# Twists that everyone knows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830 "2020-12-11T13:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZosterSandstorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/21 "2020-12-11T15:51:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Here is one that is so well known, people forget it was a twist. It was spoiled in the marketing, but if you go in cold, it is a twist that: > > **Arnold’s Terminator in T2 is there to protect them, not kill them.** Is every surprise a twist? This is revealed about 15% of the way into the movie. And I don’t think anyone could have avoided the marketing at the time. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The identity of Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects? I think this is another example of “a plot development/resolution” being confused for a twist. Figuring out Soze’s identity is the central theme of the movie and the notion that it’s quite possibly the alter ego of one of the criminals on the boat is presented explicitly well before the final reveal. The way in which the viewer is shown how Soze improvised his way through the interview to throw off suspicion is memorable, but it’s no more a twist than a murder mystery ending with the reveal of the murderer - the movie had to end with SOMEONE being revealed as Soze. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/22 "2020-12-11T15:55:43Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Are we talking in general too? Like in a horror movie the killer is close to killing someone but you don’t see the death. PLOT TWIST: They don’t die and show up to help the last survivor later. If I learned anything from The Walking Dead it’s that any deaths, especially of main or supporting characters, that aren’t explicitly shown on screen, didn’t happen. We should have come to expect it much sooner than we all caught on. The first time they did it was in the second episode of the first season (Merle). > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The identity of Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects? The Usual Suspects is 25 years old, Six Sense is 21 years old. I feel like most of ‘us’ know the plot twists, but anyone under, say, 25-30 won’t if they haven’t seen it. Neither of those movies are regularly talked about like they were back in the 90’s or 00’s. Besides, in both cases, I don’t think anyone wouldn’t think they were twists, even if they knew it going in. ---
**Author:** ![Astrid1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Astrid1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astrid1)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/23 "2020-12-11T16:03:28Z")
The movie “The Others”, starring Nicole Kidman. Have you watched it? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/24 "2020-12-11T16:13:48Z")
Excellent movie. Helped to change my opinion about Nicole Kidman’s acting in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/25 "2020-12-11T16:13:59Z")
> [@Astrid1](#): > > The movie “The Others”, starring Nicole Kidman. Have you watched it? No, and I have no idea what the movie is about, much less what the twist is. And I see a fair number of movies. I don’t think it qualifies as something “everyone knows.” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/26 "2020-12-11T16:16:26Z")
“Soylent Green is people!” and the fact that the Planet of the Apes is Earth are pretty universally known. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/27 "2020-12-11T16:19:33Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > But imagine yourself in the latter part of the 1st century and hearing the story told verbally to you for the first time and having a what the heck just happened moment. “God that dies, visits the underworld, and returns to life” would have already been a well-worn topic on ScrollTropes back then. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/28 "2020-12-11T16:23:53Z")
> [@Astrid1](#): > > The movie “The Others”, starring Nicole Kidman. Have you watched it? I have, and it does have a great twist, but I’m not sure it’s an ‘everyone knows’ thing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/29 "2020-12-11T16:26:16Z")
Not really a twist, but a well known secret: Racer X is really Speed’s brother Rex. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/30 "2020-12-11T16:28:44Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > I think this is another example of “a plot development/resolution” being confused for a twist. Figuring out Soze’s identity is the central theme of the movie and the notion that it’s quite possibly the alter ego of one of the criminals on the boat is presented explicitly well before the final reveal. The way in which the viewer is shown how Soze improvised his way through the interview to throw off suspicion is memorable, but it’s no more a twist than a murder mystery ending with the reveal of the murderer - the movie had to end with SOMEONE being revealed as Soze. The twist is that, given Soze’s identity, the entire story you just head about Soze is a lie: the narrator you considered to be reliable is 100% unreliable. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/31 "2020-12-11T16:30:44Z")
In certain circles yes, but to the largely illiterate crowds I think not. And consider that “the story” actually did convince people to take up a new religion and way of viewing life. Part of the attraction must have been the message that the twist sent out to people. Like I stated before, you don’t have to believe in the Bible story literally, but you can’t deny that it had a huge impact for a reason. Part of that reason was the twist of everlasting life and forgiveness of your sins. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/32 "2020-12-11T16:35:35Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Not really a twist, but a well known secret: Bit of a pet peeve of mine in these types of threads. If you put something in a spoiler without giving us a hint at what it is, we have to click on, thus ruining the effect of the spoiler. It’s like saying: In Fight Club the narrator and Tyler are the same person. Instead of: In The Sixth Sense Bruce Willis is dead. ---
**Author:** ![Astrid1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Astrid1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astrid1)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/33 "2020-12-11T16:36:25Z")
Thank you for your KIND reply. As you don’t know the movie, if you like please have a look at the Wikipedia page, section RECEPTION/BOX OFFICE. It will enlighten you > **[The Others (2001 film)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Others_(2001_film))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Others (Spanish: Los otros) is a 2001 English-language Spanish gothic supernatural psychological horror film written, directed, and scored by Alejandro Amenábar. It stars Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Elaine Cassidy, Eric Sykes, Alakina Mann and James Bentley. > The Others was theatrically released in the United States on August 2, 2001, by Dimension Films and in Spain on September 7, 2001, by Warner Sogefilms. The ... ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/34 "2020-12-11T16:40:16Z")
> [@Astrid1](#): > > Thank you for your KIND reply. > As you don’t know the movie, if you like please have a look at the Wikipedia page, section RECEPTION/BOX OFFICE. > It will enlighten you It’s still not a twist “everyone knows.” ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/35 "2020-12-11T16:41:05Z")
I have not seen it or read the spoilers, but now it is on my watch list. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/36 "2020-12-11T16:45:36Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Bit of a pet peeve of mine in these types of threads. If you put something in a spoiler without giving us a hint at what it is, we have to click on, thus ruining the effect of the spoiler. Do you really think that applies in this case? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/37 "2020-12-11T18:27:14Z")
Ripley being the last survivor of the _Nostromo_. I was a bit too young to know at the time, but I’ve read that Sigourney Weaver was then a young, relatively unknown actor when she was cast in _Alien_; in a ensemble cast with established stars like Tom Skerritt and John Hurt, she could have been expected to be among the first to die. The fact that the “big names” all died, and the obscure character survived, was the twist. ETA: _The Others_ is a great film, but hardly well-known. Very much worth watching, though. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/38 "2020-12-11T18:31:24Z")
Does the Twilight Zone: “To Serve Man” count? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/39 "2020-12-11T18:43:44Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > The identity of Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects? > > I think this is another example of “a plot development/resolution” being confused for a twist. Figuring out Soze’s identity is the central theme of the movie and the notion that it’s quite possibly the alter ego of one of the criminals on the boat is presented explicitly well before the final reveal. The way in which the viewer is shown how Soze improvised his way through the interview to throw off suspicion is memorable, but it’s no more a twist than a murder mystery ending with the reveal of the murderer - the movie had to end with SOMEONE being revealed as Soze. I don’t remember it being suggested that one of the six was Keyser Soze. It’s been far too long since I saw that movie for the first time and I thought we were led to believe that he was a faceless someone _other_ than the six. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830/40 "2020-12-11T18:51:46Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Helped to change my opinion about Nicole Kidman’s acting in fact. Watch **Queen of the Desert**. She’s great in it and was overlooked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twists-that-everyone-knows/927830.md?page=3)