“Ordinary people in extraordinary
circumstance” — this is what makes up this genre.
We’ve loved these stories since we first heard Noah and the
Ark, and Jack London’s arctic survival tales. Putting an
“ordinary” person into a “life or death”
struggle reveals how truly extraordinary we all are, and shows how
we find inner strength.
What separates these tales from others is the
innocence of the hero. The “DWAP” hero did not ask for
it, but was suddenly forced into a battle for his life. Often these
are some of the most primal tales we tell! These stories make us
realize that given the right circumstances even the most ordinary
among us can be extraordinarily great.
The three components:
1. An “innocent hero” is dragged into
this mess without asking for it — or even aware of how he got
involved.
2. A “sudden event” that thrusts our
innocent(s) into the world of hurt is definite — and comes
without warning.
3. A “life or death” battle is at
stake — and the continued existence of an individual, family,
group, or society is in question.
Examples: District 9, Inglorious Basterds, Open
Water, Sleeping with the Enemy, Die Hard, Three Days of the
Condor
