Narrative technique · used in 1 film

Shared Universe Tease

Ending a self-contained story with a short scene that links it to a larger shared world. The tag rewards viewers who know the other films and sets up what comes next.

Examples

Where you can see it

  1. Split (2017) poster

    Split

    M. Night Shyamalan · 2017

    The film ends with a quiet diner scene that has nothing to do with the kidnapping. A news report about the captor leads a character to name a famous criminal, and fans of an earlier film get a jolt.

    Where to see it: Diner ending: A news report about The Horde prompts a waitress to recall a wheelchair-bound criminal, and David Dunn names him as Mr. Glass.

Questions

Quick answers

What is shared universe tease in film?
Ending a self-contained story with a short scene that links it to a larger shared world. The tag rewards viewers who know the other films and sets up what comes next.
Which films use shared universe tease?
Split (2017).
What kind of technique is shared universe tease?
It is a narrative technique. Related narrative techniques include Symbolic Object, Observational Restraint, Earned Catharsis.

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