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Lightswitch Surprise

 Lightswitch Surprise
type
FeatureClass
 Lightswitch Surprise
label
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise
page
LightswitchSurprise
 Lightswitch Surprise
comment
A character enters a location, and it's dark. The first course of action is to switch on a light, be it from an actual lightswitch on a wall or one's portable light source. And... Surprise! In the room is an unexpected sight. Perhaps the character is in a lot of danger now, or at least some trouble. Or maybe it's just a Surprise Party.
This trope covers a situation in which a reveal of somebody's presence is made by turning on a light. Supertrope to Matchlight Danger Revelation, which involves going to a dark location and revealing danger via a lit match. The surprise might be part of a Caught Coming Home Late situation: someone waits — often in the dark — for another who's coming home past curfew.
If a light isn't turned on but a character is revealed as they walk out of the dark, it's Emerging from the Shadows. A dangerous entity waiting in the dark for someone in that person's own home who only wants to speak with them is Trespassing to Talk.
 Lightswitch Surprise
fetched
2024-02-10T10:29:57Z
 Lightswitch Surprise
parsed
2024-02-10T10:29:57Z
 Lightswitch Surprise
processingComment
Dropped link to BoringButPractical: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Lightswitch Surprise
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_11795604
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_11795604
comment
In Clock Tower 2, one of ScissorMan's encounters at the library has him surprising Helen in a water tank once she turned on the light switch.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_11795604
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1.0
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_11795604
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1.0
 Clock Tower 2 (Video Game)
hasFeature
Lightswitch Surprise / int_11795604
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type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_20409a0a
comment
The Defenders (2017): In "Take Shelter", when Matt drops by the Bulletin to grab Karen and move her into police protection, he announces his presence by turning on a desk lamp at the cubicle outside her office door, getting her to look up from her work.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_20409a0a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_20409a0a
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 The Defenders (2017)
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 Lightswitch Surprise / int_231c22b6
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_231c22b6
comment
On Titus, Christopher Titus describes a surprise party they threw for his uncle. When he walks in the door and the lights go on and people start yelling, he draws a revolver and starts shooting, injuring at least one guest. He then realizes what's happening and says "You guys."
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_231c22b6
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_231c22b6
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_426a7572
comment
Animaniacs: In "Potty Emergency", Wakko flips the lights on in a shady gas-station bathroom to find wall-to-wall cockroaches, which scatter immediately.
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Lightswitch Surprise
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Rogue One: Vader reveals himself to a group of rebel soldiers by igniting his lightsaber.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_467773a6
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_467773a6
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_4ba244d2
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_4ba244d2
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Five Nights at Freddy's 2: New to the game is that you can now turn on the lights in areas of the restaurant to check out dark spots. Needless to say, you're going to find some unpleasant things wandering around from time to time, and some details change depending on whether or not the lights are on, such as the animatronics on the Show Stage opening their eyes when the light in the eponymous room is turned on.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_4ba244d2
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_5144055f
comment
In the last chapter of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, after Guybrush falls through the hole in Dinky Island, he finds himself in a dark room and the only thing the player can do is look for the light switch to activate it. When he does so, it's revealed Guybrush is trapped in some kind of tunnel right next to LeChuck.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_5144055f
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_5144055f
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_533edb91
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_533edb91
comment
The Legend of Genji: Happens in "The Avatar Returns: Part V" when Genji is Caught Coming Home Late by his mother. Upon returning home from his late-night excursion, Genji sneaks back inside his family's darkened apartment through a window, only for the lights to suddenly switch on, revealing Genji's mother casually leaning on a nearby doorway with her finger over a lightswitch on the wall.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_533edb91
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1.0
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 The Legend of Genji (Webcomic)
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_533edb91
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_53a0bd32
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_53a0bd32
comment
The Twilight Zone (1959)
Episode "What You Need". When Mr. Pedott arrives home at his apartment, he enters and turns on the light. When he does, he discovers that Mr. Renard has broken into his room and is waiting in a chair to talk to him.
Episode "Long Live Walter Jameson". Walter Jameson believes he is alone in his room. The only light comes from a desk lamp. When he hears a voice say "Hello, Tommy", he turns the desk lamp to face the speaker. It turns out to be his former wife Laurette, sitting in a chair.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_53a0bd32
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_53a0bd32
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1.0
 The Twilight Zone (1959)
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_53a0bd32
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_8e571604
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_8e571604
comment
Madman: The alcoholic Dippy finds out that his bottle of Jack Daniels is empty, so he gets up and goes to a door. When he turns on the light, he finds Marz waiting there. Marz then slices open Dippy's throat with his fingernails and drags the body away.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_8e571604
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1.0
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_8e571604
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_8e571604
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_99e2547b
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_99e2547b
comment
In Legion (1998), the protagonist is a soldier on death-row who overpowers his guards then tries to hide in a dark room, only to find his former commanding officer there, who turns on the lights to reveal a line of handcuffed fellow prisoners. Turns out he Got Volunteered for The Dirty Dozen Recycled In Space.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_99e2547b
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 Legion (1998)
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_99e2547b
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_b3693333
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_b3693333
comment
Clue: This happens several times.
Mr. Boddy hands weapons to all the other guests, and instructs them to kill Wadsworth; he then switches out the light. After a gunshot is heard, the light is switched on again to reveal Mr. Boddy lying on the floor, instead of Wadsworth.
Later, in the same room, a cop switches on the light to reveal people apparently cuddling, when in fact they are hiding the fact that some of them are dead.
On a couple of other occasions, the surprise is the light being turned on, when somebody has been creeping around in the dark.
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1.0
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_b3693333
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c0241170
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c0241170
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Always the Quiet Ones: When the Rainbooms enter Fluttershy's room, they find it looks the same. Then when Applejack flicks on the light switch, it's revealed that the entire room is actually trashed.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c0241170
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1.0
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_c0241170
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c4282b71
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c4282b71
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In the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "Student Counsel", Trixie is so fed up with Starlight skipping out on preparations for the party that she summons Starlight to her office with the lights out, surprising Starlight when she turns the lights on to find Trixie sitting on the couch glaring daggers at her.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c4282b71
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_c4282b71
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c7a52ee3
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c7a52ee3
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Extreme Ghostbusters: In "Back in the Saddle (Part 1)," Egon and Janine return to HQ after celebrating his birthday. It's dark, and an ethereal voice calls his name. He wonders if it's some vengeful spirit for a moment, flips the switch, and... IT'S PETER, WINSTON, AND RAY!
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_c7a52ee3
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_c7a52ee3
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_d54b59cc
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_d54b59cc
comment
Demolition Man. When Doctor Cocteau and his assistant Bob enter Cocteau's office, it's dark. When Cocteau tries to turn on the voice-activated lights, they don't work. Then Simon Phoenix (who is sitting in Cocteau's chair in the dark) turns on the lights using a different verbal command, revealing his presence.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_d54b59cc
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 Lightswitch Surprise / int_d98c0a73
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_d98c0a73
comment
Teen Wolf: A frequent occurrence in Scott's bedroom in the first two seasons. Initially, it's Derek waiting in Scott's chair for Scott to turn on the lights, but eventually Gerard, Isaac, and even Scott manage to surprise someone coming into Scott's bedroom by waiting patiently in the dark.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_d98c0a73
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_df7fa951
comment
Casino Royale (2006) re-introduces James Bond in this fashion; he's waiting in a darkened office for his current target and only revealed when said target switches on a light to reveal that Bond has been in his safe:
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_df7fa951
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_df7fa951
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 Casino Royale (2006)
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_df7fa951
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_e5c93c13
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_e5c93c13
comment
One random event in Miitopia has lights switch off on an adventurer. After choosing which direction to go, the lights switch back on to reveal a surprise, ranging from a Surprise Party to tripping over a food item, to other party members having a moment.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_e5c93c13
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 Lightswitch Surprise / int_e6ba582
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_e6ba582
comment
A Cure for Wellness. Lockhart hides from the orderlies searching for him in a dark room, and lights a Cigarette of Anxiety. The lighter reveals something strange about the room, so he turns on the lights to find it's full of bodies floating in tanks.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_e6ba582
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1.0
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_e6ba582
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Lightswitch Surprise / int_e6ba582
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Lightswitch Surprise
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_f5f392b1
comment
This happens a few times in The Famous Five:
In Five Go Adventuring Again, George switches on the study light to reveal her tutor Mr. Roland on the floor with Timmy the dog standing over him. When she asks him why he was using a torch instead of putting on the light, he says he couldn't find the switch, which is on the wrong side of the door.
In Five Run Away Together, Julian sneaks into the kitchen at night, and switches on the light to reveal Mr. Stick, the cook's husband, sleeping on the sofa. To avoid waking him, Julian switches off the light, and tries to find what he wants in the dark. The trope is then repeated when Julian accidentally wakes Mr. Stick, who switches the light on to reveal Julian.
In Five Go To Smuggler's Top, Sooty is creeping about in Uncle Quentin's bedroom trying to avoid waking him, when suddenly he realizes somebody else is in the bedroom as well, kidnapping Uncle Quentin. He switches on his torch to reveal Mr. Barling, and yells out the name in surprise. He is then kidnapped himself.
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_f5f392b1
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1.0
 Lightswitch Surprise / int_f5f392b1
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Lightswitch Surprise
processingCategory2
Darkness and Shadows Tropes
 Lightswitch Surprise
processingCategory2
Lighting Tropes
 Lightswitch Surprise
processingCategory2
Surprise Tropes
 Shazam! (Comic Book) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Legendarily Popular (Fanfic) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Casino Royale (2006) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Clue / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Demolition Man / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Don't Look Up / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 La Grande Vadrouille / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Legion (1998) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Valentine / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Space Assassin / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 The Famous Five / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 LightSwitchSurprise
sameAs
Lightswitch Surprise
 Stickmeister0
seeAlso
Lightswitch Surprise
 Titus / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Alan Wake II (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Donkey Kong 64 (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Midnight Scenes (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Miitopia (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Murder in the Alps (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Perception (2017) (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 World of Horror (Video Game) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Mandela Catalogue (Web Video) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 The Legend of Genji (Webcomic) / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise
 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm / int_25bcf6ce
type
Lightswitch Surprise