Full Metal Jacket
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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A plot twist is a change ("twist") in the direction or expected outcome of the plot of a film, video game, novel or comic. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually surprising them with a revelation. Some "twists" are foreshadowed and can thus be predicted by many viewers, whereas others are a complete shock - most are somewhere in the middle with some people foreseeing them and others not.
Revealing the existence of a plot twist may be enough to spoil a movie for some, as the time spent watching would be used to "search" for the twist itself, as opposed to simply enjoying the presentation.
A device used to undermine the expectations of the audience is the false protagonist. It involves presenting a character at the start of the film as the main character, but then disposing of this character, usually killing them.
The plot twist is also common in some films. Many directors, such as the late Stanley Kubrick (in Full Metal Jacket and slightly in The Shining) and M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs, etc) use plot twists in their films, and is an effective technique when it comes to surprising and winning over the audience.
The plot twist is widely used in adult-oriented animated series like The Simpsons, and was used mockingly during the final episode of Drawn Together's first season, where every 5 minutes a plot twist was announced with a screen showing this phrase.
In the game Viewtiful Joe, Joe and later Silvia both say that there has to be one plot twist before there is a happy ending.
When a plot twist happens towards or at the end of a story, especially if it changes one's view of the previous action, it's known as a twist ending.
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