Psychology technique · used in 3 films
Writing a lead whose real motives stay hidden, even from the people closest to him. You judge him only by his actions, and some of them surprise you.
Examples
John Carpenter · 1981
Snake barely speaks, never explains himself and keeps his plans to himself. You learn who he is by what he does, and the ending shows he has no loyalty to anyone in power. He is hard to read, which makes him magnetic.
Where to see it: The ending: after the President thanks him only in passing, Snake walks away in disgust. He pulls the real cassette from his pocket and destroys it.
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen · 1990
Tom rarely explains himself. He tells Leo about his affair with Verna, joins Caspar, spares Bernie and later turns on the Dane, and you are never sure whose side he is on. One reviewer called him the heartless centre of the film. You keep watching to learn what he wants.
Where to see it: The final scene. Leo offers Tom his old job back and says Verna wants to marry him, and Tom turns down the job and watches Leo walk away.
John Carpenter · 1996
Snake mumbles, sneers and keeps his reasons to himself. You do not know until the end whether he will help or betray anyone. His final act shows who he is.
Where to see it: The ending: Snake programs the real remote and triggers every satellite in the Sword of Damocles system. All technology on Earth shuts off, and he lights a cigarette and says, Welcome to the human race.
Questions