One of the first things I learned in film school was that using narration in your screenplay was usually a sign of weak or lazy writing. I’ll just say that there are plenty of films and shows that prove that statement fairly correct. It can absolutely be a crutch or an easy way to betray the “show, don’t tell” rule of visual storytelling.
Yet, so many movies and shows continue to implement it, and it’s obviously not a dealbreaker for the studios that finance them. And I think there’s a very simple, obvious answer to why that is: Sometimes, narration works really well. Well, that, and screenwriting rules are meant to be broken. Still, I know I have seen plenty of movies and shows where narration not only works, but it also adds to everything happening on the screen.
The Princess Bride
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Now this is a film that uses narration in a charmingly smart way and is probably one of the biggest arguments against voice-over being a lazy tool. The entire story of The Princess Bride is told as a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading a book to his sick grandson (Fred Savage). This allows the narrators to be actual characters within the story, which is pretty ingenious.
While The Princess Bride would still be just as charming without these bits of narration or interspersed scenes in the real world, I think it would lose its fairy tale romance-like quality. There’s absolutely nothing lazy about The Princess Bride, and it’s a film that continues to find new audiences even today. The voice-over work is a big reason for that.
Dexter
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I mean, who doesn’t enjoy stepping into the mind of their favorite, lovable fictional serial killer? Dexter is a fascinating show about a murderer who only kills other murderers, and we get a first-hand account of what goes on inside his head during every kill and every step he takes to keep his identity secret from his loved ones and coworkers.
Dexter has proven to be an extremely popular series, one that even an eight-season run couldn’t end his tenure on television. While the original series sort of collapses in quality, the latest Dexter revival holds up pretty well so far. Michael C. Hall’s acting and narration are big selling points for why it works so well, and in a lesser actor’s hands, it might just come off as cheesy and overwrought for its own sake.
Memento
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What’s better than an unreliable narrator? A narrator and character dealing with memory loss and amnesia. Each of Memento‘s narration sequences is as disorientating as the main character we follow throughout. Mostly internal thoughts with our main character, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), as he tries to figure out where he is and what he’s doing, Memento is a fascinating look into the mind of a man who doesn’t operate like most other people.
What really helps this unusual narration method work so well is Memento‘s equally peculiar narrative structure. Two plotlines, one told chronologically, and the other told backward, race toward each other at high speed. Leonard’s confusion in his own mind matches our own, and I’d argue the film would not be as brilliant as it is without the voice-over work.
Arrested Development
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Arrested Development is a sitcom with a lot on its mind, and a plethora of interconnecting storylines told throughout its twisty web of hilariously dysfunctional family dynamics. And while that would almost be enough by itself to make for a great comedy, Ron Howard’s witty and dry narration makes it even more brilliant. Often commenting on the events in the Bluth family’s lives or straight-up calling them out for their lies, Howard’s narrator is an all-knowing character that adds another layer of brilliance to the proceedings.
The show is really at its best when it’s using Howard to break the fourth wall or be self-referential, but not in an obnoxious way. Arrested Development is a show that’s great right from its pilot episode, and a big reason for that is Howard’s voice-over work. It grounds things and calls the Bluth family out in a way that they would never do to each other.
Mr. Robot
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The classic unreliable narrator is what viewers should have to look forward to in Mr. Robot, and it works in the show’s favor. Narrated mostly by main character Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), the character is unreliable in his observations because of his own mental state. Is he just paranoid, or are there nefarious things happening beneath the surface of Mr. Robot? Is anything in his life even real?
If you’re asking these questions while watching, then you’re engaging with the show on its own terms. Most of the plot twists contained within Mr. Robot simply would not work as well without our look into Elliot’s state of mind, and I found myself questioning my own reality while watching him grapple with his. Mr. Robot is a show that knows exactly what it is, and its voice-over work is as stellar as the rest of its writing.
Voice-over narration can really make a story more effective
While in the wrong hands, a voice-over can come across as tacky or ineffective, the right show or film can utilize it in ways that only enhance its purpose or themes. It’s all about finding the right media, as with anything else. For me, these are some of the best shows and movies to implement voice-over in a way that never feels cheap. Speaking of media that never feels cheap, you should absolutely check out the best binge-worthy thrillers currently airing on Netflix if you need something compelling to watch.
