Diabolus ex machina

From Science Encyclopedia

Diabolus ex machina is a latin term (literally "devil out of a machine") describing an artificial, or improbable character, device, or event introduced suddenly to either cause catastrophic failure in a situation, or complicate a plot (e.g. a demon suddenly appearing to cause problems).

In modern terms the diabolus ex machina has also come to describe a being, object or event that suddenly appears and negates deus ex machina. In this context, the author has "painted the characters into a corner" that they can't easily be extricated from (e.g. the cavalry unexpectedly coming to the rescue, or James Bond using a gadget that just so happens to be perfectly suited to the needs of the situation)...........which is suddenly followed by a second element coming along to insure the worst possible outcome happens anyway (the calvary turns out to be a bunch of sissies, or Dr No uses a gadget perfectly suited to thwart James Bond's gadget).

Diabolus ex machina can also be used to describe an unfavorable outcome that occurs as a result of someone else's deus ex machina. One example is a desperate crackhead with no money seeing your nice plump wallet laying in the driver's seat of your unoccupied car, and you left your window rolled down. Unfortunately for you, that wallet contained the money you were going to use to keep your bookie (four finger Larry) from shattering your kneecaps with a crowbar.

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