A red herring is a narrative device most common in thrillers in storytelling. The device is used to distract or mislead an audience before the final resolution of a conflict or a character’s motive is revealed. Anything can be a distraction: a subplot, a character, a sound effect, or any piece of information presented to the audience as a vital clue that may pay off later, only to be undermined and reveal an altered resolution to the conflict. This makes Red Herring a tricky plot device, as it may not pay off with the risk of being seen as a shortcut to solving a climax or over-complicating an obvious event.
For example, the delivery of The horrible woman in Sherlock ends with a where-did-that-from moment where it is revealed that the entire story only took place in Sherlock’s ghost palace. A successful red herring pays off when the surprise revelation is as layered and convincing as the build-up to the conflict. Here are 10 thrillers that make the most of red herrings in their stories.
10 Knives out
Knives out is directed by Rian John and is inspired by the classic whodunit movies of Hollywood and Agatha Christie novels, famous for their use of intricate red herrings. The film follows Benoit Blanc’s investigation into Harlan Thrombey’s alleged suicide on his 85th birthday. Blanc wonders why he was invited to investigate an alleged suicide in the first place.
Here, all cards are laid on the table, as it is made clear that the patriarch’s death is not as easy as it seems. Each member of the Thrombay family becomes a suspect, with an interesting quirk for one of the residents, who pukes when she lies. Put on the red herrings Knives out pays off, because the final reveal is never hidden from the public. The clues are hidden in plain sight, leaving the audience feeling intrigued rather than cheated with a parallel storyline that tries to fit in unconvincingly.
9 Psycho
Psycho takes the audience on an unexpected journey when a fugitive secretary finds herself in the company of a mysterious man who runs a motel. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho stands out for its impressive use of red herring, as it not only elevates the mystery genre, but takes us deep into the minds of a troubled man and his complicated relationship with his mother. The viewer is sure of the presence and impact Norma Bates has on her son, only to completely question her existence as the film progresses. Hitchcock plays peek-a-boo with Norma’s physicality and psyche as he portrays her in the film, ending with the most poignant yet iconic reveal of all time.
8 To search
To search is filmed entirely on digital screens, making it an unconventional storytelling and movie-watching experience. The movie uses classic tropes from thriller movies, which makes it a captivating watch. Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, the film is a conventional story of a father searching for his missing daughter, told through the digital devices they use. What makes the story compelling is the use of red herring to reveal the culprit and the motive behind keeping the person hidden.
The film finds a moving story of abuse of power and motherhood, with disturbing moments that determine the film’s climax and the fate of the missing girl. The film was praised for its use of technology as a commentary on how one communicates in relationships and how every act is traceable in the age of digital technology.
7 Keepsake
Keepsake is inventive in its own way for redefining non-linear forms of storytelling. Christopher Nolan tells a story with mathematical precision, planting red herrings everywhere as a man with short-term amnesia searches for his wife’s killer. The story is told through Leonard Shelby, who suffers from amnesia. What makes the film interesting is that the viewer is willing to believe Leonard’s story, even though it is made clear at the beginning that his illness makes him an unreliable narrator.
This just goes to show why red herrings work in the first place, as the audience is a blind believer and is always at the narrator’s mercy, even when the film establishes its lopsided mind from the very first scene. Since everything Leonard believes turns out to be false, the red herring here is Leonard himself, as he’s the one who runs away from the root of the problem when the problem is with him.
6 The Sixth Sense
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The Sixth Sense, directed by M Night Shyamalan is notorious for using the most iconic red herring. The film follows a young boy who is disturbed by his ability to communicate with dead spirits. He consults a child psychologist, who also has problems of his own. This leads to the most surprising twist of all time, which makes The Sixth Sense one of the best horror movies ever made.
What makes the red herring in it The Sixth Sense that’s how compelling is the relationship between the boy and the psychologist, which makes the story feel organic even after the mask is lifted. The fast-paced screenplay and performance by Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment successfully touch and surprise the audience’s hearts. Normally, red herrings are resolved in a short amount of time during the climax of a movie and can fail when there’s a lot to unpack for the audience. The Sixth Sense is subtle as it unfolds the truth with the information already known to the audience, landing successfully with the smoothest plot twist ever told.
5 Zodiac
Zodiac is a chilling thriller directed by David Fincher based on the book Zodiac written by crime writer Robert Graysmith, who is played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Graysmith is obsessed with the Zodiac Killer, who murdered several victims in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film follows Graysmith’s research into identifying Zodiac, as he always seems very close yet too far from the killer.
The film is exceptional in that it evokes a disturbing mood throughout the film, where one is almost convinced of the killer, but always has no evidence. In a pivotal scene, Graysmith encounters a possible suspect in his house, who is nothing but extremely inviting. He is called to the basement to check some evidence as he hears the sound of footsteps on the floor above. Graysmith asks if anyone else is in the house, to which the person disagrees when the sound of the footsteps is clearly established. The red herring here is the sound of the footsteps, as it’s never been resolved if it was really the killer or if Graysmith was just hallucinating. Nevertheless, the scene is gripping in tone and seamless in editing, making it scarier than a horror movie.
4 Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express is a classic genre film adapted from the Agatha Christie novel of the same name. The popular Belgian detective Hercule Poirot solves a murder case in the Orient Express, on which wealthy passengers traveled. The film presents the motives of several suspects as it becomes clear that the murder was committed by more than one person as the investigation progresses. The red herrings in the film are typical of Agatha Christie’s mystery novels, in which several clues seem important only to be revealed as a minor detail or coincidence.
In many ways, a red herring is considered to be the antonym for Chekhov’s gun, which describes a plot device where a gun or other key element shown in the first act of a film must be used by the third act, otherwise it serves no purpose. purpose or leads the audience astray. However, the red herring in Murder on the Orient Express precisely oversees the deception for a gripping story.
3 The usual suspects
The usual suspects is another movie known for its use of red herring, resulting in the most surprising twist in movie history. The film follows a group of criminals who cross paths because of a man named Keyser Söze. The man’s identity is not revealed until the film’s famous ending. Directed by Bryan Singer, The usual suspects is known for using unreliable narrators. The film establishes Keyser Söze’s urban mythology, as well as the likelihood of his identity initially in the film. While the film doesn’t provide a plausible explanation of who Keyser Söze is, it convinces audiences that Keyser Söze isn’t making the most satisfying deception of all time.
2 Shutter Island
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is a red herring favourite. The film follows the life of a troubled US Marshal Teddy Daniels as he deals with the loss of his family. In a series of events, the film reveals the tragic incidents that haunt Teddy and how he eventually loses his mind. The red herrings inside Shutter Island is structured in a babushka doll-like arrangement, with each motif embedded in several other motifs of multiple characters. What keeps the film balanced and easy to follow is Leonardo DiCaprio’s compelling portrayal as Teddy, who narrates the story. The audience understands the information presented through Teddy’s eyes and as the audience begins to question everything the film has built for, they only sympathize with Teddy’s trauma of losing the people he loves most.
1 Se7en
Directed by David Fincher, Se7en stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as two detectives on the hunt for a serial killer who is inspired by the seven deadly sins before his murderous attack. The film is known for its plot twist. The red herring in the movie is observed in the dynamic between the killer and the detectives as one gets ahead of the other and ends with a devastating tragedy that the detectives don’t see coming. Se7en received mixed reviews for its depiction of graphic violence, but is today regarded as one of the greatest crime thrillers of all time. The film’s stylistic cinematography and screenplay inspired several other thrillers and made Brad Pitt’s presence plausible for dramatic roles.