5 Tips to Write a Memorable Fight Scene
Hi-yah!
Hello friends, and welcome back!
Today we will try to figure out how to write a memorable fight scene. Being the action nerd that I am, I separated the essentials of what I recognize to be the most critical aspects of every great hand-to-hand action scene ever.
So behold and discover for yourself, these are the 5 tricks and skills that separate forgettable fisticuffs from heroic contests!
1) Characters and Stakes
An essential part of any fight scene is what the conflict means to the story and the characters in it. Let’s remember that first and foremost, we’re creating drama for the audience; this means that the consequences of the fight should be necessary for the story and character development.
If the conflict can be taken out of the story without effects to its plot, then it shouldn't be there at all.
Obi-Wan vs. Darth Vader is probably one of the most memorable sword fight scenes in the history of film, not for its spectacle, but its impact on the story. Luke loses his mentor, and the terrifying Vader is proven to be a mighty foe.
A good fight scene should be an essential plot point in the story; everything changes after it ends. Consequences! Death! Drama!
2) Ups and Downs
Tension is a big part of every fight scene. To generate dramatic tension, one most at least give the illusion to the audience that both characters could, at some point, win the fight.
We create this by changing the upper hand from one character to the other until the final blow is dealt.
Achilles vs. Hector is my favorite battle put to film; it excels in all 5 points I’ve identified as essential to create a memorable fight scene, but let’s focus on the one that concerns us here: Ups and Downs.
While watching the fight is clear that Achilles is the better fighter of the two, but a one-sided slaughter wouldn’t have the dramatic punch of the scene we just saw. For this reason, Hector more than holds his own against the devastating blows of the half-god. At several points of the fight, Hector gains the upper hand and even manages almost to deliver a deadly blow at Achilles’ chest.
Those brief moments of “maybe Hector will win” are what makes the conclusion of the fight so impactful.
3) Style and Characterization
Characterization is the process through which the writer reveals the personality of a character, and a battle is an excellent opportunity to do so.
Through their different fighting styles and approaches to combat, the audience can infer essential aspects of characters involved in the conflict.
Neo vs. Morpheus is an excellent example of this concept. Neo is inexperienced but energetic, offensive, and always pushing forward. Morpheus is experienced; every move he makes is calculated and precise.
Their fighting styles reflect their inner character, Morpheus is the old master that’s been through this many times, Neo is the young and dynamic pupil that needs to prove himself.
In a good fight, we should understand the personality of the characters involved just by the way they engage each other.
4) Rhythm
Just like in a good chase sequence or a good shoot out, it can’t be all action without stop, it’s the silences and pauses that really make the frantic moments of a fight pop.
Many action choreographers approach their scenes at dances, they need valleys of action so they can have peaks of intensity. Audiences attention needs to be taken into account. If your character needs a second to breathe during the scene, the audience could probably use one too.
The Bourne Identity is one of the most hectic action films out there, but still, in the one-on-one fight between Jason and the assassin, we get few but precious moments where the audience can breathe and take in what’s going on.
It can’t all be punches and kicks, we need tension and silence to really take in the important moments of the fight.
5) Spectacle
This one is not as “essential” as the other 4, but I still wanted to include it here. A good fight scene should work as a set piece, one of the important parts of the film.
As writers, we need to create memorable moments, this means we have to take into account where the fight is taking place, if there are other people watching, if it’s in a public place, or if it’s in an isolated mountain cliff.
All these details that surround the fight can give it that little extra to really make it memorable.
The mirror dungeon fight in Enter The Dragon gives the fight that little something that takes it from good to great. The images of the fight created by the hundreds of mirrors that infest the dungeon give the conflict an almost surreal feel to it
After all, we are a visual medium and coming up with cool and interesting places and situations for our fights is part of our work as screenwriters.
I’m sure that there are many things that make a fight scene memorable, but these ones I care for the most. Let me know if you have a different take.
Thank you for reading and happy writing!
