Movies with a "perception" plot twist
September 27, 2010 2:13 PM Subscribe
What are some movies that feature a plot twist wherein something is revealed about the main character's perception that changes the whole story...ie. he was dreaming, she is actually crazy, it was all in their heads, etc.?
In our household we've just watched Vanilla Sky, Mulholland Drive and Shutter Island and realized we have accidentally started a "perception" plot twist film festival. What are some other movies that would continue our trend with this specific type of twist? Off the top of my head I've got Fight Club and Sixth Sense, but there must be more, and more mind-blowing, examples.
In our household we've just watched Vanilla Sky, Mulholland Drive and Shutter Island and realized we have accidentally started a "perception" plot twist film festival. What are some other movies that would continue our trend with this specific type of twist? Off the top of my head I've got Fight Club and Sixth Sense, but there must be more, and more mind-blowing, examples.
Well, The Usual Suspects. All of these films feature a type of "unreliable narrator".
posted by inturnaround at 2:18 PM on September 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by inturnaround at 2:18 PM on September 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
This site has them all, with spoilers galore.
The Usual Suspects (I can't recommend this film enough.)
Citizen Kane
Chinatown
Empire Strikes Back
posted by zarq at 2:19 PM on September 27, 2010
The Usual Suspects (I can't recommend this film enough.)
Citizen Kane
Chinatown
Empire Strikes Back
posted by zarq at 2:19 PM on September 27, 2010
Fallen.
Memento.
I'm afraid that knowing the twist exists is going to spoil some of the movie for you. But you were counting on that, right?
posted by Snarl Furillo at 2:21 PM on September 27, 2010
Memento.
I'm afraid that knowing the twist exists is going to spoil some of the movie for you. But you were counting on that, right?
posted by Snarl Furillo at 2:21 PM on September 27, 2010
Google is your friend here. Look for "movies with twist endings" the problem is that if you know there is going to be a twist, it's less fun.
posted by jeblis at 2:21 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by jeblis at 2:21 PM on September 27, 2010
The Matrix, fairly obviously. Memento is sort of like this. The Machinist. Pi. Moon. The Sixth Sense. The Usual Suspects. Rashômon. Big Fish.
IMDB has this keyword option now. I was browsing terms like "unreliable flashback" and "hallucination" to jog my memory.
posted by jessamyn at 2:22 PM on September 27, 2010
IMDB has this keyword option now. I was browsing terms like "unreliable flashback" and "hallucination" to jog my memory.
posted by jessamyn at 2:22 PM on September 27, 2010
The main character in The Truman Show discovers that his entire life is not what he thought it was, and the movie is about how he confronts and deals with that knowledge, but we (the audience) know the premise from the beginning. Does a plot like that count for your purposes?
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:25 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:25 PM on September 27, 2010
I'm going to nominate Donnie Darko. SPOILER: I spent most of the movie thinking that the protagonist was insane, only to find out that his reality was actually correct.
posted by sbutler at 2:27 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by sbutler at 2:27 PM on September 27, 2010
An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge
posted by benzenedream at 2:27 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by benzenedream at 2:27 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Rashomon has essentially the same story told by several different characters points of view, yielding dramatically different results.
posted by electroboy at 2:29 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by electroboy at 2:29 PM on September 27, 2010
Fight Club.
posted by jeffamaphone at 2:31 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffamaphone at 2:31 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Sixth Sense
posted by photoboothsupermodel at 2:37 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by photoboothsupermodel at 2:37 PM on September 27, 2010
A lot of the recommended films don't really fit the question. I don't think Memento, Empire Strikes Back or Reservoir Dogs do the perception plot twist. They're all about how characters are manipulated or decieved by others.
A Tale of Two Sisters definitely counts though. As always, avoid the pisspoor remake.
posted by permafrost at 2:47 PM on September 27, 2010
A Tale of Two Sisters definitely counts though. As always, avoid the pisspoor remake.
posted by permafrost at 2:47 PM on September 27, 2010
I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but I highly recommend The Orphanage. Haute Tension (High Tension in English) may be more of the twist you're looking for, though it's kind of riddled with plot holes. A Tale of Two Sisters is also worth checking out.
posted by lexicakes at 2:49 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by lexicakes at 2:49 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
if you liked Vanilla Sky, try The Conversation.
posted by effluvia at 2:55 PM on September 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by effluvia at 2:55 PM on September 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
I don't think Memento, Empire Strikes Back or Reservoir Dogs do the perception plot twist.
Finding out the true identities of Natalie, Darth Vader, and Mr. Orange (respectively) definitely change your perception of the movie up to that point. To the extent that you'd say "man, I have to rewatch this now with the new knowledge about this character", I think they fit the "perception twist" angle.
I could be stretching a bit, but yeah, I think they're what the OP is after.
posted by King Bee at 2:57 PM on September 27, 2010
Finding out the true identities of Natalie, Darth Vader, and Mr. Orange (respectively) definitely change your perception of the movie up to that point. To the extent that you'd say "man, I have to rewatch this now with the new knowledge about this character", I think they fit the "perception twist" angle.
I could be stretching a bit, but yeah, I think they're what the OP is after.
posted by King Bee at 2:57 PM on September 27, 2010
The films dahliachewswell gave as examples all feature characters whose perception of the world is essentially wrong. Crowe in The Sixth Sense doesn't realise he's a ghost, and the narrator in Fight Club doesn't know he's actually Tyler, both of which are known by other characters. Their realisation of this is the twist (and so is our realisation, unless we guess it first).
The characters in Memento, Empire and Reservoir Dogs have no problem perceiving the world. It's just that they've been lied to at some point.
posted by permafrost at 3:08 PM on September 27, 2010
The characters in Memento, Empire and Reservoir Dogs have no problem perceiving the world. It's just that they've been lied to at some point.
posted by permafrost at 3:08 PM on September 27, 2010
I suppose you're right, upon re-reading the post.
posted by King Bee at 3:10 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by King Bee at 3:10 PM on September 27, 2010
Big Fish
Devil's Advocate
The Village (or The Happening or the Sixth Sense or anything else that M Night Shayamalan has ever made)
posted by milqman at 3:13 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Devil's Advocate
The Village (or The Happening or the Sixth Sense or anything else that M Night Shayamalan has ever made)
posted by milqman at 3:13 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Actually having thought about it, I think there's a case for Memento: spoilery discussion on mouseover.
posted by permafrost at 3:20 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by permafrost at 3:20 PM on September 27, 2010
Best answer: Drifting a bit further afield of the better-known Memento and Fight Club variations, I would venture to suggest that one very interesting film which stretched the potential of this sort of plot twist further than anything else I've seen is that most mind-bending of movies, The Saragossa Manuscript. It was based (apparently very faithfully) on a monumental and obscure Don Quixote-esque novel by a Polish nobleman with distinctly warlockian tendencies; after its publication in 1814, he promptly shot himself in the head with a silver bullet which he'd had blessed beforehand by the unwitting local priest.
I mention this detail because it gives one a sense of the flavor of the sprawling movie based on his book; The Saragossa Manuscript is a whirlwind of mistaken perceptions and confused impressions, and the various central characters encounter the situation you describe (something is revealed that shows that appearances were not at all what they seemed, and in fact quite different) on, as far as I can recall, at least four occasions. I can't really tell you much about the plot – not because I'm worried about spoiling it, but because I'm still genuinely confused about what happened in this movie, though I've seen in now three times all the way through; The Saragossa Manuscript is awesomely disorienting, particularly in its extension of the 'story-within-a-story' trope to its very limit of coherence. (The last time I watched it, I remember counting back for myself and figuring that at one point I was watching a story within a story within a story within a story within a story within a story within a story – seven layers.) People keep picking up old books and reading about their grandparents or finding some unpublished papers and learning about some long-lost friend; then the narrative dives in, but it's connected to what came before in some way, so you just end up lost. There are wandering knights, military captains, battles, Muslim sorcerers, strange sexual intrigues, skulls, and all kinds of mystical turns.
It's a pretty fantastic experience, all in all. It clocks in at a massive 175 minutes, just under three hours; but it's broken into two parts, so you can take a break in the middle. It's worth watching in one night, though (maybe with dinner in between or something like that) so that you can at least try to keep it in your head as you're watching. I can't recommend this movie enough; it really is fantastic.
posted by koeselitz at 3:22 PM on September 27, 2010 [13 favorites]
I mention this detail because it gives one a sense of the flavor of the sprawling movie based on his book; The Saragossa Manuscript is a whirlwind of mistaken perceptions and confused impressions, and the various central characters encounter the situation you describe (something is revealed that shows that appearances were not at all what they seemed, and in fact quite different) on, as far as I can recall, at least four occasions. I can't really tell you much about the plot – not because I'm worried about spoiling it, but because I'm still genuinely confused about what happened in this movie, though I've seen in now three times all the way through; The Saragossa Manuscript is awesomely disorienting, particularly in its extension of the 'story-within-a-story' trope to its very limit of coherence. (The last time I watched it, I remember counting back for myself and figuring that at one point I was watching a story within a story within a story within a story within a story within a story within a story – seven layers.) People keep picking up old books and reading about their grandparents or finding some unpublished papers and learning about some long-lost friend; then the narrative dives in, but it's connected to what came before in some way, so you just end up lost. There are wandering knights, military captains, battles, Muslim sorcerers, strange sexual intrigues, skulls, and all kinds of mystical turns.
It's a pretty fantastic experience, all in all. It clocks in at a massive 175 minutes, just under three hours; but it's broken into two parts, so you can take a break in the middle. It's worth watching in one night, though (maybe with dinner in between or something like that) so that you can at least try to keep it in your head as you're watching. I can't recommend this movie enough; it really is fantastic.
posted by koeselitz at 3:22 PM on September 27, 2010 [13 favorites]
I N C E P T I O N
posted by Jacqueline at 3:26 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by Jacqueline at 3:26 PM on September 27, 2010
Inception? Really? I liked it, but I can't think of an actual twist - the one thing we don't know up front is pretty heavily foreshadowed.
posted by restless_nomad at 3:43 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by restless_nomad at 3:43 PM on September 27, 2010
Shutter Island. Poor Marty's doing stupid gimmicks now.
posted by xmutex at 3:53 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by xmutex at 3:53 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I've mentioned this on the green before...
Siesta
1987. Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne, Isabella Rossellini, Jodie Foster, Julian Sands, Martin Sheen, Alexi Sayle.
Sound Track by Miles Davis. Mostly takes place in Spain. Tons of cheesy AWESOME.
posted by jbenben at 4:18 PM on September 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
Siesta
1987. Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne, Isabella Rossellini, Jodie Foster, Julian Sands, Martin Sheen, Alexi Sayle.
Sound Track by Miles Davis. Mostly takes place in Spain. Tons of cheesy AWESOME.
posted by jbenben at 4:18 PM on September 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
Nthing Big Fish!
And speaking of Ewan McGregor, I loved the Pillow Book.
posted by jbenben at 4:20 PM on September 27, 2010
And speaking of Ewan McGregor, I loved the Pillow Book.
posted by jbenben at 4:20 PM on September 27, 2010
Also came to recommend Chinatown.
I'm curious what shift in the *character's* perception you think takes place in Mulholland Drive? I think the opposite is the case--the character's inability to change their correct interpretation of events is what drives them over the edge. My take is here with plenty of spoilers.
posted by dobbs at 4:27 PM on September 27, 2010
I'm curious what shift in the *character's* perception you think takes place in Mulholland Drive? I think the opposite is the case--the character's inability to change their correct interpretation of events is what drives them over the edge. My take is here with plenty of spoilers.
posted by dobbs at 4:27 PM on September 27, 2010
Haute Tension (High Tension)
Psycho
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
posted by mkultra at 4:39 PM on September 27, 2010
Psycho
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
posted by mkultra at 4:39 PM on September 27, 2010
Ah, okay, I think I misunderstood the question upon first reading. I thought you were after films in which the character's perception changes. You seem to be after films in which the viewer's perception changes.
posted by dobbs at 4:41 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by dobbs at 4:41 PM on September 27, 2010
Best answer: American Psycho
Friday The Thirteenth
Unbreakable
The Crying Game
Capturing the Friedmans
F For Fake
Lastly, this specific kind of twist is Brian De Palma's calling card. Many of his movies employ the twist of perception:
Dressed To Kill
Raising Cain
Femme Fatale
Mission: Impossible
Carlito's Way
Sisters
posted by mkultra at 4:52 PM on September 27, 2010
Friday The Thirteenth
Unbreakable
The Crying Game
Capturing the Friedmans
F For Fake
Lastly, this specific kind of twist is Brian De Palma's calling card. Many of his movies employ the twist of perception:
Dressed To Kill
Raising Cain
Femme Fatale
Mission: Impossible
Carlito's Way
Sisters
posted by mkultra at 4:52 PM on September 27, 2010
Session 9, which upon checking, was on the list zarq pointed out.
posted by Pronoiac at 5:13 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Pronoiac at 5:13 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm not totally sure if its what you're looking for but Swimming with Fishes sounds like it might fit the bill. And its a great movie.
posted by fshgrl at 5:13 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by fshgrl at 5:13 PM on September 27, 2010
Here's one that all of you should see. Don't pay attention to the cover art. I think it's damn good twist, and twist, and twist. It flew under the radar and I watched it on a whim.
The Triangle
It's on NetFlix Streaming too.
posted by bleucube at 5:24 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Triangle
It's on NetFlix Streaming too.
posted by bleucube at 5:24 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne, Isabella Rossellini, Jodie Foster, Julian Sands, Martin Sheen, Alexi Sayle.
WHAT IS ALEXI SAYLE DOING AT THAT END OF THE LIST
posted by Beardman at 5:35 PM on September 27, 2010 [4 favorites]
WHAT IS ALEXI SAYLE DOING AT THAT END OF THE LIST
posted by Beardman at 5:35 PM on September 27, 2010 [4 favorites]
Tarkovsky's Solaris. Soderbergh's too, but it's smaller there.
The Thirteenth Floor.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:00 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Thirteenth Floor.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:00 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
The twist I'm thinking of in Inception is the one at the very last moment.
posted by Jacqueline at 6:39 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by Jacqueline at 6:39 PM on September 27, 2010
I think there's a good case to be made for Oldboy here, but I won't make that case. It's one of my favourite movies, and I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it.
posted by smorange at 6:40 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by smorange at 6:40 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Mamet's House of Games pulls the rug out from under you a few times. It's a movie about con men, what did you expect?
posted by cirripede at 7:21 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by cirripede at 7:21 PM on September 27, 2010
Save The Green Planet!
posted by furiousthought at 7:35 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by furiousthought at 7:35 PM on September 27, 2010
The Innocents
Read the book if still confused. (Was she really mad or not?)
posted by IndigoJones at 8:09 PM on September 27, 2010
Read the book if still confused. (Was she really mad or not?)
posted by IndigoJones at 8:09 PM on September 27, 2010
Fluke also has what you're looking for. Although it was marketed as a kids' movie, it was actually really dark.
posted by holterbarbour at 8:42 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by holterbarbour at 8:42 PM on September 27, 2010
Closer!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:45 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:45 PM on September 27, 2010
Adaptation pulls a really interesting twist in perception near the end that had me really hating the movie the first few times I saw it (but obviously in a way that nagged me, cuz I watched it again and again). At first I couldn't understand why the movie ended like it did, even having read Orleans' book, why the tone and pace shifted the way it did and why characters did/said what they did and said. But then, after a few times through, as I was able to see the plot come to a head in that hotel room in NYC, the twist made sense and I really enjoyed the ending of the film. People have been delineating between audience perception and character perception, but Adaptation fits its twist into both categories so subtly and artfully.
posted by carsonb at 9:51 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by carsonb at 9:51 PM on September 27, 2010
What are some movies that feature a plot twist wherein something is revealed about the main character's perception that changes the whole story...ie. he was dreaming, she is actually crazy, it was all in their heads, etc.?
Sorry, I don't see how most of these movies fit: they are movies in which the main character has a realization (character development). Really, Big Fish? Loved the movie, but am I missing something?
Closest thing to an answer I can submit is Repulsion.
posted by sfkiddo at 9:54 PM on September 27, 2010
Sorry, I don't see how most of these movies fit: they are movies in which the main character has a realization (character development). Really, Big Fish? Loved the movie, but am I missing something?
Closest thing to an answer I can submit is Repulsion.
posted by sfkiddo at 9:54 PM on September 27, 2010
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
posted by millipede at 10:48 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by millipede at 10:48 PM on September 27, 2010
A Pure Formality with Gerard Depardieu and Roman Polanski. Throughout the movie you'll be questioning, "What's happening?" and the end may still leave you asking that question (although, you'll probably figure it out!) If you're watching it as a group, lots of discussion will ensue.
posted by kbar1 at 11:36 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by kbar1 at 11:36 PM on September 27, 2010
Sorry - I just found out A Pure Formality is only available on VHS - and even if you still have access to a VCR, it may be hard to find a copy - it's not listed on Netflix.
posted by kbar1 at 11:48 PM on September 27, 2010
posted by kbar1 at 11:48 PM on September 27, 2010
Best answer: There are some great con movies out there with this theme: Nueve Reinas is nothing short of fantastic and so is Christopher Nolan's Following. And shall I even mention The Sting? (Not that Police guy)
posted by ouke at 12:58 AM on September 28, 2010
posted by ouke at 12:58 AM on September 28, 2010
I'm surprised no one's mentioned Brazil yet. So... Brazil.
posted by Grangousier at 3:46 AM on September 28, 2010
posted by Grangousier at 3:46 AM on September 28, 2010
Jet Li's movie - "Hero" - it's a beautiful movie visually and is told over in several different points of view and a huge shift in perception thrown in at the end.
posted by MorningPerson at 6:00 AM on September 28, 2010
posted by MorningPerson at 6:00 AM on September 28, 2010
Waking Life, written and directed by Richard Linklater. Similar plot conceit to Vanilla Sky, but a much better movie.
posted by workerant at 7:11 AM on September 28, 2010
posted by workerant at 7:11 AM on September 28, 2010
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