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** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'', [[BigBad Ansem the Seeker of Darkness]] can nullify any light in his presence during his boss fights to fight his enemies in a black landless void.
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* In the first game of the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' series, [[BigBad Ansem the Seeker of Darkness]] can nullify any light in his presence to fight his enemies in a black landless void.
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* [[TheDragon Kaname Tosen]] from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' does this as part of his Bankai technique Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi which generates a dome that blackens out all light within it's confines as well as nullifies the senses of spiritual energy, sight, sound, and scent. Tosen fittingly calls this his Mumyō aka "No Light" technique.
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* In the first game of the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' series, [[BigBad Ansem the Seeker of Darkness]] can nullify any light in his presence to fight his enemies in a black landless void.
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* The Lich King from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' somehow does this trope whenever he attempts to make an intimidating speech to his enemies, instantly blackening out his environment with a word.
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* [[TheBrute Younger Toguro]] does this as part of his transformation into 100% percent of his power in ''Manga/{{YuYuHakusho}} to highlight how powerfully his demon energy affects the environment. Kuwabara even lampshades the occurrence, being unable to see until the transformation is finished.
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* [[TheBrute Younger Toguro]] does this as part of his transformation into 100% percent of his power in ''Manga/{{YuYuHakusho}} ''Manga/{{YuYuHakusho}}'' to highlight how powerfully his demon energy affects the environment. Kuwabara even lampshades the occurrence, being unable to see until the transformation is finished.
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* [[TheBrute Younger Toguro]] does this as part of his transformation into 100% percent of his power in ''Manga/{{YuYuHakusho}} to highlight how powerfully his demon energy affects the environment. Kuwabara even lampshades the occurrence, being unable to see until the transformation is finished.
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* ''Series/Chernobyl'': Three men are sent into a highly radioactive reactor building to drain the water from it, in order to stop it from triggering a disastrous explosion. Their lights all go out thanks to the radiation before they can finish, leading to a {{Cliffhanger}} This is TruthInTelevision - they really did have to finish the mission in complete darkness.
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* ''Series/Chernobyl'': ''Series/{{Chernobyl}}'': Three men are sent into a highly radioactive reactor building to drain the water from it, in order to stop it from triggering a disastrous explosion. Their lights all go out thanks to the radiation before they can finish, leading to a {{Cliffhanger}} This is TruthInTelevision - they really did have to finish the mission in complete darkness.
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* ''Series/Chernobyl'': Three men are sent into a highly radioactive reactor building to drain the water from it, in order to stop it from triggering a disastrous explosion. Their lights all go out thanks to the radiation before they can finish, leading to a {{Cliffhanger}} This is TruthInTelevision - they really did have to finish the mission in complete darkness.
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[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
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[[folder:Anime and & Manga]]
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* The ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' villain Blackout suppresses all light sources in his presence.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'', Shadow Lass can manipulate darkness and see in the dark, and so often blinds enemies with darkness. Night Girl can also see in the dark, and carries smoke bombs and devices that can shut off lights both to blind enemies and allow her to use her SuperStrength that only works in the dark.
* ''Comicbook/MarvelStarWars'' issue #33 has [[TheVillain Baron Tagge]] try to thwart Luke Skywalker's escape from his ship's hangar bay. Tagge takes a lightsaber to a junction box, killing the lights in the hangar, aiming to keep Luke unable to see his adversary, while Tagge's cybernetic visor can see Luke perfectly. It goes much differently than Tagge had planned.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'', Shadow Lass can manipulate darkness and see in the dark, and so often blinds enemies with darkness. Night Girl can also see in the dark, and carries smoke bombs and devices that can shut off lights both to blind enemies and allow her to use her SuperStrength that only works in the dark.
* ''Comicbook/MarvelStarWars'' issue #33 has [[TheVillain Baron Tagge]] try to thwart Luke Skywalker's escape from his ship's hangar bay. Tagge takes a lightsaber to a junction box, killing the lights in the hangar, aiming to keep Luke unable to see his adversary, while Tagge's cybernetic visor can see Luke perfectly. It goes much differently than Tagge had planned.
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* The ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' ''ComicBook/GhostRider'' villain Blackout suppresses all light sources in his presence.
* In''Comicbook/{{Legion ''ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'', Shadow Lass can manipulate darkness and see in the dark, and so often blinds enemies with darkness. Night Girl can also see in the dark, and carries smoke bombs and devices that can shut off lights both to blind enemies and allow her to use her SuperStrength that only works in the dark.
*''Comicbook/MarvelStarWars'' ''ComicBook/MarvelStarWars'' issue #33 has [[TheVillain Baron Tagge]] try to thwart Luke Skywalker's escape from his ship's hangar bay. Tagge takes a lightsaber to a junction box, killing the lights in the hangar, aiming to keep Luke unable to see his adversary, while Tagge's cybernetic visor can see Luke perfectly. It goes much differently than Tagge had has planned.
* In
*
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* There's a scene in ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' where Riddick is accosted by a group of necromongers, and he puts out two candles with the palms of his hands, plunging the room into darkness. Since Riddick can see in darkness just as easily as in light, he easily defeats the necromongers as they fumble around in the dark.
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* ''Franchise/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'':
** In the last act of ''Film/PitchBlack'', the more intelligent of the creatures appear to be trying to do this by attacking those holding light sources.
** There's a scene in ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' where Riddick is accosted by a group of necromongers, and he puts out two candles with the palms of his hands, plunging the room into darkness. Since Riddick can see in darkness just as easily as in light, he easily defeats the necromongers as they fumble around in the dark.
** In the last act of ''Film/PitchBlack'', the more intelligent of the creatures appear to be trying to do this by attacking those holding light sources.
** There's a scene in ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' where Riddick is accosted by a group of necromongers, and he puts out two candles with the palms of his hands, plunging the room into darkness. Since Riddick can see in darkness just as easily as in light, he easily defeats the necromongers as they fumble around in the dark.
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--->''"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!"''
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* In the last act of ''Film/PitchBlack'', the more intelligent of the creatures appear to be trying to do this by attacking those holding light sources.
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[[folder:Web Video]]
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[[folder:Web Video]]Videos]]
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* [[EstablishingCharacterMoment In her debut episode]], [[LittleMissBadass Toph]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fought against seven powerful Earthbenders all on her own. She took out several of them by conjuring up a huge cloud of dirt. Because of her DisabilitySuperpower that allows her to see by sensing vibrations in the ground, she could "see" them, but ''they'' couldn't see ''her''.
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* [[EstablishingCharacterMoment In her debut episode]], [[LittleMissBadass Toph]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fought fights against seven powerful Earthbenders all on her own. She took takes out several of them by conjuring up a huge cloud of dirt. Because of her DisabilitySuperpower that allows her to see by sensing vibrations in the ground, she could "see" them, but ''they'' couldn't see ''her''.
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Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villains, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[CombatPragmatist uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}es and {{Guile Hero}}es.
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Also, its it's notable that this isn't just used by villains, it's villains. It's a popular trick for anyone who [[CombatPragmatist uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}es and {{Guile Hero}}es.
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** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', a Heartless boss called Sköll is based on the Norse Mythology of a wolf chasing the sun to eat it. Sköll intends to eat all light in worlds starting with [[spoiler:Arendelle]], and plunges the party into a void without light to crush them with darkness. [[spoiler:It makes sense, as Sköll is actually [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Prince Hans]], who's failure to conquer Arendelle, ruled by ''two'' Princesses of Heart, results in him becoming an OmnicidalManiac]].
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** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', a Heartless boss called Sköll is based on the Norse Mythology of a wolf chasing the sun to eat it. Sköll intends to eat all light in worlds starting with [[spoiler:Arendelle]], and plunges the party into a void without light to crush them with darkness. [[spoiler:It makes sense, as Sköll is actually [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Prince Hans]], who's whose failure to conquer Arendelle, ruled by ''two'' Princesses of Heart, results in him becoming an OmnicidalManiac]].
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* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'': after [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force field to enter the Rrajigar Mine, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off one by one. A few seconds after everything goes dark, the alarm lights turn on, a MonsterCloset opens, and you're faced with your first Skaarj Scout.
* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'': after [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force field to enter the Rrajigar Mine, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off one by one. A few seconds after everything goes dark, the alarm lights turn on, a MonsterCloset opens, and you're faced with your first Skaarj Scout.
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* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}''
*''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series:
** ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'': after [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force field to enter the Rrajigar Mine, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off one by one. A few seconds after everything goes dark, the alarm lights turn on, a MonsterCloset opens, and you're faced with your first Skaarj Scout.
*
** ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'': after [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force field to enter the Rrajigar Mine, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off one by one. A few seconds after everything goes dark, the alarm lights turn on, a MonsterCloset opens, and you're faced with your first Skaarj Scout.
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* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'' has the first Skaarj encounter in the Rrajigar mines. After [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force field, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off. Cue a red light of warning and the appearance of a Skaarj Scout.
* ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'' features a similar sequence: in the first mission, "Elara V: Sanctuary", [[PlayerCharacter John Dalton]] is going down in an elevator when it suddenly stops in the middle of the trajectory, then the lights go out, and a Light Skaarj falls from above, damaging the counterweights and sending Dalton plummeting to the lower floor.
* ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'' features a similar sequence: in the first mission, "Elara V: Sanctuary", [[PlayerCharacter John Dalton]] is going down in an elevator when it suddenly stops in the middle of the trajectory, then the lights go out, and a Light Skaarj falls from above, damaging the counterweights and sending Dalton plummeting to the lower floor.
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* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'' has the first Skaarj encounter in the Rrajigar mines. After ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'': after [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the forcefield, field to enter the Rrajigar Mine, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off. Cue off one by one. A few seconds after everything goes dark, the alarm lights turn on, a red light of warning MonsterCloset opens, and the appearance of a you're faced with your first Skaarj Scout.
* ** ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'' features a similar sequence: in the first mission, "Elara V: Sanctuary", [[PlayerCharacter John Dalton]] is going down in an elevator when it suddenly stops in the middle of the trajectory, then the lights go out, and a Light Skaarj falls from above, damaging the counterweights and sending Dalton plummeting to the lower floor.
* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'': after [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force
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Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villains, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}es and {{Guile Hero}}es.
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Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villains, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty [[CombatPragmatist uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}es and {{Guile Hero}}es.
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Correcting Example Indentation In Trope Lists
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* In the film ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings: The Fellowship of the Ring'', when Gandalf intimidates Bilbo to convince him to leave the Ring behind, the room darkens and his voice gains a menacing reverberation. He also seems to grow, though he may simply be standing up from a slouch.
-->''"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!"''
-->''"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!"''
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* In the film ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings: The Fellowship of the Ring'', when Ring'':
** When Gandalf intimidates Bilbo to convince him to leave the Ring behind, the room darkens and his voice gains a menacing reverberation. He also seems to grow, though he may simply be standing up from a slouch.
-->''"Bilbo --->''"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!"''
** When Gandalf intimidates Bilbo to convince him to leave the Ring behind, the room darkens and his voice gains a menacing reverberation. He also seems to grow, though he may simply be standing up from a slouch.
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* TabletopGame/BeastThePrimordial: the fittingly name Death of the Light Atavism allows a Beast to do this, shutting down all the lights in a given area.
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* TabletopGame/BeastThePrimordial: ''TabletopGame/BeastThePrimordial'': the fittingly name Death of the Light Atavism allows a Beast to do this, shutting down all the lights in a given area.
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* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', the [[IronicName Illuminator]] Heartless assists Captain Barbossa by shrouding the area in darkness. This not only conceals them, but makes Barbossa invincible because he can only be harmed in the moonlight. The Illuminator has to be killed first to lift the darkness and make Barbossa vulnerable.
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* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', the [[IronicName Illuminator]] Heartless assists Captain Barbossa by shrouding the area in darkness. This not only conceals them, but makes Barbossa invincible because he can only be harmed in the moonlight. The Illuminator has to be killed first to lift the darkness and make Barbossa vulnerable.
** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', the [[IronicName Illuminator]] Heartless assists Captain Barbossa by shrouding the area in darkness. This not only conceals them, but makes Barbossa invincible because he can only be harmed in the moonlight. The Illuminator has to be killed first to lift the darkness and make Barbossa vulnerable.
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* [[spoiler: Yami]], from ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' has the ability to plunge the whole battlefield into darkness, draining the player of all of their celestial power. The same works, however, if [[spoiler: you shine light onto the battlefield to Yami, draining it of its energy.]]
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* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'': [[spoiler: Yami]], from ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' Yami]] has the ability to plunge the whole battlefield into darkness, draining the player of all of their celestial power. The same inverse works, however, if [[spoiler: you shine light onto the battlefield to Yami, draining it of its energy.]]
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** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', a Heartless boss called Sköll is based on the Norse Mythology of a wolf chasing the sun to eat it. Sköll intends to eat all light in worlds starting with [[spoiler:Arendelle]], and plunges the party into a void without light to crush them with darkness. [[spoiler:It makes sense, as Sköll is actually [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Prince Hans]], who's failure to conquer Arendelle, ruled by ''two'' Princesses of Heart, results in him becoming an OmnicidalManiac]].
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* TabletopGame/BeastThePrimordial: the fittingly name Death of the Light Atavism allows a Beast to do this, shutting down all the lights in a given area.
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* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' adventure ''Adam's Wrath''. While the {{PC}}s are infiltrating the underground caves, Adam will touch the luminescent fungus that provides the only light in the area. When he does this, the light will immediately turn off throughout the area, leaving the {{PC}}s in darkness. Adam knows the area much better than the {{PC}}s and will take less of a penalty while fighting in darkness than the {{PC}}s will.
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* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** The ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' adventure ''Adam'sWrath''. Wrath'': While the {{PC}}s are infiltrating the underground caves, Adam will touch the luminescent fungus that provides the only light in the area. When he does this, the light will immediately turn off throughout the area, leaving the {{PC}}s in darkness. Adam knows the area much better than the {{PC}}s and will take less of a penalty while fighting in darkness than the {{PC}}s will.will.
** The 5[[superscript:th]] Edition Warlock CharacterClass can gain both the ability to [[CastingAShadow create magical darkness]] and the ability to [[InnateNightVision see clearly in darkness]], making this a popular tactic for them to put their enemies at a disadvantage.
** The ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' adventure ''Adam's
** The 5[[superscript:th]] Edition Warlock CharacterClass can gain both the ability to [[CastingAShadow create magical darkness]] and the ability to [[InnateNightVision see clearly in darkness]], making this a popular tactic for them to put their enemies at a disadvantage.
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* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': The Order are walking through a cave network when they're [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0181.html abruptly]] plunged into darkness. By the time they work out that, because it overwhelmed Durkon's InnateNightVision, it must be [[CastingAShadow magical]] darkness and therefore constrained to a small radius, they've stumbled out of it and into the dragon that cast it.
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Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villians, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}es and {{Guile Hero}}es.
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Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villians, villains, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}es and {{Guile Hero}}es.
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* An explicit ability of the main villain of ''Film/LightsOut2016''. Diana can make lights fail, as she's only visible when the lights are out.
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* Parodied in ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge''. Shadowman's lair is pitch-black, so that when his enemies adjust to the dark, he can [[BlindedByTheLight flip the lights and destroy their vision]].
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* In ''Fanfic/MyHuntsmanAcademia'', Jose Cuervo, a White Fang officer, tries to do this by shutting the power down so he and his subordinates can abuse their Faunus night vision. It's subverted when Ruby uses her SuperSpeed to cut off the grunts trying to do this as her teammates rush in.
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* A heroic variant in the first ''VideoGame/CovertFront'', spoken in German. Secret agent Kara tells her driver to turn the car's headlights off when approaching Karl Von Toten's mansion.
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* A non-villainous example occurs early in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' when [[BigGood Dumbledore]] turns off all the streetlights on Privet Drive with his Put-Outer -- later known as the Deluminator -- so he can deliver [[TheChosenOne Harry]] to his relatives without being seen by Muggles.
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->''"Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits! The first will... ''mess with the lights''!"''
-> (flips a lightswitch on and off rapidly)
-> (flips a lightswitch on and off rapidly)
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%%%
%%
%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.
%%
%%%
->''"Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits! The first will... ''mess with thelights''!"''
-> (flipslights''!"''\\
''[flips alightswitch light switch on and off rapidly)rapidly]''
%%
%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.
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->''"Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits! The first will... ''mess with the
-> (flips
''[flips a
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Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villians, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}s and {{Guile Hero}}s.
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Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villians, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}s Hero}}es and {{Guile Hero}}s.
Hero}}es.
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!Examples
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[[folder:Anime And Manga]]
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[[folder:Anime And Manga]]and Manga]]
* Takumi of ''Manga/InitialD'' will sometimes turn off his headlights in the middle of a race (which are always held at night) when overtaking his opponents. This serves to both prevent his opponents from blocking his approach and to freak them the hell out.
* Takumi of ''Manga/InitialD'' will sometimes turn off his headlights in the middle of a race (which are always held at night) when overtaking his opponents. This serves to both prevent his opponents from blocking his approach and to freak them the hell out.
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* Takumi of ''Manga/InitialD'' will sometimes turn off his headlights in the middle of a race (which are always held at night) when overtaking his opponents. This serves to both prevent his opponents from blocking his approach and to freak them the hell out.
* In ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'', this is the Dawnbreaker's M.O., as his corrupted Green Lantern ring can promptly "blackout" his surroundings by swallowing all forms of light, including the light from other Lantern Rings. However, clever use of a Lantern Ring can subvert this effect, as shown by Hal Jordan.
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* In ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'', this is the Dawnbreaker's M.O., as his corrupted Green Lantern ring can promptly "blackout" his surroundings by swallowing all forms of light, including the light from other Lantern Rings. However, clever use of a Lantern Ring can subvert this effect, as shown by Hal Jordan.
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[[folder:Film]]
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--> '''Ripley:''' ''"They cut the power."''
--> '''Watson:''' ''"What do you mean 'they cut the power'? How could they cut the power, man? They're animals!"''
--> '''Watson:''' ''"What do you mean 'they cut the power'? How could they cut the power, man? They're animals!"''
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-->
'''Watson:'''
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--> ''"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!"''
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* ''Film/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'': When the Lonely Hearts Club Band break into Dr. Maxwell's office to retrieve one of Sgt. Pepper's instruments, he turns the lights out ''for no other reason'' than to engage in a faux-lightsaber duel with Billy Shears.
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* Film/TheTerminator goes hunting for Sarah Connor through the precinct station when he notices the electrical closet. The Terminator switches off the power, plunging the building into darkness, a tactic to make it harder for Sarah to escape, and easier for the Terminator to massacre the police opposition.
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* Film/TheTerminator ''Film/TheTerminator'' goes hunting for Sarah Connor through the precinct station when he notices the electrical closet. The Terminator switches off the power, plunging the building into darkness, a tactic to make it harder for Sarah to escape, and easier for the Terminator to massacre the police opposition.
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* ''Film/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'': When the Lonely Hearts Club Band break into Dr. Maxwell's office to retrieve one of Sgt. Pepper's instruments, he turns the lights out ''for no other reason'' than to engage in a faux-lightsaber duel with Billy Shears.
* ''Literature/TheFionavarTapestry'': When the shapeshifting demigod Galadan ambushes Paul and Jennifer on Earth, he smothers the room in complete darkness with a gesture and gloats that [[InnateNightVision he can see in the dark]]. They immediately retreat via {{Dimensional Travel|er}}, knowing they wouldn't stand a chance against him.
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* ''Literature/TheFionavarTapestry'': When the shapeshifting demigod Galadan ambushes Paul and Jennifer on Earth, he smothers the room in complete darkness with a gesture and gloats that [[InnateNightVision he can see in the dark]]. They immediately retreat via {{Dimensional Travel|er}}, knowing they wouldn't stand a chance against him.
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[[folder:Live Action TV]]
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** The Weeping Angels can drain power from lightbulbs. Justified since their natural defence mechanism means they can't move when being observed, so if you can't see them...
** The Vashta Narada are {{Living Shadow}}s. As such, when they advance in large numbers they blot out all light sources in their way, presenting the image of a spreading darkness creeping towards their prey.
** In the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn The Bells of Saint John]]", the bad guys, who [[EverythingIsOnline can hack anything]], plunge all of London into a blackout, except for the street that the Doctor and Clara are on. After a moment of confusion, the Doctor realises this is to provide an easy target for the oncoming plane that has also been hacked.
** The Vashta Narada are {{Living Shadow}}s. As such, when they advance in large numbers they blot out all light sources in their way, presenting the image of a spreading darkness creeping towards their prey.
** In the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn The Bells of Saint John]]", the bad guys, who [[EverythingIsOnline can hack anything]], plunge all of London into a blackout, except for the street that the Doctor and Clara are on. After a moment of confusion, the Doctor realises this is to provide an easy target for the oncoming plane that has also been hacked.
to:
** The [[Characters/DoctorWhoWeepingAngels Weeping Angels Angels]] can drain power from lightbulbs. Justified Justified, since their natural defence mechanism means they can't move when being observed, CantMoveWhileBeingWatched, so if you can't see them...
** TheVashta Narada [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E8SilenceInTheLibrary Vashta]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead Nerada]] are {{Living Shadow}}s. As such, when they advance in large numbers they blot out all light sources in their way, presenting the image of a spreading darkness creeping towards their prey.
** Inthe episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn The Bells of Saint John]]", the bad guys, who [[EverythingIsOnline can hack anything]], plunge all of London into a blackout, except for the street that the Doctor and Clara are on. After a moment of confusion, the Doctor realises this is to provide an easy target for the oncoming plane that has also been hacked.
** The
** In
* ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'': When [[spoiler:Beverly]] finds Hannibal's TortureCellar and [[InternalReveal realizes the truth about him]], Hannibal quickly turns the lights off before lunging for the kill. It's a tactical decision, since [[spoiler:Beverly]] has a gun but Hannibal knows the room's layout, and [[spoiler:it lets him kill her]].
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* ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'': When [[spoiler:Beverly]] finds Hannibal's TortureCellar and [[InternalReveal realizes the truth about him]], Hannibal quickly turns the lights off before lunging for the kill. It's a tactical decision, since [[spoiler:Beverly]] has a gun but Hannibal knows the room's layout, and [[spoiler:it lets him kill her]].
* Happens in a few ''Franchise/JamesBond'' video games. In the first level of ''VideoGame/AgentUnderFire'', there's a greenhouse area that goes dark, and a henchman even says "KILL THE LIGHTS!!"
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* Happens in a few ''Franchise/JamesBond'' video games. In the first level of ''VideoGame/AgentUnderFire'', there's a greenhouse area that goes dark, and a henchman even says "KILL THE LIGHTS!!"
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* In the video for ''[[https://youtu.be/pL_JulOAtmA Let Me Through]]'', a ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' fan song by artist [=CG5=], during the climactic part of the song, Funtime Foxy switches off the power as he prepares to enter the security guard's room. Probably justified in that, in the games, the security guard ''needs'' electrical power to defend himself from the animatronics, so Funtime Foxy probably wouldn't have been able to get the security guard without doing that.
to:
* In the video for ''[[https://youtu.be/pL_JulOAtmA Let Me Through]]'', a ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' fan song by artist [=CG5=], during the climactic part of the song, Funtime Foxy switches off the power as he prepares to enter the security guard's room. Probably justified in that, in the games, the security guard ''needs'' electrical power to defend himself from the animatronics, so Funtime Foxy probably wouldn't have been able to get the security guard without doing that.
Changed line(s) 55 (click to see context) from:
* Cyberdyne Systems ''Film/TheTerminator'' goes hunting for Sarah Connor through the precinct station when he notices the electrical closet. The Terminator switches off the power, plunging the building into darkness, a tactic to make it harder for Sarah to escape, and easier for the Terminator to massacre the police opposition.
to:
* Cyberdyne Systems ''Film/TheTerminator'' Film/TheTerminator goes hunting for Sarah Connor through the precinct station when he notices the electrical closet. The Terminator switches off the power, plunging the building into darkness, a tactic to make it harder for Sarah to escape, and easier for the Terminator to massacre the police opposition.
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* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Weeping Angels can drain power from lightbulbs. Justified since their natural defence mechanism means they can't move when being observed, so if you can't see them...
to:
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The Weeping Angels can drain power from lightbulbs. Justified since their natural defence mechanism means they can't move when being observed, so if you can't seethem...them...
** The Vashta Narada are {{Living Shadow}}s. As such, when they advance in large numbers they blot out all light sources in their way, presenting the image of a spreading darkness creeping towards their prey.
** The Weeping Angels can drain power from lightbulbs. Justified since their natural defence mechanism means they can't move when being observed, so if you can't see
** The Vashta Narada are {{Living Shadow}}s. As such, when they advance in large numbers they blot out all light sources in their way, presenting the image of a spreading darkness creeping towards their prey.
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* ''Film/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'': When the Lonely Hearts Club Band break into Dr. Maxwell's office to retrieve one of Sgt. Pepper's instruments, he turns the lights out ''for no other reason'' than to engage in a faux-lightsaber duel with Billy Shears.
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* Happens in a few ''Franchise/JamesBond'' video games. In the first level of ''VideoGame/AgentUnderFire'', there's a greenhouse area that goes dark, and a henchman even says "KILL THE LIGHTS!!"
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* ''Literature/TheFionavarTapestry'': When the shapeshifting demigod Galadan ambushes Paul and Jennifer on Earth, he smothers the room in complete darkness with a gesture and gloats that [[InnateNightVision he can see in the dark]]. They immediately retreat via {{Dimensional Travel|er}}, knowing they wouldn't stand a chance against him.
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* ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'': When [[spoiler:Beverly]] finds Hannibal's TortureCellar and [[InternalReveal realizes the truth about him]], Hannibal quickly turns the lights off before lunging for the kill. It's a tactical decision, since [[spoiler:Beverly]] has a gun but Hannibal knows the room's layout, and [[spoiler:it lets him kill her]].
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None
Added DiffLines:
* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'': The Den Mother boss in the Milkman Conspiracy threatens to pluck out your eyes, only to find out that that's what your goggles are for. So she turns out the lights and makes you fight in the dark.
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* Arya uses this in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', when she is wounded and cornered by the Waif. It works for her because she was until recently blinded, and was training to fight while blind. Her opponent has no such experience, and is suddenly at a massive disadvantage.
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* Creator/MarvelComics' ''Franchise/StarWars'' issue #33 has [[TheVillain Baron Tagge]] try to thwart Luke Skywalker's escape from his ship's hangar bay. Tagge takes a lightsaber to a junction box, killing the lights in the hangar, aiming to keep Luke unable to see his adversary, while Tagge's cybernetic visor can see Luke perfectly. It goes much differently than Tagge had planned.
to:
* Creator/MarvelComics' ''Franchise/StarWars'' ''Comicbook/MarvelStarWars'' issue #33 has [[TheVillain Baron Tagge]] try to thwart Luke Skywalker's escape from his ship's hangar bay. Tagge takes a lightsaber to a junction box, killing the lights in the hangar, aiming to keep Luke unable to see his adversary, while Tagge's cybernetic visor can see Luke perfectly. It goes much differently than Tagge had planned.
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* In ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'', this is the Dawnbreaker's M.O., as his corrupted Green Lantern ring can promptly "blackout" his surroundings by swallowing all forms of light, including the light from other Lantern Rings. However, clever use of a Lantern Ring can subvert this effect, as shown by Hal Jordan.
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! To-Do and Metadata (?)
* Trope adopted by Administrivia/UpForGrabs rules by @/{{AM_NK}}.
* Indexes: CantSeeADamnThing, DarknessAndShadowsTropes, HorrorTropes, LightingTropes, MilitaryAndWarfareTropes
! Trope
* Trope adopted by Administrivia/UpForGrabs rules by @/{{AM_NK}}.
* Indexes: CantSeeADamnThing, DarknessAndShadowsTropes, HorrorTropes, LightingTropes, MilitaryAndWarfareTropes
! Trope
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Created from YKTTW
Added DiffLines:
! To-Do and Metadata (?)
* Trope adopted by Administrivia/UpForGrabs rules by @/{{AM_NK}}.
* Indexes: CantSeeADamnThing, DarknessAndShadowsTropes, HorrorTropes, LightingTropes, MilitaryAndWarfareTropes
! Trope
->''"Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits! The first will... ''mess with the lights''!"''
-> (flips a lightswitch on and off rapidly)
-->-- '''Zorak''', ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast''
An event where a villain darkens a room (seemingly) at will, either by sucking the power from the lights, or just plainly and inexplicably making them go out, making things scarier. It's usually a device to raise suspense quickly, signaling the arrival or beginning of the danger, usually in the form of lights flickering off or the power getting cut. The lights may demonstrate SlowElectricity when they go out.
This could be accomplished any number of ways: shooting out the bulbs, cutting the power to a building, casting a magical shroud of darkness over the area, dousing the hero's torch... Whatever device is used, the end result is the same: the targets have been plunged into darkness leaving them at a distinct disadvantage, and quite possibly terrified. Sometimes a character would wonder if [[ForgotToPayTheBill someone forgot to pay the electric bill]] if this happens.
Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villians, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}s and {{Guile Hero}}s.
Note that [[ThisIsNotThatTrope this is not about weakness or aversion to light, it's about turning off the lights]]. The monster might make the lights go out because they hurt it, but being hurt by light is not this in and of itself.
Sometimes overlaps with NothingIsScarier when someone (or something) kills the lights as a psychological warfare tactic, leaving the hero(s) staring into the dark for a prolonged stretch wondering where the attack will come from, and what exactly it is that they're fighting.
Might be caused by CastingAShadow powers, it often leads to DarknessEqualsDeath, and is followed by LightFlickerTeleportation, where a character is replaced by the criminal after a light-off. Compare StepIntoTheBlindingFight, where this darkness is used to blind the darkness's victim's ability to fight in order to gain an advantage, and MonsterCloset, which has the criminal appearing out of a seemingly normal wall (which wasn't a wall in first place). Contrast BlindedByTheLight, where it's the light that blinds an opponent.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime And Manga]]
* ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'': the Second Hokage has a technique called Kokuangyo no Jutsu (Bringer of Darkness Technique) that shrouds the target's perception with darkness.
* Takumi of ''Manga/InitialD'' will sometimes turn off his headlights in the middle of a race (which are always held at night) when overtaking his opponents. This serves to both prevent his opponents from blocking his approach and to freak them the hell out.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* The ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' villain Blackout suppresses all light sources in his presence.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'', Shadow Lass can manipulate darkness and see in the dark, and so often blinds enemies with darkness. Night Girl can also see in the dark, and carries smoke bombs and devices that can shut off lights both to blind enemies and allow her to use her SuperStrength that only works in the dark.
* Creator/MarvelComics' ''Franchise/StarWars'' issue #33 has [[TheVillain Baron Tagge]] try to thwart Luke Skywalker's escape from his ship's hangar bay. Tagge takes a lightsaber to a junction box, killing the lights in the hangar, aiming to keep Luke unable to see his adversary, while Tagge's cybernetic visor can see Luke perfectly. It goes much differently than Tagge had planned.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In the video for ''[[https://youtu.be/pL_JulOAtmA Let Me Through]]'', a ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' fan song by artist [=CG5=], during the climactic part of the song, Funtime Foxy switches off the power as he prepares to enter the security guard's room. Probably justified in that, in the games, the security guard ''needs'' electrical power to defend himself from the animatronics, so Funtime Foxy probably wouldn't have been able to get the security guard without doing that.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. When the xenomorphs are preparing to attack, they cut the building's power supply.
--> '''Ripley:''' ''"They cut the power."''
--> '''Watson:''' ''"What do you mean 'they cut the power'? How could they cut the power, man? They're animals!"''
* There's a scene in ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' where Riddick is accosted by a group of necromongers, and he puts out two candles with the palms of his hands, plunging the room into darkness. Since Riddick can see in darkness just as easily as in light, he easily defeats the necromongers as they fumble around in the dark.
* ''Film/{{Constantine}}''. When the horde of flying demons is approaching the title character and Angela Dodson, all nearby lights (including the street lights) go out, leaving the main characters in darkness.
* Inverted in ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'': Batman whips out a new gadget in the form of the ability to turn off the lights. It works on some reporters' cameras, but utterly fails to give Bane pause.
* Happens twice in ''Film/TheFog'' (1980).
** During the attack on the weather station, the ghost fog (or the zombies) cut the building's power supply, causing the man inside to open the door and get killed.
** Later on the ghost fog enters the town's main generator and shorts it out, cutting off power to the entire area.
* ''Film/{{Jaws}}''. During the shark's night time attack on the boat the power supply goes off, leaving the crew in darkness.
-->'''Hooper:''' ''He ate the light.''
* In the film ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings: The Fellowship of the Ring'', when Gandalf intimidates Bilbo to convince him to leave the Ring behind, the room darkens and his voice gains a menacing reverberation. He also seems to grow, though he may simply be standing up from a slouch.
--> ''"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!"''
** A similar effect happens during the Council of Elrond when Gandalf breaks up the squabble by reciting the ring couplet in BlackSpeech, though as this scene is outside, the darkening is less noticeable.
* ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions''. As the Agent Smiths invade the Oracle's building, the lights go out in the hallways.
* In the last act of ''Film/PitchBlack'', the more intelligent of the creatures appear to be trying to do this by attacking those holding light sources.
* ''Film/SilenceOfTheLambs''. When Clarice Starling is hunting Buffalo Bill in his house, he kills the power and leaves her in darkness. He then dons his NightVisionGoggles and TheHunterBecomesTheHunted.
* Cyberdyne Systems ''Film/TheTerminator'' goes hunting for Sarah Connor through the precinct station when he notices the electrical closet. The Terminator switches off the power, plunging the building into darkness, a tactic to make it harder for Sarah to escape, and easier for the Terminator to massacre the police opposition.
* In ''Film/{{Ultraviolet}}'', the final villain plunges the room into total darkness, explaining that he can see in the dark. Violet counters by [[FlamingSword lighting her sword on fire]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* Justified in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' with hobs, faeries that hate light and can generate a sort off magic smokescreen that blocks it.
* In ''Literature/TheLongDarkTeaTimeOfTheSoul'', Thor uses his powers to completely black out Kate's entire neighborhood in order to get her attention, inadvertently terrifying her in the process.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BabylonFive'': When Commander Sinclair awakens to find the station completely abandoned, save one other, he goes to find out what's going on, only to have the lights start shutting off right before he's confronted by the one responsible.
* ''Series/DeadliestWarrior'': During the Spetsnaz vs. Green Berets battle, the last Spetsnaz shoots out the lights to throw off the Green Beret following him.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Weeping Angels can drain power from lightbulbs. Justified since their natural defence mechanism means they can't move when being observed, so if you can't see them...
** In the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn The Bells of Saint John]]", the bad guys, who [[EverythingIsOnline can hack anything]], plunge all of London into a blackout, except for the street that the Doctor and Clara are on. After a moment of confusion, the Doctor realises this is to provide an easy target for the oncoming plane that has also been hacked.
* In ''Series/{{Jekyll}}'', the eponymous SuperpoweredEvilSide draws from nearby electrical sources to power his transformation. As such, when Dr. Jackman's in a room and the lights flicker and go dark, it's a sign that the psychopath is about to show himself.
* The titular detective in an episode of ''Series/{{Monk}}'' fights a killer who strikes during power outages with a pair of night-vision goggles. When the police come in and turn on the lights, he demands they turn the lights back out because he is winning.
* In the episode "Say Again Your Last" of ''Series/SEALTeam'', Bravo Team infiltrates a university in Mumbai that's under siege by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. To rescue the students and extract them safely, they inform Mumbai Police to switch off the lights from the outside. With this and the use of night vision goggles, they were able to take out the terrorists since they can't see and the team was also using suppressed rifles.
* Happens several times in ''Series/TeenWolf'', in which any supernatural entity -- the alpha, the Kanima, etcetera -- seems to have the ability to turn off the lights in order to freak out whichever character they're targeting at the moment.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' adventure ''Adam's Wrath''. While the {{PC}}s are infiltrating the underground caves, Adam will touch the luminescent fungus that provides the only light in the area. When he does this, the light will immediately turn off throughout the area, leaving the {{PC}}s in darkness. Adam knows the area much better than the {{PC}}s and will take less of a penalty while fighting in darkness than the {{PC}}s will.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TheDarkness'': At the end of the game, when the Darkness [[spoiler:becomes superpowered by a solar eclipse]], it gains the ability to shatter any lightbulbs it gets close to by sheer force of will.
* The ultimate skill of the [[HornyDevils Succubus]] class in ''VideoGame/Disgaea2CursedMemories'' is called 'Nightmare', and it involves surrounding the enemy with darkness and launch an unseen beatdown.
* Picking up the blue key in ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'s'' second map extinguishes all the lights in the room, and opens a MonsterCloset full of imps. The imps are as accurate with their fireballs as ever; the player character, not so much.
* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', the [[IronicName Illuminator]] Heartless assists Captain Barbossa by shrouding the area in darkness. This not only conceals them, but makes Barbossa invincible because he can only be harmed in the moonlight. The Illuminator has to be killed first to lift the darkness and make Barbossa vulnerable.
* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'': [[LivingShadow Nocturne]]'s ultimate "Paranoia" turns the whole map dark blocking the enemy team's sight of their enemies and each other for 4 seconds. During this time Nocturne can choose one of the enemies and launch himself at him/her, [[ParanoiaFuel attacking from the darkness]].
* Ganondorf, from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', drains all the light out of the room when casting his evil magic. To the viewer, this almost silhouettes Ganondorf in darkness.
* [[spoiler: Yami]], from ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' has the ability to plunge the whole battlefield into darkness, draining the player of all of their celestial power. The same works, however, if [[spoiler: you shine light onto the battlefield to Yami, draining it of its energy.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Quake|I}}'' features an area in the first level where picking up the Nailgun darkens the light, then some possessed soldiers appear to gun the player character out.
* In the ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'' franchise, this is a tactic that can be used by Sam Fisher by using his small arms to shoot out anything that emits light ranging from light bulbs to the lighting sign in order to reduce chances of him being caught out in the open. On the other hand, this can be used by Sam to sneak up on an enemy and grab them from the side or from the back.
* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'' has the first Skaarj encounter in the Rrajigar mines. After [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force field, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off. Cue a red light of warning and the appearance of a Skaarj Scout.
* ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'' features a similar sequence: in the first mission, "Elara V: Sanctuary", [[PlayerCharacter John Dalton]] is going down in an elevator when it suddenly stops in the middle of the trajectory, then the lights go out, and a Light Skaarj falls from above, damaging the counterweights and sending Dalton plummeting to the lower floor.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', Thaco attempts to exploit the fact that he can see in the dark by luring Dellyn into a sewer before fighting him, and blocking off all the manholes so the sewer is pitch black. Dellyn, however, subverts this by casting a spell that provides him with a light source, rendering Thaco's advantage moot.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'': The Operator can interfere with electronic equipment. At one point during the filming of the student film, the Operator causes a blackout at Tim's house.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* [[EstablishingCharacterMoment In her debut episode]], [[LittleMissBadass Toph]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fought against seven powerful Earthbenders all on her own. She took out several of them by conjuring up a huge cloud of dirt. Because of her DisabilitySuperpower that allows her to see by sensing vibrations in the ground, she could "see" them, but ''they'' couldn't see ''her''.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "Jellyfish Hunter", the lights in [=SpongeBob=]'s house go out when a blue jellyfish snips the electrical wires.
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''I guess Gary forgot to pay the electric bill.''
* In ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'', Spider-Man and White Tiger turned off the lights and used night-vision to get an advantage over Taskmaster. Taskmaster boasted that he could easily navigate the room with his PhotographicMemory, only to find that the two heroes moved everything in the room after turning off the lights.
[[/folder]]
----
* Trope adopted by Administrivia/UpForGrabs rules by @/{{AM_NK}}.
* Indexes: CantSeeADamnThing, DarknessAndShadowsTropes, HorrorTropes, LightingTropes, MilitaryAndWarfareTropes
! Trope
->''"Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits! The first will... ''mess with the lights''!"''
-> (flips a lightswitch on and off rapidly)
-->-- '''Zorak''', ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast''
An event where a villain darkens a room (seemingly) at will, either by sucking the power from the lights, or just plainly and inexplicably making them go out, making things scarier. It's usually a device to raise suspense quickly, signaling the arrival or beginning of the danger, usually in the form of lights flickering off or the power getting cut. The lights may demonstrate SlowElectricity when they go out.
This could be accomplished any number of ways: shooting out the bulbs, cutting the power to a building, casting a magical shroud of darkness over the area, dousing the hero's torch... Whatever device is used, the end result is the same: the targets have been plunged into darkness leaving them at a distinct disadvantage, and quite possibly terrified. Sometimes a character would wonder if [[ForgotToPayTheBill someone forgot to pay the electric bill]] if this happens.
Also, its notable that this isn't just used by villians, it's a popular trick for anyone who [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty uses unconventional tactics]], including {{Terror Hero}}s and {{Guile Hero}}s.
Note that [[ThisIsNotThatTrope this is not about weakness or aversion to light, it's about turning off the lights]]. The monster might make the lights go out because they hurt it, but being hurt by light is not this in and of itself.
Sometimes overlaps with NothingIsScarier when someone (or something) kills the lights as a psychological warfare tactic, leaving the hero(s) staring into the dark for a prolonged stretch wondering where the attack will come from, and what exactly it is that they're fighting.
Might be caused by CastingAShadow powers, it often leads to DarknessEqualsDeath, and is followed by LightFlickerTeleportation, where a character is replaced by the criminal after a light-off. Compare StepIntoTheBlindingFight, where this darkness is used to blind the darkness's victim's ability to fight in order to gain an advantage, and MonsterCloset, which has the criminal appearing out of a seemingly normal wall (which wasn't a wall in first place). Contrast BlindedByTheLight, where it's the light that blinds an opponent.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime And Manga]]
* ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'': the Second Hokage has a technique called Kokuangyo no Jutsu (Bringer of Darkness Technique) that shrouds the target's perception with darkness.
* Takumi of ''Manga/InitialD'' will sometimes turn off his headlights in the middle of a race (which are always held at night) when overtaking his opponents. This serves to both prevent his opponents from blocking his approach and to freak them the hell out.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* The ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' villain Blackout suppresses all light sources in his presence.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'', Shadow Lass can manipulate darkness and see in the dark, and so often blinds enemies with darkness. Night Girl can also see in the dark, and carries smoke bombs and devices that can shut off lights both to blind enemies and allow her to use her SuperStrength that only works in the dark.
* Creator/MarvelComics' ''Franchise/StarWars'' issue #33 has [[TheVillain Baron Tagge]] try to thwart Luke Skywalker's escape from his ship's hangar bay. Tagge takes a lightsaber to a junction box, killing the lights in the hangar, aiming to keep Luke unable to see his adversary, while Tagge's cybernetic visor can see Luke perfectly. It goes much differently than Tagge had planned.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In the video for ''[[https://youtu.be/pL_JulOAtmA Let Me Through]]'', a ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' fan song by artist [=CG5=], during the climactic part of the song, Funtime Foxy switches off the power as he prepares to enter the security guard's room. Probably justified in that, in the games, the security guard ''needs'' electrical power to defend himself from the animatronics, so Funtime Foxy probably wouldn't have been able to get the security guard without doing that.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. When the xenomorphs are preparing to attack, they cut the building's power supply.
--> '''Ripley:''' ''"They cut the power."''
--> '''Watson:''' ''"What do you mean 'they cut the power'? How could they cut the power, man? They're animals!"''
* There's a scene in ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' where Riddick is accosted by a group of necromongers, and he puts out two candles with the palms of his hands, plunging the room into darkness. Since Riddick can see in darkness just as easily as in light, he easily defeats the necromongers as they fumble around in the dark.
* ''Film/{{Constantine}}''. When the horde of flying demons is approaching the title character and Angela Dodson, all nearby lights (including the street lights) go out, leaving the main characters in darkness.
* Inverted in ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'': Batman whips out a new gadget in the form of the ability to turn off the lights. It works on some reporters' cameras, but utterly fails to give Bane pause.
* Happens twice in ''Film/TheFog'' (1980).
** During the attack on the weather station, the ghost fog (or the zombies) cut the building's power supply, causing the man inside to open the door and get killed.
** Later on the ghost fog enters the town's main generator and shorts it out, cutting off power to the entire area.
* ''Film/{{Jaws}}''. During the shark's night time attack on the boat the power supply goes off, leaving the crew in darkness.
-->'''Hooper:''' ''He ate the light.''
* In the film ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings: The Fellowship of the Ring'', when Gandalf intimidates Bilbo to convince him to leave the Ring behind, the room darkens and his voice gains a menacing reverberation. He also seems to grow, though he may simply be standing up from a slouch.
--> ''"Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!"''
** A similar effect happens during the Council of Elrond when Gandalf breaks up the squabble by reciting the ring couplet in BlackSpeech, though as this scene is outside, the darkening is less noticeable.
* ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions''. As the Agent Smiths invade the Oracle's building, the lights go out in the hallways.
* In the last act of ''Film/PitchBlack'', the more intelligent of the creatures appear to be trying to do this by attacking those holding light sources.
* ''Film/SilenceOfTheLambs''. When Clarice Starling is hunting Buffalo Bill in his house, he kills the power and leaves her in darkness. He then dons his NightVisionGoggles and TheHunterBecomesTheHunted.
* Cyberdyne Systems ''Film/TheTerminator'' goes hunting for Sarah Connor through the precinct station when he notices the electrical closet. The Terminator switches off the power, plunging the building into darkness, a tactic to make it harder for Sarah to escape, and easier for the Terminator to massacre the police opposition.
* In ''Film/{{Ultraviolet}}'', the final villain plunges the room into total darkness, explaining that he can see in the dark. Violet counters by [[FlamingSword lighting her sword on fire]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* Justified in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' with hobs, faeries that hate light and can generate a sort off magic smokescreen that blocks it.
* In ''Literature/TheLongDarkTeaTimeOfTheSoul'', Thor uses his powers to completely black out Kate's entire neighborhood in order to get her attention, inadvertently terrifying her in the process.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BabylonFive'': When Commander Sinclair awakens to find the station completely abandoned, save one other, he goes to find out what's going on, only to have the lights start shutting off right before he's confronted by the one responsible.
* ''Series/DeadliestWarrior'': During the Spetsnaz vs. Green Berets battle, the last Spetsnaz shoots out the lights to throw off the Green Beret following him.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Weeping Angels can drain power from lightbulbs. Justified since their natural defence mechanism means they can't move when being observed, so if you can't see them...
** In the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn The Bells of Saint John]]", the bad guys, who [[EverythingIsOnline can hack anything]], plunge all of London into a blackout, except for the street that the Doctor and Clara are on. After a moment of confusion, the Doctor realises this is to provide an easy target for the oncoming plane that has also been hacked.
* In ''Series/{{Jekyll}}'', the eponymous SuperpoweredEvilSide draws from nearby electrical sources to power his transformation. As such, when Dr. Jackman's in a room and the lights flicker and go dark, it's a sign that the psychopath is about to show himself.
* The titular detective in an episode of ''Series/{{Monk}}'' fights a killer who strikes during power outages with a pair of night-vision goggles. When the police come in and turn on the lights, he demands they turn the lights back out because he is winning.
* In the episode "Say Again Your Last" of ''Series/SEALTeam'', Bravo Team infiltrates a university in Mumbai that's under siege by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. To rescue the students and extract them safely, they inform Mumbai Police to switch off the lights from the outside. With this and the use of night vision goggles, they were able to take out the terrorists since they can't see and the team was also using suppressed rifles.
* Happens several times in ''Series/TeenWolf'', in which any supernatural entity -- the alpha, the Kanima, etcetera -- seems to have the ability to turn off the lights in order to freak out whichever character they're targeting at the moment.
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[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' adventure ''Adam's Wrath''. While the {{PC}}s are infiltrating the underground caves, Adam will touch the luminescent fungus that provides the only light in the area. When he does this, the light will immediately turn off throughout the area, leaving the {{PC}}s in darkness. Adam knows the area much better than the {{PC}}s and will take less of a penalty while fighting in darkness than the {{PC}}s will.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TheDarkness'': At the end of the game, when the Darkness [[spoiler:becomes superpowered by a solar eclipse]], it gains the ability to shatter any lightbulbs it gets close to by sheer force of will.
* The ultimate skill of the [[HornyDevils Succubus]] class in ''VideoGame/Disgaea2CursedMemories'' is called 'Nightmare', and it involves surrounding the enemy with darkness and launch an unseen beatdown.
* Picking up the blue key in ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'s'' second map extinguishes all the lights in the room, and opens a MonsterCloset full of imps. The imps are as accurate with their fireballs as ever; the player character, not so much.
* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', the [[IronicName Illuminator]] Heartless assists Captain Barbossa by shrouding the area in darkness. This not only conceals them, but makes Barbossa invincible because he can only be harmed in the moonlight. The Illuminator has to be killed first to lift the darkness and make Barbossa vulnerable.
* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'': [[LivingShadow Nocturne]]'s ultimate "Paranoia" turns the whole map dark blocking the enemy team's sight of their enemies and each other for 4 seconds. During this time Nocturne can choose one of the enemies and launch himself at him/her, [[ParanoiaFuel attacking from the darkness]].
* Ganondorf, from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', drains all the light out of the room when casting his evil magic. To the viewer, this almost silhouettes Ganondorf in darkness.
* [[spoiler: Yami]], from ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' has the ability to plunge the whole battlefield into darkness, draining the player of all of their celestial power. The same works, however, if [[spoiler: you shine light onto the battlefield to Yami, draining it of its energy.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Quake|I}}'' features an area in the first level where picking up the Nailgun darkens the light, then some possessed soldiers appear to gun the player character out.
* In the ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'' franchise, this is a tactic that can be used by Sam Fisher by using his small arms to shoot out anything that emits light ranging from light bulbs to the lighting sign in order to reduce chances of him being caught out in the open. On the other hand, this can be used by Sam to sneak up on an enemy and grab them from the side or from the back.
* ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}'' has the first Skaarj encounter in the Rrajigar mines. After [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] disables the force field, [[FeaturelessProtagonist they]] have to return from where they came from, and at a turn, two barriers rise up and the lights start to turn off. Cue a red light of warning and the appearance of a Skaarj Scout.
* ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'' features a similar sequence: in the first mission, "Elara V: Sanctuary", [[PlayerCharacter John Dalton]] is going down in an elevator when it suddenly stops in the middle of the trajectory, then the lights go out, and a Light Skaarj falls from above, damaging the counterweights and sending Dalton plummeting to the lower floor.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', Thaco attempts to exploit the fact that he can see in the dark by luring Dellyn into a sewer before fighting him, and blocking off all the manholes so the sewer is pitch black. Dellyn, however, subverts this by casting a spell that provides him with a light source, rendering Thaco's advantage moot.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'': The Operator can interfere with electronic equipment. At one point during the filming of the student film, the Operator causes a blackout at Tim's house.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* [[EstablishingCharacterMoment In her debut episode]], [[LittleMissBadass Toph]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fought against seven powerful Earthbenders all on her own. She took out several of them by conjuring up a huge cloud of dirt. Because of her DisabilitySuperpower that allows her to see by sensing vibrations in the ground, she could "see" them, but ''they'' couldn't see ''her''.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "Jellyfish Hunter", the lights in [=SpongeBob=]'s house go out when a blue jellyfish snips the electrical wires.
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''I guess Gary forgot to pay the electric bill.''
* In ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'', Spider-Man and White Tiger turned off the lights and used night-vision to get an advantage over Taskmaster. Taskmaster boasted that he could easily navigate the room with his PhotographicMemory, only to find that the two heroes moved everything in the room after turning off the lights.
[[/folder]]
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