Hidden Movie Plots You Missed
Think about the first time you watched a movie that you’ve seen. Then think about how many times you’ve seen it since. You still missed details no matter how many times you re-watch it.
When you were younger and watched The Matrix, there’s no way that you fully got every plot point in the film. If you watched the movie Primer for the first time — even the 5th time — and claim you “got it,” you’re flat-out lying to everyone and should be ashamed of yourself.
There are just some plot points in movies that are so well hidden or glossed over that most of us missed it. Not me, however. My Mom says I’m super-observant, and the best Mario Kart player ever. That’s why my artwork from when I was a kid and from last week is all over her fridge.
Some of the best movies have plots you’ve missed, and that is why I shall explain things to you that you will steal and point out to your friends. It’s alright, I’m used to it.
THE PRESTIGE
The Prestige, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Michael Cane, is about rival magicians trying to one-up each other with the best magic tricks with obvious bad results. It’s a fantastic movie that Christopher Nolan directed in-between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
In the film, there’s a part where Hugh Jackman’s character watches a demonstration given by Nikola Tesla — played by David Bowie, who rocked the part. The demonstration goes awry and lightning bolts burst over the crowd, which scares audience members.
During the scene, one man stands up and yells about how dangerous the demonstration is and that everyone should leave. Later in the film, you see the same man with Thomas Edison.
Just like how Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman were observing and sabotaging each other’s acts, scientists were doing the same with each other in that time period.
Although, Edison was more damaging to Tesla than the other way around, this film shows it even if the audience misses it.
During the Battle of the Currents, Edison would often use to try to sabotage the character of Nikola Tesla with audience plants and stunts like electrocuting an elephant to show how dangerous Tesla’s alternating current was. This plays out in the movie seamlessly, but since many Americans don’t even know that Nikola Tesla was a real person responsible for such innovation.
BACK TO THE FUTURE 2
In the sequel, Biff can be seen spiking the punch at the dance. Classic Biff! What happens next is something you’ll remember, but may not have put together.
Remember when George McFly needed to build up the courage to punch Biff in the face? He goes and takes a big swig from a cup full of punch to give Biff a face full of fist punch. Biff inadvertently gave George the liquid courage he needed to defeat him.
In case you didn’t get that: Biff spiked the punch to get punched. Apologies to your eye doctor for correcting your sight after such an eye-roll.
Marty McFly: “Whoa, Paradoxes!”
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
In what is arguably one of the best zombie comedies of all time, Shaun of the Dead merged classic horror and laughter into Edgar Wright’s breakthrough film debut. What you may have missed is a segment near the beginning of the movie that basically tells you the entire plot of the film without you even realizing it.
Right after Shaun gets dumped, Ed tells Shaun what they should do to get him over it.
Here’s the breakdown:
“We’ll have a Bloody Mary first thing.” Mary is the name of the zombie girl they first kill in their backyard.
“Have a bite at the King’s Head.” This refers to when Shaun’s step-dad Phillip gets bit by a zombie. Running it under a “cold tap” obviously didn’t work.
“A couple at the Little Princess.” This alludes to where they meet Shaun’s girlfriend Liz and her friends at their apartment.
“Stagger back here” is where they’re pretending to be zombies in a crowd of zombies to get back to the Winchester. Some better than others…
And then “Bang, back here for shots at the bar,” which is where they use the rifle on the zombies at the bar.
How’s that for a slice of fried Gold?!
FIGHT CLUB
The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!
The thing about that is it’s an initiation. An organization cannot expand if no one knows about it, and Fight Club/Project Mayhem is all about anarchy and breaking rules. Why not make the first rule of their club the one that you break first to be initiated? If you aren’t sure if you want to break it, just break it again. That takes care of rule number 2.
Fight Club is full of little Easter eggs. Just look at the car accident where Tyler crashes the car on purpose. Who gets out of the driver side window? The Narrator. Who was driving? Brad Pitt. If you don’t get that, well, you’re hopeless.
THE DARK KNIGHT
This one is pretty complicated, but the more I unravel it, the more you’ll understand it.
In The Dark Knight, one of the biggest complaints by viewers was that The Joker seemed to have planned out everything so meticulously that it seemed almost impossible. We know almost nothing about The Joker besides what he tells us and what we see. What he tells us is multiple stories that could or could not be true:
On the other hand, we see Batman do nearly the impossible. The movie shows him setting up his plans, but it never really shows the Joker do so.
What The Joker is to the viewer, Batman is to criminals.
Batman shows up with endless resources and stop criminals in their tracks with almost no explanation. He’s a mystery. The only thing criminals have figured out is that he doesn’t kill. The Joker is the perfect parallel to The Dark Knight.
The Joker just showed up on a street corner the way Batman appeared on a rooftop. The crime bosses turn to The Joker when they’re helpless the same way the police turn to the Batman when they’re helpless. They both turn on Batman and The Joker as well. This makes Two-Face’s good and evil portrayed in the film have even more meaning.
Think it ends there? Of course not! At the fundraiser for Harvey Dent, both Bruce Wayne and The Joker parallel their entrances:
- They both arrive with an entourage that grabs the entire attention of the party (Bruce with models, and The Joker with bad guys).
- Both ask “Where is Harvey (Dent)?”
- They both look for Harvey, but end up turning their attention to Rachael Dawes.
- They both pour out a glass of champagne.
All that just makes Batman and Robin look even worse by comparison. Okay, that was harsh – everything makes that movie bad.
JURASSIC PARK
If you’re like me — and you’re not, because that’s impossible — you’ve seen Jurassic Park a minimum of 30 times on a Saturday afternoon. But a line in the movie that is repeated on numerous occasions was “I spared no expense.” by Jurassic Park founder John Hammond.
The irony is what destroys his entire park was when Dennis Nedry (Newman from Seinfeld) needed a raise after falling into financial problems. Expense is spared in his case and he shuts down the entire Park which leads to the plot unfolding like it does. If Hammond just paid him, well, Cedar Point would be the second place I’d hit on my vacation tour next year.
TERMINATOR 2
In the first Terminator, Arnold chases around Sarah Connor to prevent her from giving birth to John Connor to prevent him from fighting a defeating Skynet.
In Terminator 2, Sarah Connor attempts to kill Miles Dyson based on his creations that led to Skynet.
There are many movies where the certain elements go over our heads. Luckily, this may lead you to pay closer attention.
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Jeff Sorensen is an author, writer and occasional comedian living in Detroit, Michigan. You can look for more of his work on The Huffington Post, UPROXX, BGR and by just looking up his name.