10 Movies That Tricked You Into Believing Heroes Were Evil

Derek is a Neo-Nazi extremist who we are introduced to giving a lengthy racist tirade on the news.

Viewers are then treated to the infamous scene of him shooting dead a young black man and injuring his friend who was trying to steal his car. He then forces the incapacitated man to put his teeth on a street curb, before murdering him in cold blood by stomping his head in.

Its clear Derek is an evil, hate-filled man and if this was any other film it would probably focus on the family's fear of his impending release.

However, instead, audiences are shown Derek forming a bond with a fellow prisoner who is black, as he begins to see the shallow, idiotic ideology his group of fascists believes in.

We witness him go through Hell as he publicly denounces the gang, getting involved in increasingly life-threatening and mentally damaging scenarios. Upon his release, he ends up a pretty decent fellow who is genuinely regretful for his actions.

We learn his white supremacist beliefs were ideas his father brainwashed him to believe and he strives to prevent his younger brother from going down the same path. It's one of the biggest turn arounds you'll ever see a character do.

American History X is a fantastic redemption story, and considering the heavy scenes of brutality Derek is introduced through, if you told audiences you would be rooting for that character by the end no one would believe you.