History KnightTemplar / FIlm

* ''Franchise/StarWars''

* 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).

!!Films -- Animated

!!Films -- Live-Action

* 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.

* Subverted in ''Film/TheWickerMan1973'', 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/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.

* [[Creator/EllenPage Hayley Stark]] in ''Film/HardCandy'' who believes to be on a righteous while murderous [[PaedoHunt crusade against uncaught pedophiles]].

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* 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 at heart a sadistic psychopath who uses religion to justify to himself that people deserve to be brutally punished for being imperfect.[[spoiler: And in fact he doesn't even exclude himself from this!]]

* ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'': [[spoiler: Sentinel Prime, former commander of the Autobots]], is revealed to be this. [[spoiler: Originally Optimus's mentor and father-figure, Sentinel had been corrupted by eons of war. Convinced that Cybertron's survival was more important than loyalty to his men, Sentinel struck a deal with Megatron to find another world whose resources could be used to replenish Cybertron. Finding himself on Earth in present day, Sentinel turns on his former allies and joins Megatron to begin making plans to use Earth's resources (in particular, the six billion or so fleshlings they can turn into a SlaveRace). Sentinel's Knight Templar status is also revealed to be influenced by his [[AGodAmI god complex]]; remembering how the Cybertronians, particularly the Primes, once lived like gods, he is immediately disgusted by how Earth's leaders treat the Autobots as simple machines]].
* ''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.
* ''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.

* ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Judge Claude Frollo wants to kill gypsies for "inflaming the people's lowest instincts" and considers them to be "heathenish" vermin. His fanaticism is bad enough at first when he accidentally kills a gypsy woman for hiding "stolen goods" (which turn out not to be stolen goods at all, but instead, her deformed baby), but at least at that point he had a code of conduct and morality: he's very clearly devout (though in a twisted, totally-missing-the-point way), and on the priest's command, takes in Quasimodo and raises him. 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 he believes that AllCrimesAreEqual with the punishment for every single one is death. While the gypsies have committed crimes, they didn't do anything to bring this kind of punishment down on them. Frollo even [[spoiler:[[MoralEventHorizon torches a family's house with them in it]]]], even though they don't even know about the gypsies, causing Phoebus to turn against him, and Frollo to try to kill him in return. Frollo demonstrates why a Knight Templar, logically and realistically, would be a horrible person, especially if they're an authority figure.

* ''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 accidentally kills a gypsy woman for hiding "stolen goods" (which turn out not to be stolen goods at all, but instead, her deformed baby), but at least at that point he had a code of conduct and morality: he's very clearly devout (though in a twisted, totally-missing-the-point way), and on the priest's command takes in Quasimodo and raises him. 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, especially if they're an authority figure.

* ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'':

* The Great Candlestick from ''ThePainting'' is perfectly fine with the way things are in the painting, which involves forcing some the inhabitants to live outside in the garden and others to basically be hunted for sport. The fact he gets to be in charge of, well, everything might have something to do with it.

* 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.

* ''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 accidentally kills a gypsy woman for hiding "stolen goods" (which turn out not to be stolen goods at all, but instead, her deformed baby), but at least at that point he had a code of conduct and morality: he's very clearly devout (though in a twisted, totally-missing-the-point way), and on the priest's command takes in Quasimodo and raises him. 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, especially if they're an authority figure.
* [[spoiler: [[BigBad Henry J. Waternoose]], CEO]] of ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' remarks at one point in the movie that he would be willing to do anything to prevent the monster world from losing power. [[spoiler:[[KickTheDog He wasn't kidding.]]]]

** 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.]]
** Played with ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Harvey "Two-Face" Dent who becomes an insane crusader himself after letting his desire for justice get the better of him, right after [[spoiler: hearing the bad news from ComicBook/TheJoker about Rachel Dawes' death.]] He is not a full example however as he is more of a mad nihilist who enforces chance to decide who lives and who dies seeing it as the only fair judge and yet still chooses the ones that he blames for everything, rightfully or not.

* In ''Film/{{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'']].

* 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.]]

* The anonymous sniper from ''Film/PhoneBooth'' is another. His targets are usually unrepentant criminals like murderers, child molesters, and, at one point, a businessman who made off with a collapsed company's profits, leaving his employees and investors to rot. His target in the film, however, isn't ''any'' type of criminal, but simply JerkAss Stu Shepard, who is having an affair and pretending to be a big shot; not exactly what you would call ''pure evil''. Also, the sniper's methods to get criminals, real or imaginary, to confess, including targeting their loved ones, are quite questionable, to say the least. In the end, [[spoiler: Stu confesses to his deeds, and the sniper decides to spare his life and those of his loved ones...though it's hinted that the sniper is going to check up on Stu once in a while to make sure that Stu ''keeps'' his promise of not being a douche.]]

* ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'': [[spoiler: Sentinel Prime, former commander of the Autobots]], is revealed to be this. [[spoiler: Originally Optimus's mentor and father-figure, Sentinel had been corrupted by eons of war. Convinced that Cybertron's survival was more important than loyalty to his men, Sentinel struck a deal with Megatron to find another world whose resources could be used to replenish Cybertron. Finding himself on Earth in present day, Sentinel turns on his former allies and joins Megatron to begin making plans to use Earth's resources (in particular, the six billion or so fleshlings they can turn into a SlaveRace). Sentinel's Knight Templar status is also revealed to be influenced by his [[AGodAmI god complex]]; remembering how the Cybertronians, particularly the Primes, once lived like gods, he is immediately disgusted by how Earth's leaders treat the Autobots as simple machines.]]

** [[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 him; Mace's militant approach was the final straw to push Anakin over to the dark side.]]

* ''Film/TheGiver'': The Chief Elder is this, which is AdaptationalVillainy compared to her in the novel, where she was just a minor character.

* ''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 accidentally kills a gypsy woman for hiding "stolen goods" (which turn out not to be stolen goods at all, but instead, her deformed baby), but at least at that point he had a code of conduct and morality: he's very clearly devout (though in a twisted, totally-missing-the-point way), and on the priest's command takes in Quasimodo and raises him. 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''.

* 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]].

* ''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
* Real-life humans know better than this, Troper!

** 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 ComicBook/TheJoker about Rachel Dawes' death.]]

* The Paladins in ''Film/{{Jumper}}'', led by Creator/SamuelLJackson. They believe that they are doing God's will by murdering all of the jumpers, as "only God should have that power".
* Hit Girl and Big Daddy in ''Film/KickAss'' fit the bill, despite being protagonists. Hit Girl indiscriminately kills the occupants of an apartment, despite no actual crime being stated, and some of them being innocent bystanders or not directly criminals.

* 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.

** 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.]]

* Franchise/StarWars:

* 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/XMen'':

* UsefulNotes/TheTeutonicKnights in ''Film/AlexanderNevsky'' are portrayed as even worse than any Templar, and the real Knights were thought to be quite ruthless as well.
* ''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.

* ''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.

* [[Creator/EllenPage Hayley Stark]] in ''HardCandy'' who believes to be on a righteous while murderous [[PaedoHunt crusade against uncaught pedophiles]].

* TheTeutonicKnights in ''Film/AlexanderNevsky'' are portrayed as even worse than any Templar, and the real Knights were thought to be quite ruthless as well.

* 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.