: Re: How do I subvert the tropes of a train heist? What are the recognizable tropes to a "train heist", or more broadly the action sequences where a protagonist boards a moving train in order to

@Candy753

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Like most action stories, the train heist is a fantasy of agency, decision, autonomy, and freedom -- this is basis of the appeal of "rule breakers" in all kinds of stories. The audience identifies with the hero/heroine and vicariously enjoys their exercise of will, even if, or especially if, at the expense of others. As most people in most societies are hemmed in by the expectations of others, the simple assertion of me, me, me, me is tremendously exciting. From what I can tell, the most fundamental upending of heist tropes would be to undo the basis of that fantasy.

An example that comes to mind is "Dog Day Afternoon" (bank robbery, not a train) from about 1974. The robbers come in and exercise their free will, but it all unravels quickly because they have no idea what they're doing. "The Taking of Pelham 123" is similar (it's reasonable to consider it a "Dog Day" ripoff) and maybe even "Fargo". The undoing of the action fantasy in "Dog Day Afternoon" can probably be seen in the wider context of the 1970's New Hollywood creative movement against basic motifs and assumptions of earlier filmmaking.

EDIT: On rereading what I wrote, I was talking about the story as if it were a movie. I don't think anything fundamental changes if the medium is written rather than filmed, so I'll just let it stand.

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