More Misdirection - Building Fear Part 6B

 

If part of misdirection is making the patrons sure they know what they are looking at, then the Old Bait & Switch is certainly a big part of that.

Putting an animatronic prop in plain view and then attacking from the side is certainly a good example, but a more blatant one is "actor as prop".

The patron enters a room.  In the center of the room is an electric chair.  Lights are flickering.  There is some janky sound effect that sounds like it's coming from a 3" speaker.  In the chair is a figure moving rhythmically to in sync with sounds.  

That prop is not scaring anyone.  Then, the figure launches herself out of the chair with a bloodcurdling SCREAM!  The patrons scream too, getting out of there ASAP.

We play on their perceptions and expectations.  They think they are seeing a cheap and obvious animatronic, and are surprised to see a real actor.

How about this?  A man is chained to the wall.  Upside down. His feet are near the ceiling in cuffs. His head hangs limp behind a mask.  Maybe he is thrashing around.  Maybe he is perfectly still.  Suddenly, he runs at the group - on his hands!

Turns out, the legs were permanently attached to the wall and the actor's costume made it LOOK like his head was his crotch and vice-versa.  

Of course, you could just hire an accomplished gymnast to do this with n special costume.  That would be what Teller calls "Making the secret a lot more trouble than the trick seems worth".

Drop panels are bait and switch.  You think you are seeing a nice framed picture, but NO!  There is a monster behind it!

Drop panels can also be a way of using pattern recognition against us.  Obviously, most people do not expect pictures to drop down to reveal a monster. This can be reinforced by having several pictures that do not (at least at any one time) do this.  People get used to seeing the pictures, then BAM!  Surprise them.

Another pattern is create here now that is easy to overlook.  Once the drop panel has been used, all future pictures become suspect.  This can be used against them.  Let's say a little bit after the drop panel, there is a corner that turns to the right.  Before the patrons turn the corner, they can see the wall that will be on their left when they turn the corner, but NOT the wall that will be on their right.  Put a picture where they can see it before turning the corner.  Make it "obviously" a drop panel.  They will look that way as they turn the corner, never even seeing the drop panel on the opposite wall until it's too late.

Create a pattern, disrupt the pattern.  Bait.  Switch.

Happy Halloween!