Tips for writing a Sadist villain who avoids the Villain Ball

The title says it all. I personally find Sadist antagonists deeply frightening and have been wanting to make an especially nasty one for awhile. However, I’ve run into a problem.

While enjoying the suffering of your fellow man is fine and all, such methods as toying with a victim or taking the time to teabag their bleeding body leaves the antagonist open to the dreaded Villain Ball. I fear that this may make them a something less credible threat.

Dear tropers, how may I create a villain who clearly enjoys reveling in the pain of others without veering them into Stupid Evil territory? I’ve had a few concepts I want to refine. Maybe they make their sadism part of their plan (in a Despair Gambit sort of way)? Maybe they focus more on swift brutal murder because they enjoy causing death more than causing pain? Or maybe they just have a higher-up to keep them in check?

Open to any sort of ideas, feedback, and/or good sources of reference!

Edited by DissinYoSandwich on Feb 25th 2022 at 11:26:19 AM

Do it by making them a "Goodwill, benevolent and persistent sadist" instead.

I mean, it is one thing to be the one that causes the misery upon others.

It is a whole other to keep misery happening to others without having to do the dirty work themselves, just by watching the show unfold as they keep convincing the heroes to "Not give up! Keep going! You can do this!" Despite knowing there is not a snowball's chance in hell that actually is possible and can be done.

Just imagine that portrayal of a sadist in a story, who keeps acting like moral support and hope bringer to the hero's side, just to see the misery of the heroes continue from the best seat in the house, right next at the hero's side, without any risk to get exposed as a sadist by the heroes during the whole thing.

(And watching other villains suffer is just a bonus on the sadist's "entertainment", the "more the merrier" as it is said...)

One standard (and unfortunately realistic) method would be to simply restrict their sadism to people who aren't a threat to them. They don't toy with the hero, or torture his buddies. They only torture and toy with those who are actually unable to resist or get back at them (and they're smart enough not to put such people in a position to hold any power/influence afterwards, or simply kill them).

Now, revealing this to your viewpoint characters can be difficult, especially if you want them to be clever enough to either not leave tracks, or select victims no one cares about. But defectors, visions, magic, spies, resurrection, or just finding the bodies are all valid methods.

Or, maybe they could also be a meticulous planner who sees his sadistic acts more as a sort of art form than an impulse, and in obsessing over the details they'd make sure to not make dumb mistakes in the process.

Like a very brainy Torture Technician.

Right off the top of my head, one effective way to show that your sadist villain is also a smart villain is to show them as they revel in the suffering of their victims but then get very annoyed when they hear a sound in the distance — because the sound could be an assailant, and so that puts them on alert.

Oooooooh I really like that idea, not only as a specific example but also as part of a broader character trait.

It makes me think of a sadist villain who displays their sadism when things are going their way. That leaves the WHY up for interpretation too. Maybe they’re a Consummate Professional who sneaks in a little “fun time” when their job gives them the opportunity. Or, an interpretation I’m actually working on for a villain in my setting, a Psychopathic Manchild for Hire who clearly revels in a mark’s pain but when they DARE fight back or someone interrupts while they’re enjoying themselves (like the “hearing a distant noise” example you gave) they basically throw a temper tantrum and go full No-Nonsense Nemesis like a spoiled child breaking their toys.