Why This is Good

The Shapeshifter represents change, and is usually an enemy of the hero. The Shapeshifter will often appear as an ally, but turn out to be a false friend and lead the hero off their course by giving them bad information, tricking them, or turning out not to be who they said they were. Like the Mentor, the Shapeshifter archetype is one that may be present, but may not be in every story.

Shapeshifters can be literal transformers, such as superheroes, Terminators, wizards, witches, werewolves, vampires, X-Men, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, or you know, actual Transformers. The Shapeshifter archetype is typically represented by someone who changes throughout the course of the film.

Shapeshifters are often backstabbing, evil characters, like Jenna’s manipulative frenemy Lucy in 13 Going on 30, but they don’t always go from good to bad. As with Snape in Harry Potter or Sandra Bullock’s character Margaret in The Proposal, they often change from bad to good, or simply reveal their true colors to the hero as the story progresses. A love interest can often be a Shapeshifter because as the hero gets to know the person, their true self is shown, and what the hero thought and imagined they were at the start of the romance turns out not to be true, as with Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility, who shifts from seemingly perfect to flawed.

A nemesis can act as a Shapeshifter, as in both The Devil’s Advocate and The Devil Wears Prada (it’s interesting that both Shapeshifter characters are the ones referred to as the Devil in the title). [SPOILER ALERT]  In The Devil’s Advocate, Al Pacino’s character, John Milton seems an ally at first, helping Keanu Reeves’s character, Kevin by getting him an amazing job with incredible perks. But when he learns more about who his boss is and what is going on, Kevin realizes that Milton is evil and must be defeated.

In The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, (also a boss) seems to be the incarnation of pure evil as she steps all over poor Andy, controlling her completely and making her life a living hell. By the end of the story, Andy has glimpsed Miranda’s vulnerability and humanity, gained something from the experience, and realized that Miranda has no power over her and that she is in charge of her own career, life and happiness.