versus Greg's insecurity as twin sources of antagonism
  • 01:19:33 – › Applying TOMBS structure to map omens and manifestation
  • 01:30:29 – Key Learnings & Wrap Up
  • 01:34:38 – › Mapping antagonism sources to escalate story conflict
  • 01:38:53 – › Expanding beyond Western storytelling structures
  • 01:41:38 – Thanks to our Patreons

Films

Episodes in the Escalating Antagonism series

KEY IDEAS

The Save-Survive-Save Character Arc

"There is a related idea... which is: **Save. Survive. Save.** All which are goals for your characters."

— Stu Willis (00:01:10) · Character Motivation · Escalation

The Tombs Cycle as Story Structure

"You could see Transgression as being the opening of the film, Omens being the rest of the first act, the whole second act being Manifestation, and then the final act being Banishment, and then ending with Slumber."

— Chas Fisher (00:19:12) · Tombs Cycle · Genre Conventions

Sequence Structure Through Tomb Cycles

"I think each sequence runs through its own tomb cycle. Each sequence culminates in a Banishment and a Slumber and then the next sequence starts with a new Transgression."

— Chas Fisher (00:21:22) · Tombs Cycle · Escalation

Multiple Aligned Sources of Antagonism

"MEET THE PARENTS is more simple than Rebel Ridge or Sinners that has clear contrasting and conflicting sources of antagonism. This has multiple sources of antagonism, but they're all aligned in what they're trying to do."

— Chas Fisher (01:14:31) · Antagonism · Tombs Cycle

Recontextualizing the Real Monster

"And then it turns out the actual monster is the action hero that they've awakened who's going to absolutely fuck them up."

— Stu Willis (00:15:15) · Midpoint · Dramatic Irony

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We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter.