10 Most Disappointing Villains From Otherwise Great Movies
6. Mola Ram - Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
The Great Movie: Although it didnt reach the heights of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple Of Doom was still a thrilling action movie with plenty of spectacle.
The Disappointing Villain: From the outset, Mola Ram was at a hefty disadvantage. When Indy fought the Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark, they already had a built-in backstory thanks to our knowledge of history. As an Thuggee blood priest, Ram is not afforded the same common knowledge going in.
To compensate for that, Ram needed to be introduced early on to give the audience a chance to understand this very foreign character. Instead, since it takes Indy nearly half of the movie just to reach the titular temple, theres hardly enough time for him to be built up as a worthy villain.
In his limited screen times, Rams scenes are suitably terrifying, and his look is undeniably striking. Watching him perform the sacrifices is captivating and Ram truly exudes a magical quality that ought to have been afforded more time.
Unfortunately, his look and a few strong scenes arent enough for Ram to succeed as a villain. Given very little characterization and dialogue, and considering the singular setting of the film, this one-note villain makes Indys conflict grow familiar far too quickly.