History KnightTemplar / FIlm

* ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Judge Claude Frollo wants to destroy the race of gypsies for "inflaming the people's lowest instincts". His fanaticism is bad enough at first when he kills a gypsy woman for hiding "stolen goods" (which turn out not to be stolen goods at all, but instead, her deformed baby), but add some [[SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny creepy lust]] for another gypsy woman and [[FromBadToWorse things reeeeeally go downhill.]] If anything, Frollo is a {{deconstruction}} of a Knight Templar. As a Knight Templar, Frollo believes that AllCrimesAreEqual, and that the punishment for every single one is death. While the gypsies have committed crimes, they have not done anything to bring this kind of punishment down on them. Frollo even [[spoiler:[[MoralEventHorizon has a family's house set on fire with them in it]],]] even though they do not even know about the gypsies. This causes Phoebus to turn against him, and Frollo to try to kill him in return. He considers the gypsies to be vermin and advocates genocide against them. Frollo demonstrates why a Knight Templar, logically and realistically, would be a horrible person.

* In the 1983 Italian schlock [[AfterTheEnd Post-Apocalyptic]] film ''Warriors of the Wastelands'', the main villains ''call'' themselves Templars, and are dead set on destroying all literature (since they feel that books led to WorldWarIII) and anyone who isn't ''them''.

* In ''Film/RoboCop2'', Robocop has been reprogrammed with an AllCrimesAreEqual package as a means of making him ineffective. He comes across somehow as both LawfulStupid (shooting at a man for smoking in a no-smoking zone) ''and'' StupidGood (by refusing to fire at someone ''shooting at him'' and trying to talk things out). He realizes that this isn't right, goes to an electrical station, and self-electrocutes to remove the programming, [[DidntSeeThatComing something that said programming didn't expect]].
* ''Film/{{Serenity}}'':
** The Operative truly believes in the [[WellIntentionedExtremist ultimate rightness of his actions]], even as he acknowledges that they are [[NecessarilyEvil horrible and he is a horrible person for doing them]], and as such, [[NoPlaceForMeThere he will have no place]] in the [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans perfect world]] that he is trying to create.
** In a way, some of the Alliance can be seen as Knights Templar, considering that they [[spoiler:killed thirty million people on Miranda while testing a peace-inducing chemical inhalant]] and the entire justification for them [[MindRape cutting River's brain up]] was to "make a better world".
* The Jigsaw serial killer in ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' does not consider himself a killer. Oh, sure, he acknowledges that his actions frequently lead to horrible death, but he never pulls the trigger. And he firmly believes that the people who survive his [[PoeticSerialKiller themed deathtraps]] will overcome their sins and become better (though this never actually works).
* The government of Libria in ''Film/{{Equilibrium}}'' suppressed human emotion, as it was believed responsible for causing the human tendency for violence that brought about the war that practically destroyed the world, which meant destroying art, movies, and other things inductive of emotion (including [[KickTheDog cute little dogs]]) and terminating "sense offenders" who go without the government mandated drug called Prozium.
* Jonathan Doe from ''Film/{{Se7en}}'' believes that he is punishing the wicked by killing people that go against his belief system. It could be argued, however, that he is simply a sadistic psychopath.

* Subverted in ''Film/TheWickerMan'', where Sgt. Howie is introduced as a religiously intolerant, uptight JerkAss. However, his faith and sense of duty are presented in a more and more admirable light as the film progresses, and he's far less infuriatingly fanatical than the {{town|WithADarkSecret}}sfolk.
* ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'':
** The League of Shadows in ''Film/BatmanBegins'' have devoted their lives to defeating crime and evil by any means necessary. They eventually decide to kill every single person in Gotham City and force the societal structure of the city to collapse because they feel that the entire city is beyond redemption. Judging from [[CrapsackWorld what we've seen of the place]], [[VillainHasAPoint they may have a point there]]. Fortunately, they didn't contemplate [[KillAllHumans the philosophical ramifications of their earlier attempt to destroy Gotham in terms of their absolutist theories.]]
** In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Harvey "Two-Face" Dent becomes one himself after letting his desire for justice get the better of him, right after [[spoiler: hearing the bad news from SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker about Rachel Dawes' death.]]
* TheTeutonicKnights in ''Film/AlexanderNevsky'' are portrayed as even worse than any Templar, and the real Knights were thought to be quite ruthless as well.
* Walter Sobchak in ''Film/TheBigLebowski''. NOW MARK IT ZERO!
* [[Creator/EllenPage Hayley Stark]] in ''HardCandy'' who believes to be on a righteous while murderous [[PaedoHunt crusade against uncaught pedophiles]].
* [[Creator/BenAffleck Bartleby]] in ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', once he [[MoralEventHorizon snaps]]. [[Creator/MattDamon Loki]] seems like this at first, but really, he's just doing it [[BloodKnight 'cause it's fun]].
* The Christians in ''Film/{{Agora}}''. Special mention must go to Ammonius, who is this UpToEleven and to the point of StupidEvil. The pagans aren't much better, though, doing a TooDumbToLive move, attempting to avenge "an insult to the gods".
* The villains of ''Film/SixteenBlocks'' are [[spoiler:cops who got sick of red tape and decided to [[CowboyCop put criminals behind bars even if it meant breaking the law themselves]]]]. By the time the film begins, they've [[HeWhoFightsMonsters lost sight of their goal of safeguarding innocents]] and are willing to kill someone just for witnessing their misdeeds.

* In the UsefulNotes/ColdWar political thriller ''Literature/SevenDaysInMay'', General James Mattoon Scott is secretly staging a coup against the President of the United States because he disagrees with the President's efforts to set up a disarmament treaty with the Soviets. Several chilling {{Breaking Speech}}es, followed by some equally impressive {{Kirk Summation}}s, follow toward the end.
-->'''General Scott''': James Mattoon Scott, as you put it, hasn't the slightest interest in his own glorification. But he does have an abiding interest in the survival of this country.
-->'''President Lyman''': Then, by God, run for office. You have such a fervent, passionate, evangelical faith in this country - why in the name of God don't you have any faith in the system of government you're so hell-bent to protect?
* ''Film/TronLegacy'': Clu, in his pursuit for the perfect system, eradicates every single thing he believes to be an imperfection...including the [=ISOs=], which his user believes to be a miracle, and could have very well changed the system and the real world for the better had it not been for Clu's fanaticism.

* What does Aldo Raine and his ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' do to fight ThoseWackyNazis who treat certain groups of people inhumanely? [[PayEvilUntoEvil Treat]] ''[[PayEvilUntoEvil them]]'' [[PayEvilUntoEvil inhumanely]].

* In ''Film/ManOfSteel'', Zod believes he's ultimately doing what's best for his people. In fact, due to Krypton using DesignerBabies to fulfill roles in their society, he [[InTheBlood cannot]] help it.
-->'''Zod:''' No matter how violent, how cruel, every action I take is for the greater good of my people.
* A literal version in ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven''; the King's brother-in-law and his right-hand man are actual Knights Templar who also fit the trope to a T. When [[spoiler: the king dies and the brother-in-law becomes king]], it comes to the point of [[spoiler: killing the Saracen leader's sister in order to provoke a conflict.]]
* Battra from {{Franchise/Godzilla}} (in the films) was created by the Earth to be its protector. However, while his ''[[WellIntentionedExtremist intentions]]'' are in the right place, his ''actions'' are another story. There's a reason [[BigGood Mothra]] had to seal him away.
* ''Film/TheStarChamber'' is about a young judge becoming frustrated by having to let obviously guilty murderers OffOnATechnicality, and joinging a group of his fellow judges who feel the same way. They hold a secret court which "tries" these accused murderers, convicts them, and sentences them to death, with a hitman carrying it out.
* ''Film/NonStop'': Marks starts skirting this trope as he becomes increasingly desperate to find the man behind all of this, [[spoiler: who turns out to be an example himself, willing to blow up a plane and kill over 150 people to make a point about how vulnerable American airlines are to terrorist attacks]]

* ''Film/AmericanHistoryX'': Derek before he gets out of prison. He thinks he is absolutely right in spouting his racist ideology even when he organizes attacks and horrifying brutalities against minorities. By contrast, the Aryan Brotherhood are presented as {{Straw Hypocrite}}s. Which is largely the point that the film tries to get across. The reason destructive ideologies like white supremacism can become so powerful is because their adherents believe themselves to be the heroes, not the bad guys. ForTheEvulz is not a motive many real life humans actually use to justify their actions, especially to themselves.

%% ** Bolivar Trask from ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''.
* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', HYDRA was a 1940s StupidJetpackHitler organization with designs to TakeOverTheWorld. But this changes [[spoiler:by [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier the sequel]], which is set in the present day. Now led by former HYDRA scientist Arnim Zola (who was supposedly recruited as an Allied researcher following the war), they've secretly backdoored their way into the governments of the world and are using their influence to carefully manipulate the people of the world into believing they're better off having their freedoms denied in exchange for security. Their plan is set to come full circle with the launching of "Project Insight"]].
* Michael Corleone in ''Film/TheGodfather'' trilogy takes over the family and explains his ruthless actions as doing what it takes to protect the family. At the beginning of Part 1, when he was just a civilian, he tells Kay a story about his father's ruthlessness and claims that's not him. Near the end of the film, he tells Kay that his father's actions are no different than those of other men in power and calls Kay naive for believing otherwise.
* Hit Girl and Big Daddy in ''Film/KickAss'' fit the bill, despite being protagonists. Hit Girl indiscrimanantly kills the occupants of an apartment, despite no actual crime being stated, and some of them being innocent bystanders or not directly criminals.
* ''Film/DarkAngelTheAscent'': The demoness in the film starts to kill several wicked people during her time on Earth by gutting them and feeding them to her dog.
* Blaine and his ski patrol friends in ''Film/HotTubTimeMachine''. They have a legitimate mission of maintaining law and order on the mountain, but they use this and the [[DirtyCommunists Red Scare]] as an excuse to be {{Jerkass}}es.

* Michael Corleone in ''Film/TheGodfather'' trilogy takes over the family and explains his ruthless actions as doing what it takes to protect the family. At the beginning of Part 1, when he was just a civilian, he tells Kay a story about his father's ruthlessness and claims that's not him. Near the end of the film, he tells Kay that his father's action are no different than those of other men in power and calls Kay naive for believing otherwise.

** Grand Moff Tarkin from ''Film/ANewHope'' is also this. He prefers extremely ruthless measures such as destruction of Alderaan as he believes that it will help spread order in the galaxy through fear.

** [[BaldBlackLeaderGuy Mace Windu]] of the Prequel Trilogy is a surprisingly subtle version of this. While Mace lacks the self-righteousness that many other counterparts have, he believes that the Republic is an unquestionable utopia, and that peace must be upheld there even if it means breaking the Jedi Code. [[spoiler: Palpatine uses his nature against and Mace's militant-ism was the final straw to push Anakin over to the dark side.]]

* [[Creator/BenAffleck Bartleby]] in ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', once he [[MoralEventHorizon snaps]]. [[Creator/MattDamon Loki]] seems like this at first, but really, he's just doing it [[BloodKnight cause it's fun]].

* [[BaldBlackLeaderGuy Mace Windu]] of the StarWars Prequel Trilogy is a surprisingly subtle version of this. While Mace lacks the self-righteousness that many other counterparts have, he believes that the Republic is an unquestionable utopia, and that peace must be upheld there even if it means breaking the Jedi Code. [[spoiler: Palpatine uses his nature against and Mace's militant-ism was the final straw to push Anakin over to the dark side.]]

* [[Creator/EllenPage Hayley Stark]] in ''HardCandy''. This chick would give Chris Hansen nightmares.

* Michael Corleone in ''TheGodfather'' trilogy takes over the family and explains his ruthless actions as doing what it takes to protect the family. At the beginning of Part 1, when he was just a civilian, he tells Kay a story about his father's ruthlessness and claims that's not him. Near the end of the film, he tells Kay that his father's action are no different than those of other men in power and calls Kay naive for believing otherwise.
* Hit Girl and Big Daddy in "Kick Ass" fit the bill, despite being protagonists. Hit Girl indiscrimanantly kills the occupants of an apartment, despite no actual crime being stated, and some of them being innocent bystanders or not directly criminals.

* ''Film/NonStop'': Marks starts skirting this trope as he becomes increasingly desperate to find the man behind all of this, [[spoiler: who turns out to be an example himself, willing to blow up a plane and kill over 150 people to make a point about how vulnerable American airlines are to terrorist attacks]].e

* The Jigsaw serial killer in ''Film/{{Saw}}'' does not consider himself a killer. Oh, sure, he acknowledges that his actions frequently lead to horrible death, but he never pulls the trigger. And he firmly believes that the people who survive his [[PoeticSerialKiller themed deathtraps]] will overcome their sins and become better (though this never actually works).

* [[BlackBaldLeaderGuy Mace Windu]] of the StarWars Prequel Trilogy is a surprisingly subtle version of this. While Mace lacks the self-righteousness that many other counterparts have, he believes that the Republic is an unquestionable utopia, and that peace must be upheld there even if it means breaking the Jedi Code. [[spoiler: Palpatine uses his nature against and Mace's militant-ism was the final straw to push Anakin over to the dark side.]]

** Grand Moff Tarkin ia also this. He prefers extremely ruthless measures such as destruction of Alderaan as he believes that it will help spread order in the galaxy through fear.

* In ''{{Frailty}}'', Matthew [=McConaughey=]'s family is commanded by God to destroy demons. One of the kids sees "destroy demons" to mean "kill people". The [[spoiler:dramatic irony]] is that [[spoiler:all the people killed are murderers or worse, and ''the demons are real'']].

* The Royal Spanish Navy in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbean: On Stranger Tides'' is on a mission to destroy the Fountain of Youth for the same reasons, and shoot one of the English soldiers ''to begin with''.

* [[EllenPage Hayley Stark]] in ''HardCandy''. This chick would give Chris Hansen nightmares.

* In the ColdWar political thriller ''Literature/SevenDaysInMay'', General James Mattoon Scott is secretly staging a coup against the President of the United States because he disagrees with the President's efforts to set up a disarmament treaty with the Soviets. Several chilling {{Breaking Speech}}es, followed by some equally impressive {{Kirk Summation}}s, follow toward the end.

* ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Judge Claude Frollo wants to destroy the race of gypsies for "inflaming the people's lowest instincts". His fanaticism is bad enough at first when he kills a gypsy woman for hiding "stolen goods" (which turn out not to be stolen goods at all, but instead, her deformed baby), but add some [[SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny creepy lust]] for another gypsy woman and [[FromBadToWorse things reeeeeally go downhill.]] If anything, Frollo is a {{deconstruction}} of a Knight Templar. As a Knight Templar, Frollo believes that AllCrimesAreEqual, and that the punishment for every single one is death. While the gypsies have committed crimes, they have not done anything to bring this kind of punishment down on them. Frollo even [[spoiler:[[MoralEventHorizon has a family's house set on fire with them in it]],]] even though they do not even know about the gypsies. This `causes Phoebus to turn against him, and Frollo to try to kill him in return. He considers the gypsies to be vermin and advocates genocide against them. Frollo demonstrates why a Knight Templar, logically and realistically, would be a horrible person.

** Psylocke and Kid Omega in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand''. Like the other Omegas.

** Psylocke in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand''. Like the other Omegas.

** Psylocke in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand''. Like the other Omegas, who want mutant rights but have crossed the line into mutant superiority.

* In ''Film/TheWolverine'', Shingen Yashida sees himself as the righteous warrior protecting the family's honor.
%% * Bolivar Trask from ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''.

* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', HYDRA was a 1940s StupidJetpackHitler organization with designs to TakeOverTheWorld. But this changes [[spoiler:by [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier the sequel]], which is set in the present day. Now led by former HYDRA scientist Arnim ZOla (who was supposedly recruited as an Allied researcher following the war), they've secretly backdoored their way into the governments of the world and are using their influence to carefully manipulate the people of the world into believing they're better off having their freedoms denied in exchange for security. Their plan is set to come full circle with the launching of "Project Insight"]].

* ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Judge Claude Frollo wants to destroy the race of gypsies for "inflaming the people's lowest instincts". His fanaticism is bad enough at first when he kills a gypsy woman for hiding "stolen goods" (which turn out not to be stolen goods at all, but instead, her deformed baby), but add some [[SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny creepy lust]] for another gypsy woman and [[FromBadToWorse things reeeeeally go downhill.]] If anything, Frollo is a {{deconstruction}} of a Knight Templar. As a Knight Templar, Frollo believes that AllCrimesAreEqual, and that the punishment for every single one is death. While the gypsies have committed crimes, they have not done anything to bring this kind of punishment down on them. Frollo even [[spoiler:[[MoralEventHorizon has a family's house set on fire with them in it]],]] even though they do not even know about the gypsies. This causes Phoebus to turn against him, and Frollo to try to kill him in return. He considers the gypsies to be vermin and advocates genocide against them. Frollo demonstrates why a Knight Templar, logically and realistically, would be a horrible person.