History Main / TheVillainKnowsWhereYouLive

* During her 1975 trial for attempting to kill US President Gerald Ford, Manson Family member Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme threatened the judge, mentioning the piano in the front room of his house. As noted on the April, 25, 2014 edition of ''[[RachelMaddow The Rachel Maddow Show]]'', the judge's security detail was increased after that. The incident was also mentioned in [[http://www.c-span.org/video/?315125-1/lynette-squeaky-fromme-trial a panel discussion among some of the trial's participants]] (at about the 50-minute mark.

* Happens near the end of BatmanArkhamOrigins.

While this may be done in conjunction with an ImpliedDeathThreat, it usually appears with more direct threats (of the ShameIfSomethingHappened variety) or explicit threats, so as to underline both the intent and the ability to follow through. If it is not given in person or via telephone, such proof will likely accompany an [[MysteriousNote anonymous threatening letter]].

!!Examples

!!Examples:

* In ''Anime/MysteryOfMamo'', Mameaux skips the threats and simply has Frenchy hit the gang's hideout with napalm to show them that he ''really'' means business when he sends hitmen after them for giving him a phony Philosopher's Stone.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': One of the first things Angel does when he turns evil is to go into Buffy's room while she's sleeping, draw a detailed picture of her, and leave it for her to find in the morning.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': One of the first things Angel does when he turns evil is to go into Buffy's room while she's sleeping, draw a detailed picture of her, and leave it for her to find in the MakeItLookLikeAnOrderUK: Steele's nemesis very casually mentions the address that his son shares with his ex-wife, then refers to the busy roads. Effectively not only threatening the boy, but insinuating that he can MakeItLookLikeAnAccident should he decide to harm him.

!!Examples

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': One of the first things Angel does when he turns evil is to go into Buffy's room while she's sleeping, draw a detailed picture of her, and leave it for her to find in the MakeItLookLikeAnOrderUK: Steele's nemesis very casually mentions the address that his son shares with his ex-wife, then refers to the busy roads. Effectively not only threatening the boy, but insinuating that he can MakeItLookLikeAnAccident should he decide to harm him.

* In ''Recap/MysteryOfMamo'', Mameaux skips the threat and simply has Frenchy hit the gang's hideout with napalm to show them that he ''really'' means business when he sends hitmen after them for giving him a phony Philosopher's Stone.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': One of the first things Angel does when he turns evil is to go into Buffy's room while she's sleeping, draw a detailed picture of her, and leave it for her to find in the morning.

* In the film ''Film/IceCreamMan'' about a [[ImAHumanitarian Humanitarian]] [[BadHumorTruck evil ice cream man]] the eponymous man [[LampshadeHanging uses the exact line]]: "You little turds are gonna have to realize you can't run from the ice cream man! I know where you live! If you tell anyone, I'll get your mom and dad!"
* In ''Film/GrossePointeBlank'' the assassin protagonist tries to convince his psychiatrist to continue seeing him (the psychiatrist freaked out when his patient revealed his profession). The protagonist mentions doctor-patient confidentiality as a reason why their continued visits wouldn't be a problem and then adds, "And besides, I know where you live". Given the protagonist's admitted profession and the fact that he would know the psychiatrist by name, that's not so hard to believe.

Since executing this trope involves inspiring feelings of fear and intimidation, it is most often performed by The Villain or at his command. If a heroic character does this, chances are that Hero already operates outside ordinary rules (think superhero), or is angry or desperate enough to act without the aid of law enforcement. When invoked against someone with a secret identity, the trope IKnowYouKnowIKnow will play a part in the threat. Implying or announcing that he knows such a secret is another means of making the threat hit close to home, and may even imply that the opponent has some way to deal with the target's special abilities (If he knows Clark Kent is really Superman, maybe he also knows about that kryptonite problem too).

* ''Literature/DresdenFiles'' novella "The Warrior" features an antagonist who sends Harry photographs of the Carpenter family and their house: not so much "I know where you live" as "I know where your friends live". The characters [[GenreSavvy discuss]] whether this means the Carpenters are really in danger, or whether they're being threatened to distract Harry from something else.

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]

[[AC: Comics]]

[[AC: Film]]

[[AC: Literature]]

--> You came like a thief in the night to cast me into the abyss. You chained me in darkness, but no earthly chains can hold me anymore. I have risen.
--> Behold, I am coming soon to repay you for what you have done. [[AndYourLittleDogToo All that you love will perish. I will strike your children dead and give your wife a like measure of torment and mourning.]] I have the keys to Death and Hades, and I will blot your name from the book of life forever.
--> Your nightmare has begun. There is no waking.
--> Abaddon

*** The dwarves send a suicide squad to assassinate his family... causing him to pursue their sorry asses all the way into Koom Valley, and filling him with so much primal vengeful rage, [[spoiler: he [[TheFettered ''almost'']] murders them]].
*** Two troll enforcers for [[TheMafia The Breccia]] attempt to intimidate Vimes by saying this... [[WhatAnIdiot right in the middle of the Watch house while surrounded by officers.]]
*** The Low King of the Dwarves ''almost'' pulls this on Vimes in a moment of anger before catching himself and mentioning diplomatically how nice it would be to meet his family. Vimes isn't fooled, but lets it slide.

* The DresdenFiles novella "The Warrior" features an antagonist who sends Harry photographs of the Carpenter family and their house: not so much "I know where you live" as "I know where your friends live". The characters [[GenreSavvy discuss]] whether this means the Carpenters are really in danger, or whether they're being threatened to distract Harry from something else.

[[AC: Live-Action TV]]

-->'''Steele:''' He's been FOLLOWING us! The bloody bugger's been SPYING on us!
-->'''Laura:''' It gives me the creeps.
-->'''The Minor:''' (Enters carrying a loaded tea tray) Oh, "cream," did you say? (Stops as Steele and Laura turn on her, Steel pointing his gun at her) It's right here on the tray.

* The [DresdenFiles] novella "The Warrior" features an antagonist who sends Harry photographs of the Carpenter family and their house: not so much "I know where you live" as "I know where your friends live". The characters [[GenreSavvy discuss]] whether this means the Carpenters are really in danger, or whether they're being threatened to distract Harry from something else.

TheVillain, having made a threat against TheHero and/or [[AndYourLittleDogToo someone the Hero loves]], produces proof he can actually find the intended victim(s) and carry it out. Recent photographs of the target(s) at home or in other familiar settings are probably the most popular form of evidence; the recipient(s) will recognize background items, clothing, hairstyle and other details as familiar and recent, and the very existence of the photos implies someone got physically close enough to take them. On the other hand, The Villain may simply say or write the home address, phone number, school name, or other recent identifying information ("Lovely blue leotard your daughter wore to her dance class today. It matches her eyes."). He may even produce some recognizable item belonging to the target(s), thereby proving he's been there once already and can return.

* ''SinCity:'' The district attorney finally gets Marv to confess to the murders actually committed by Kevin and Cardinal Roark (and their murders, which he was guilty of) by turning off the recorder and showing him a picture of his mother in the crosshairs of a sniper rifle. Marv breaks his arm in three places, but signs.

* In the film ''Ice Cream Man'' about a [[ImAHumanitarian Humanitarian]] [[BadHumorTruck evil ice cream man]] the eponymous man [[LampshadeHanging uses the exact line]]: "You little turds are gonna have to realize you can't run from the ice cream man! I know where you live! If you tell anyone, I'll get your mom and dad!"

* In ''One Hour Photo'', after Robin Williams' character gets fired from his job at the One Hour Photo, he shows up one more time to get a roll of film developed. The pictures are all photos of the manager's daughter, in her front yard. Upon seeing these, the manager immediately calls the police.

* Villains in {{Discworld}} tend to try this on Sam Vimes. Always a terrible idea, since he's a PapaWolf and that acts as a BerserkButton for him.

* A subtle one in the ''RemingtonSteele'' episode "Elegy in Steele": Major Descoine comes to the agency's office, promises Laura and Steele he'll kill them both by noon that day, and leads them on a chase around the city. One surreal stop is a richly-furnished Victorian-looking apartment in an otherwise abandoned building. On looking around, the detectives notice that the framed photographs scattered about the living room show them at work on recent cases (in clearly recognizable stills from previous episodes), and the penny drops:

* ''{{Buffy}}'': One of the first things Angel does when he turns evil is to go into Buffy's room while she's sleeping, draw a detailed picture of her, and leave it for her to find in the morning.

* ''{{Buffy}}'': One of the first things Angel does when he turns evil is to go into Buffy's room while she's sleeping, draw a detailed picture of her, and leave it for her to find in the morning.

* SinCity: The district attorney finally gets Marv to confess to the murders actually committed by Kevin and Cardinal Roark (and their murders, which he was guilty of) by turning off the recorder and showing him a picture of his mother in the crosshairs of a sniper rifle. Marv breaks his arm in three places, but signs.

** In ''Discworld/NightWatch'' Carcer tells Vimes: "I can see your house from here"

* Early in ''Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea'', Bill shows Lori a printout of a threatening email he received earlier that morning, the latest in a series. The note came with recent photos of the cottage, Lori, their nanny Annelise and the twins on their ponies. The text reads: