10 Devious Ways Movies Tried To Trick You

There are many ways movies can trick you. 

Whether it be filming alternate endings, thinking a character is safe yet killing them off, or just thinking a character is dead then bringing them back. However, for as long as cameras have been rolling, there's always been one go-to method to trick the likes of me, you and everyone else... a good, old-fashioned twist. 

Some work and others don't. Some you might not see coming but others you do. It's a narrative and storytelling technique as old as time prominent in not only film but television, theatre and literature also. They can be terrifying or tedious but there's only one way to know for sure if the oldest trick in the book works, and that's by testing it on an audience.

So, why twists you ask and why do filmmakers keep using them? The simple answer is because we love them. But sometimes it's not about the actual twist and instead, how we got to that twist. There are many clever and devious methods of achieving this ranging from the subtle to the non-subtle. 

With that in mind, these 10 films all exhibit and deploy differing yet distinct tricks to have you hoodwinked whilst giving you all the clues to work it out for yourself or completely subvert your expectations of what might happen.

Movies that foreshadow or even downright spoil their endings at the beginning are nothing new or uncommon. 

But, what about giving away the entire plot from start to finish? Enter Ari Aster.

Aster has become a household name in Hollywood due to his short but stellar filmography showcasing horrifying imagery, immersive storytelling and surrealism within short and full-feature film formats that have become distinct trademarks within his work. 

Unnerving as they are unsettling, Aster pours his fears into his films along with the audiences to concoct a visceral viewing experience that is truly unforgettable. 

Hereditary and Beau is Afraid are prime examples of this, but perhaps not as prudent as his 2019 folk horror, Midsommar. Boosted by a standout performance from Florence Pugh, Midsommar is quite something to behold. 

With that said and in true Ari Aster fashion, the film is packed to the brim with visual clues and references and there is perhaps no greater example of this than the tapestry (shown above) in the film's opening shot. 

It may be easy to overlook on a first watch, however, it's a brilliant tool from Aster to paint a picture for the viewer of what is to come. Major plot points from the film are featured including Dani's sister and parent's death, her breakup with Christian and the events that unfold before her unveiling as the May Queen. 

It's evident to see the foreshadowing of the plot in hindsight. However, the mural depicting the film's plot from start to finish could also be interpreted as showing the events of the film are pre-planned to fulfil the prophecy.