We learn to care about them as a family. When Ford steps in to thwart a terrorist bombing, not only do the terrorist come after him, they come after his family as well. Ford must stop the Terrorists, because he and his family are directly threatened. If your villain is killing a bunch of people you don't know, or don't care about, it is meaningless violence. Giving a spear- carrier a scene where he is kind to small animals before he is killed just doesn't cut it.
Audiences see it coming from a mile away.
Have the Villain's Plan threaten the audience. We are sitting in the theater, minding our own business, when the Villain threatens to unleash a virus which will spread like wildfire. Now the audience is affected by the villain's plan. If the hero doesn't stop him WE will die. The audience itself is threatened by the villain's actions.