History ManipulativeBastard / Film

** ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseHumans Apex Cybernetics]], the EvilInc whom are out to kill Godzilla and prove their own warped ideals that humanity is superior to the Titans, use a lot of subterfuge and deception to realize their plans: [[spoiler:creating a giant FalseFlagOperation against Godzilla by using Mechagodzilla's signal to covertly provoke Godzilla's attacks on cities, and manipulating Drs. Lind and Andrews and Jia into believing that they're going to help them stop Godzilla]]. It probably comes from having a [[TheSociopath high-functioning sociopath]] who thrives on manipulating others as their [[CorruptCorporateExecutive CEO]].

*** In the second film, he manipulates Jane into helping him find his treasure and capture Peter Pan, by playing with her homesickness and bitterness of Peter and the Lost Boys, as well as promising to take her back to London if she succeeds. When his plan succeeds, he throws Jane under the bus, and leaves her stranded on Skull Rock.

** Captain Hook from ''WesternAnimation/{{Peter Pan|1953}}'' and [[WesternAnimation/{{ReturnToNeverland}} it's sequel]] is this. He's quite cunning and is adept at using other's weaknesses to get them to do what he wants. In the first movie, he manipulates Tinkerbell into revealing where Peter's hideout is by playing on her jealousy of Wendy [[WickedCultured while playing on an old piano,]] and once she does, he locks her in a lantern to keep her from interfering. And in the same movie, he goads Peter into a fair fight by calling him a [[NobodyCallsMeChicken 'coward']], which not only gives him more of an advantage, but throughout the fight, Hook's shown to be the more skilled fighter if Peter had his feet on the ground the whole time. If it weren't for Pan's [[IndyPloy quick thinking]], he probably would have been dead.

** Captain Hook from ''WesternAnimation/{{Peter Pan|1953}}'' and [[WesternAnimation/{{ReturnToNeverland}} it's sequel]] is this. Despite the fact he's one of the funniest villains in Disney's rogues gallery, he's still quite cunning and is adept at using other's weaknesses to get them to do what he wants. In the first movie, he manipulates Tinkerbell into revealing where Peter's hideout is by playing on her jealousy of Wendy [[WickedCultured while playing on an old piano,]] and once she does, he locks her in a lantern to keep her from interfering. And in the same movie, he goads Peter into a fair fight by calling him a [[NobodyCallsMeChicken 'coward']], which not only gives him more of an advantage, but throughout the fight, Hook's shown to be the more skilled fighter if Peter had his feet on the ground the whole time. If it weren't for Pan's [[IndyPloy quick thinking]], he probably would have been dead.

*** Let's not forget his love of LoopholeAbuse when he uses Tinkerbell and Jane's words against them. Not lay a hand or hook? He sets a bomb in the hideout. Not hurt a single hair on Peter's head? He pulls out one hair from Peter's head, and says it's the only one he won't harm.

** Captain Hook from ''WesternAnimation/{{Peter Pan|1953}}'' and [[WesternAnimation/{{ReturnToNeverland}} it's sequel]] is this. Despite the fact he's one of the funniest villains in Disney's rogues gallery, he's still quite cunning and is adept at using other's weaknesses to get them to do what he wants. In the first movie, he manipulates Tinkerbell into revealing where Peter's hideout is by playing on her jealousy of Wendy [[WickedCultured while playing on an old piano.]] And in the same movie, he goads Peter's cockiness and fairness by daring him to fight him evenly and not fly, and as proven he's the more skilled fighter. If it weren't for Pan's [[IndyPloy quick thinking]], he probably would have been dead.
*** In the second film, he manipulates Jane into helping him find his treasure and capture Peter Pan, by playing with her homesickness and bitterness of Peter and the Lost Boys, and just like last time with Tinkerbell he succeeds.

** Captain Hook from ''WesternAnimation/{{Peter Pan|1953}}'' and [[WesternAnimation/{{ReturnToNeverland}} it's sequel]] is this [[BewareTheSillyOnes despite his over-the-top personality]]. In the first movie, he manipulates Tinkerbell into revealing Peter's hideout by exploiting her jealousy for Wendy. Once she does, he locks her in a lantern so she doesn't warn Peter.
*** In the second film, he uses the same tactic on Jane by playing on her homesickness and contempt for Peter's antics to get her to help him capture Peter Pan.

* ''Film/SpankingTheMonkey'': Susan is generally very good at manipulating people, but late in the film, when Ray takes her to see the doctor, he discovers that she could have had her casts removed weeks ago. This strongly implies that rather than it being a spur of the moment mistake driven by circumstance, she decided to [[ParentalIncest seduce her son into a sexual relationship]] all along, showing a level of premeditation that makes her truly irredeemable.

* Loki in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' and ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' fully lives up to his title as the [[MadGod God of Lies and Mischief.]] He leads Thor down the path to his banishment and then leads him to believe that [[spoiler:Odin is dead]], double-crosses [[spoiler:both his Asgardian family ''and'' the Frost Giants]], and continually uses those around him to set up some EngineeredHeroics in an attempt to get some respect. In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' he gets even ''more'' devious: he manages to [[DysfunctionJunction sow dissent]] among the members of the Avengers, eventually causing them to battle each other rather than him. Downplayed in ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld,'' where he relies on casting [[MasterOfIllusion illusions]] and mind manipulation spells (on Odin) more than on exploiting psychology per se, and in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', where he is TheCharmer.