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9[[quoteright:350:[[Film/ApocalypseNow https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_tltjoll_5203.png]]]]
10
11->''"He was dark, too. I don't mean dark-skinned. No, this was different. It was as if he was always walking in a shadow. I mean every step he took towards the light, just when you thought his face was about to be revealed, it wasn't. It was as if the lights... dimmed... just for him."''
12-->-- '''Creator/SteveBuscemi''', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t993KuWWPH4 in the opening scene of]] ''Film/{{Desperado}}''
13
14A face half-covered by shadow, very often through a partial LightningReveal. Good way to emphasize a character's sinister side, or to temporarily hide that [[TwoFaced one side of their face]] is vastly abnormal. This can overlap with HiddenEyes. Sometimes accompanied by having the eye on the obscured side of the face [[GlowingEyesOfDoom glow ominously]].
15
16Not to be confused with TheFaceless, who requires ''full'' coverage of shadow ''all'' of the time.
17
18Often called {{Chiaroscuro}}, because it uses the more general chiaroscuro effect. May be called [[Creator/RembrandtVanRijn Rembrandt]] lighting, because Rembrandt used it, ''a lot''.
19
20Stark chiaroscuro such as this is technically known as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenebrism Tenebrism.]]
21
22Compare EmergingFromTheShadows and SinisterSilhouettes.
23
24----
25!!Examples:
26
27[[foldercontrol]]
28
29[[folder:Advertising]]
30* Creator/SaulBass's two-tone redesign of the Quaker logo covered up the right half of the Quaker Man's face with the background blue color.
31%%* The "Who Is Richard Drucker?" ad that keeps popping up on this wiki.
32[[/folder]]
33
34[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
35* Soga Ninokuru of ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'' has ''hair'' so rigid, his bangs perpetually cast a shadow over the top of his face, though [[ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes his eyes shine through just fine]].
36* After a tense battle in ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Lelouch slumps exhausted against the side of a building, and talks to his second-in-command Kallen, brazenly not wearing the helmet of his Zero disguise, only from the chin up is his head bathed in shadow. It's at this point the bond of trust between him and Kallen fully crystalizes, with nothing but a few paces between Kallen and Zero's true identity.
37* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' anime has both varieties: Before TheReveal, L's face is shadowed with his eyes hidden to hide his identity. Many shots of the anime use chiarascuro for dramatic effect, also.
38* Until his actual introduction, Father from ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'' is always shown like this.
39* This shows up countless times in ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}''; Kohta Hirano appears to particularly enjoy drawing panels of characters' faces where one of their eyes is visible and the other is concealed by either shadows or eye-glasses.
40* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' does this at times.
41* Dio looks like this through Part Three of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''... for no real reason, because we know who it is. This was done to add mystery to Dio's newly acquired ''[[FightingSpirit Stand]]'', whose [[spoiler:time-stopping]] powers were kept secret from both the characters AND the readers for 92% of the story.
42** Diavolo in [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Part 5]] is introduced in much the same way -- he even has a full battle with Bucciarati without revealing his face. And since the reader doesn't already know who he is, it helps keep his identity more secretive... at least, if you aren't able to pick up on the very unsubtle clues dropped throughout the middle of the series.
43* Vexen does this in the ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' manga.
44* Symbolic example in ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic:'' when Alibaba meets his father, [[spoiler:the King of Balbadd]], his face (and hands) are shown as [[TheBlank blank]] darkness. Later, on his deathbed, Alibaba finally asks [[spoiler:the King]] if he ever really loved Alibaba's mother; when he confirms that he did, his face is suddenly revealed.
45* Used with the chairman of Nergal in ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'', emphasizing his role as what amounted to the show's BigBad... before we even knew what he was guilty of.
46* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', All Might's HeroicBuild form is perpetually drawn in heavy shadows with half his face obscured and HiddenEyes (this part also persists with his more sickly civilian form). His nemesis All for One is also shown like this in flashbacks (we do get to see [[FacialHorror what passes for his face]] in the present).
47* Justified for Maria Campbell in ''Literature/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'': As the PlayerCharacter of the OtomeGame ''Fortune Lover'', she wouldn't have any personality features save what the player gives her via gameplay and dialogue choices. So she is depicted in this way in Catalina's imagination in the manga and anime adaptations. Once they meet face-to-face, and thus effectively become a real person to Catalina, Maria is shown normally.
48* Before his introduction [[spoiler:Jack]] of ''Manga/PandoraHearts'' uses this. More like, Face Framed in Shadow and Fancy Curtain, though.
49* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': MadScientist [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/professortomoeshiny.jpg Professor Tomoe]] typically appears with his faced obscured by a black shadow, ScaryShinyGlasses and a strange red smile.
50* In Act 2 of ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'', this is twice used to communicate emotional agitation:
51** Evil Queen Beryl's eyes and left side of her face are shadowed during her testy scolding of her minion Jadeite in her throne room.
52** Afterwards, a troubled Jadeite has the right side of his face in shadow after sending off his second [[MonsterOfTheWeek youma]].
53* ''Manga/SgtFrog'' has [[InconsistentSpelling Kululu/Kururu]], who ''always'' has a shadow over the center of his face.
54* A common complaint about ''Anime/TekkenBloodline'' was that ''everyone's'' face had a shadow over it in every scene regardless of ambient lighting.
55[[/folder]]
56
57[[folder:Arts]]
58* The technique has been used by many 16th and 17th century painters, including Creator/RembrandtVanRijn and Caravaggio.
59* Used in Miguel Iglesias's ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Primarch]]'' series of paintings for dramatic effect with some of the Patriarchs. In particular, Alpharius and Omegon are shown in opposite lighting to show how different both men are even when they look exactly the same. Alpharius's left side is shown in bright light, bringing prominence to his scar and cold, blue eye. Whereas Omegon is shown with his right side looking at the viewer, the shadows hiding his scar.
60[[/folder]]
61
62[[folder:Comic Books]]
63* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
64** In the early decades of the comics, Batman's cowl was always drawn as if his face was in shadow (i.e., the front was black, fading into blue at the back). Some artists (and [[Series/Batman1966 the 1960s TV show]]) interpret this as his cowl actually being two different colors.
65** Harvey Dent, both before and after [[StartOfDarkness his transformation into]] Two-Face, often has his face framed in shadow, either as {{Foreshadowing}} (before), mysterious effect (after), or symbolism of some sort (both). Also used in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''.
66* In ''ComicBook/TheBoys'', the comic showing SociopathicHero[=/=]VillainProtagonist Butcher's StartOfDarkness has several of these, most notably the absolutely terrifying one where a teenage Butcher's face is half covered in shadow (complete with [[GlowingEyesOfDoom the eye covered in shadow glowing ominously]]) when he decides to kill his father as he listens to his dad beating his mother.
67* Hilariously subverted in one ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' comic which shows a reporter saying 'Our next guest is an organized crime informant. To protect his identity, we've placed him in a darkened studio. Let's go to him now.' while in the background we see the janitor entering the darkened studio and flicking on the light...
68* In ''Comicbook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'', the Beagle Boys have their faces in shadow before they get their trademark {{Domino Mask}}s, ensuring we never actually see their faces without them.
69* DC's ''ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger'' doesn't wear a mask, but no matter what type of hat he's wearing it always casts a shadow over the top half of his face to achieve the same effect. Even when he's not wearing a hat at all.
70* ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'': Frank Castle is sometimes shown with his face covered in shadow, the better to convey the utter menace that he is capable of. A perfect example is in the second issue of ''ComicBook/ThePunisherBorn'' when Castle, after giving a VC sniper girl a MercyKill and killing her rapist in cold-blooded fashion, explains his reasons for doing both of those things to Stevie Goodwin.
71* Due to its FilmNoir roots, ''ComicBook/SinCity'' indulges in this quite a bit. This is mostly seen in ''Yellow Bastard'' with almost every shot of John Hartigan invoking this trope.
72* In ''ComicBook/{{Violine}}'', Francois' face is covered in shadow to indicate that he is being mind-controlled.
73* ''ComicBook/TheWildStorm'':
74** Mark Slayton is introduced standing in the shadows, with only his lower jaw in the light. And his creepy, glowing red eyes. Surprise, he quickly turns out to be a murderous lunatic.
75** Gloria Spaulding also keeps to the shadows, but while she is also a murderous lunatic, she's much less of a murderous lunatic than Slayton.
76* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Dark Phoenix is often drawn this way; ironic, since she gives off a lot of fire.
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:Fan Works]]
80* A non-visual example in ''Fanfic/TheDarkAngel'': the crime boss who employs Scarface and later Two-Sides is almost completely hidden by the shadows in his appearances so far.
81* ''VideoGame/TSUnderswap'': Chara's face becomes covered by a shadow once Genocide is triggered, with their [[HiddenEyes eyes hidden]]. In an aborted Genocide run, Chara's eyes become visible again, but their face remains eerily shadowed, creating the appearance of them having a ThousandYardStare.
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Films — Animation]]
85* ''WesternAnimation/Cars2'' featured a variation of this: The film's BigBad has his entire body concealed by having his hood open wide so no one will ever see his windshield (his eyes), with the only part of his body being visible being his own engine. But then Mater figured out whose engine it was...
86[[/folder]]
87
88[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
89* ''Film/ApocalypseNow'':
90** Kurtz throughout his appearances. Necessary because Creator/MarlonBrando showed up for the last week of filming about a dozen pounds overweight, despite Coppola paying him $1 million in advance specifically to play a RankScalesWithAsskicking warlord. And despite that, Brando was worth every penny, ad-libbing [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNRBajLM8_4 some of the most iconic five minutes]] of film ever shot in the history of movies.
91** There's also a shot of Martin Sheen with his face half-covered in shadow and half in light while another character is talking about how every man has both good and evil in them.
92* In ''Film/TheBishopsWife'', Dudley the angel is shot this way when he first meets the person he's been sent to help, Rev. Brougham. Dudley's a good and benevolent angel, but the effect is still spooky.
93* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', Red Skull, when telling Dr. Zola about having located Dr. Erskine, is covered in shadow within a window shining light behind him. Presumably, this was intended in order to hide [[spoiler:his true face]].
94** However, he is having his portrait painted at the time, and you can see the artist's palette has only [[spoiler:red paint]]
95* ''Film/CitizenKane'' has a few shots of Kane's face framed in shadow and stepping into light, or the other way around.
96* In ''Film/CriesAndWhispers'', Maria's and Karin's disturbing flashbacks are introduced with shots of their faces in dim red light, half in shadow. Anna's maybe-maybe-not dream sequence is also introduced this way.
97* ''Film/{{Darkman}}'' has a shot of this right near the end.
98* Billy is framed this way in ''Film/DaysOfHeaven'', when he's peering into Abby and the farmer's bedroom, before he sneaks in and lures Abby out.
99* ''Film/DecisionBeforeDawn'': Rennick, an American officer behind the lines in Nazi Germany, is framed this way when he's hiding behind a pillar, silently pleading with the German child looking straight at him to not give him away. The boy runs off without telling the nearby Nazi patrol.
100* ''Many'' times throughout ''Film/JulietOfTheSpirits'', as Juliet's mansion isn't very well lit at night. Jose the bullfighter, whom Juliet is obviously attracted to, is framed this way when he first appears. When Juliet goes to bed while contemplating her husband's infidelity, her face is in shadow except for one strategic beam of light illuminating her eyes. Suzy is [[https://wondersinthedark.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/juliet-2.jpg framed this way]] when attempting to get Juliet to have sex at her house.
101* Dr. Gogol gets one of these in ''Film/MadLove'', when he's watching one of Yvonne's shows.
102* ''Film/MadameCurie'': A lot of this in the dramatic scene in the lab, where Pierre and Marie go over her findings and realize, through logical deduction, that there is a third, unknown element in the pitchblende emitting radiation.
103* Used by Don Diego in ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'' to protect his secret identity when dressed in a padre's cowled robe… with the Zorro costume on underneath that.
104* ''Film/OJMadeInAmerica'': A portrait of O.J. Simpson with the left side of his face hidden in shadow is shown for dramatic effect when Part 2 of the series starts to go into how Simpson beat his wife.
105* Almost every introduction of Harmonica into a scene in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'' is like this, especially the scene where he's revealed by a lantern being thrown into the corner of the bar where he's sitting.
106* Creator/ClintEastwood's face is often framed in shadow in ''Film/TheOutlawJoseyWales'', usually when someone recognizes him or says his name.
107* In ''Film/PulpFiction'', Butch Coolidge first appears with half of his face in shadow (albeit as much shadow as you can get in a strip club) as he's being offered a large sum of money to throw his upcoming boxing match.
108* ''Film/ReversalOfFortune'':
109-->'''Dershowitz:''' You're a very strange man.\
110'''von Bulow:''' ''(face half hidden in limo)'' You have ''no'' idea.
111* ''Film/{{Spectre}}''. When James Bond infiltrates a board meeting of the NebulousEvilOrganisation, their leader's face is hidden in shadow. At first this looks like they're going to do the NoOneSeesTheBoss trope as with the original SPECTRE, until [[FaceRevealingTurn he turns his head]] to [[IKnowYoureWatchingMe look directly at Bond]].
112* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
113** Luke Skywalker, in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' gets this while hiding during the duel with Vader, while Vader is taunting him about his sister. Presumably intended to demonstrate Luke being conflicted and tempted to give in to his anger.
114** Anakin Skywalker in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' when he pledges allegiance to Palpatine.
115** For a slightly different version, Palpatine's face is shadowed by his deep hood, but only the top half--you can still see his mouth and chin just fine, and sometimes his nose. Occasionally light [[ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes glints off]] [[GlowingEyesOfDoom his eyes]] for an overall creepy effect. At the opera scene, it is played the normal way, where half his face is framed in light and half is framed in shadow while he regales Anakin with the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise.
116* The documentary ''Film/UNMe'' had a former peacekeeper official at the UN supply everything he knew about his experiences as a UN peacekeeper (particularly the negative ones) in exchange for his identity to remain hidden. As such, he always is framed in shadow with a voice modifier that sounds similar to a [[Series/StargateSG1 System Lord]].
117[[/folder]]
118
119[[folder:Literature]]
120* ''Literature/BattleGround'': When [=McCoy=] does battle as the Blackstaff -- an [[TheArchmage Archmage]] with unique license to wield BlackMagic -- his eponymous EvilWeapon [[CastingAShadow shrouds]] one side of his body in impenetrable darkness that resembles a WickedWitch silhouette.
121* Isabella is drawn like this in ''Literature/DearDumbDiary'', while Jamie describes her as probably having herself under sinister lighting when on the phone asking about when she'd get her puppies.
122* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' does this with secret societies. A ''lot''. They try for TheFaceless, but generally have a hard time with it.
123* Raistlin Majere, the mastermind wizard from the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' chronicles. His face was often hidden in the shadows of his hood, with only his golden eyes glowing from the darkness.
124* Dolores Umbridge of ''Literature/HarryPotter'' was introduced with her face framed in such a way as a member of the tribunal trying Harry for use of underage magic in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix''.
125* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': When the hobbits first see Strider, he is sitting in the shadows of the Prancing Pony Inn, and "in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood that overshadowed his face; but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watched the hobbits." This sinister first impression is a subversion, as Strider is really Aragorn, heir to the throne of Men who will end up being a loyal friend and staunch defender.
126* ''Literature/TheMysteriousMrQuin'': When Mr Quin appears on the scene, there is often a shadow falling on his face in a way that suggests a harlequin mask.
127* ''Literature/TheNightsDawnTrilogy'': Quinn Dexter uses his powers to do this deliberately to freak people out. Whenever he loses his temper however, [[FailedAttemptAtDrama his face rapidly reappears]].
128* Creator/IsaacAsimov and Creator/RobertSilverberg's ''Literature/ThePositronicMan'': The 1993 {{Creator/Doubleday}} cover has a small [[FaceOnTheCover portrait representing Andrew Martin]], with a [[TwoFaced half-human, half-robot]] face. The robot side of his face is much darker than the human half, the better to emphasize his glowing red eye.
129* ''Literature/TheStoryOfValentineAndHisBrother'' references this when Val and Richard are arguing in a lamplit room: "A dim room is an admirable field for deliberation, with one face in the shade and the other in the light. Should he settle the subject with a high hand, and put the young man summarily down? Should he yield?"
130[[/folder]]
131
132[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
133* ''Series/BreakingBad'' uses this extremely often. This fits with the show's themes of double lives, and the subject matter of ProtagonistJourneyToVillain.
134** Its PrequelSeries ''Series/BetterCallSaul'' follows suit.
135* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
136** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens "The Pandorica Opens"]]: When River Song attempts to convince the Roman soldiers to help the Doctor, one commander who volunteers to go is seen with his face hidden in shadow. Later this same commander appears in shadow after dispatching a Cyberman who was threatening Amy. He emerges from the shadows into the light to reveal that he is in fact Rory Williams.
137** Used to chilling effect in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E7AGoodManGoesToWar "A Good Man Goes to War"]], where the Doctor [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1b/36/d9/1b36d9ffccd74bc373c269631b39c3c2--eleventh-doctor-quotes-doctor-who-quotes.jpg threatens]] to become TheUnfettered.
138--->'''Kovarian:''' The anger of a good man is not a problem. Good men have too many rules.\
139'''The Doctor:''' Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have ''so many''.
140* In ''Series/HoratioHornblower'', main villain Simpson is introduced with this and dramatic music.
141* In the ''Series/{{Lost}}'' episode "The Shape of Things to Come", Ben Linus and Charles Widmore have a conversation in which each face is only half-visible due to the darkness of the room. This underscores the audience's uncertainty as to which character is the true villain of the piece.
142* In ''Series/{{Rome}}'', during the entirety of the scene where Octavian confronts a defeated Cleopatra after the death of Marc Antony, half of Octavian's face is covered in shadow. This underlies his two faced nature in the conversation, and how his polite "invitation" for Cleopatra to come to Rome and his assurances that her children will not be harmed are bald faced lies, despite the utter sincerity with which he says them. Cleopatra is not fooled at all, accurately saying afterwards that Octavian only wants her alive to parade her in chains before a mob.
143* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
144** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Face-shadowing, eyes-highlighting is frequently used, along with techniques like GaussianGirl.
145** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E26S5E1Redemption Redemption, Pt. 1]]", Sela, daughter of a Tasha Yar from an alternate timeline, first appears with her face half in shadow, after having appeared with her face completely covered (to conceal her identity from the audience) in a handful of previous episodes involving Romulan plots she masterminded.
146** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'':
147*** "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS2E8PersistenceOfVision Persistence of Vision]]": The crew encounters an alien who greets them this way, which Captain Janeway puts down to psychological warfare. When he does step into the light, Janeway is shocked to see her fiance Mark whom she left back on Earth, as the alien is using telepathy to lure victims.
148*** "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS4E21LivingWitness Living Witness]]": A future historian creates a holoprogram in which Voyager has a HistoricalVillainUpgrade. The episode opens with Evil Janeway standing in her darkened ready room, back to the audience, monologuing on how MightMakesRight.
149* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': In "[[Recap/SupernaturalS02E20WhatIsAndWhatShouldNeverBe What Is and What Should Never Be]]", Sam and Dean get this treatment while in the Impala on a rainy night.
150* In the season 3 finale of ''Series/TheWestWing'', while President Bartlet is struggling with the decision to order an assassination, he and Leo meet in a dark corner of a brightly-lit theatre where both have half of their faces obscured by shadows. They have a brief conversation about right and wrong before Bartlet gives the order and walks out of the shadows.
151* ''Series/Werewolf1987'' makes extensive use of this trope in the pilot, during Ted's confession to Eric about being a werewolf.
152* ''Series/WolfHall'' uses natural and period lighting, meaning that at night, sets are lit by candles and lanterns as they would have been in Tudor times. This is used to excellent effect when Thomas Cromwell interrogates Anne Boleyn's accused lovers, the ones who had mocked Cardinal Wolsey's death, in the final episode--Mark Rylance may not [[AdaptationalAttractiveness look as naturally evil as Cromwell is said to in the novels]], but the sight of his face half-hidden in the shadows is quite menacing.
153[[/folder]]
154
155[[folder:Music]]
156* ''Music/WithTheBeatles'' by [[Music/TheBeatles guess who]] combines this with FloatingHeadSyndrome, as the cover shows each of the Fab Four's faces half-lit and half in shadow.
157* The album cover of ''Music/TheScore'' by Music/TheFugees shows the band members framed in shadows.
158* Throughout the full video for Music/PoetsOfTheFall's "[[https://youtu.be/xfvtPTvuFTA Drama for Life]]" figures in both the real and MentalWorld have heavily shadowed faces, particularly the GhostInTheMachine "madman" who lunges from, and retreats into the various sharply defined shadows while alternately {{Kubrick Star|e}}ing and pulling faces to spook the viewer.
159* The cover of ''Music/AfterHours'' shows a full length portrait of Music/SarahVaughan, but her face is partly shadowed.
160* Music/TomWaits and a woman are covered in shadows on the album cover of ''Music/ForeignAffairs''.
161[[/folder]]
162
163[[folder:Toys]]
164* ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'' ''loved'' this trope. Almost every single promo image featured a character's face, usually the antagonist's, in the background either half-covered in shadow (sometimes dust or fog), or blended with an image of the current location.
165[[/folder]]
166
167[[folder:Video Games]]
168* The RealIsBrown aesthetics of ''VideoGame/AkatsukiBlitzkampf'' use this trope [[AuthorAppeal LOTS of times]]. In example we have [[http://wiki.mizuumi.net/w/File:Intro_akatsuki.jpg Akatsuki's intro]] and [[http://wiki.mizuumi.net/w/File:Movelist_akatsuki.jpg portrait]], Murakumo's [[http://i.imgur.com/f2f9YLM.png intro]] and [[http://wiki.mizuumi.net/w/File:Ending_murakumo.jpg ending]], Fritz's [[http://wiki.mizuumi.net/w/File:Ending_fritz.jpg ending]]...
169* In the ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'' series, a variation of this occurs: The upper half of Caleb's face is shrouded in shadow from his hat. This is the case in the in-game sprite and in some cutscenes. For the in-game sprite, this was accomplished by painting the upper part of the model's face black (the model would later get photographed and converted to a sprite).
170* ''VideoGame/BuckshotRoulette'': The only things we see of the dealer besides its hands is its face peering out of the darkness.
171* In the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series, the Black Mage's face is covered in shadows, and only glowing eyes are able to be seen.
172* Due to its cel-shaded nature and somewhat noir style, ''VideoGame/Killer7'' has its share of shots like this.
173* The lightning engine in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' makes these kinds of shots common in many scenes. Since this sequel is a bit DarkerAndEdgier than it's predecessor and deals with our heroes working with the seedier parts of the galaxy, it seems deliberate. [[CowboyCop Garrus]], [[ClassyCatBurglar Kasumi]], [[BountyHunter Zaeed]], Shepard themselves and many enemies in [[WretchedHive Omega]] and [[CrapsaccharineWorld Illium]] has this effect on them often.
174** It becomes especially effective if your Shepard is a [[PragmaticHero Renegade]], as then all you'll be able to see of the shadowed side of their face is the glowing, red scars.
175** [[ClassyCatBurglar Kasumi's]] face is always half-obscured by shadow thanks to the hood she wears. Seeing as how she's ''by far'' the most upbeat member of [[DysfunctionJunction Shepard's squad]] and is only a few notches away from being a GenkiGirl, this is probably intentionally ironic.
176* The cover for ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' presents Big Boss like this. Considering this is the game where he embraces his ProtagonistJourneyToVillain, it's quite appropriate.
177* The teaser trailer for ''VideoGame/MystIIIExile'' does this - the game's TragicVillain Saavedro leans out of the shadows with a pained look on his face, sheds a single tear, then says "Hello, Atrus" and grins like a maniac. He later disappears back into the shadows, implying that he's hiding there... just waiting for you... Needless to say, the overall effect is quite chilling.
178* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Your party members' faces become covered in stark black shadows right before they pop a SlasherSmile and their FightingSpirit unleashes a damaging CriticalHit on an enemy.
179* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': [[BigBad Giovanni]], the leader of Team Rocket, is shown with a partially-shadowed face in his ''VideoGame/PokemonStadium'' mugshot as well as the mugshot supplied in his character artwork as seen in the manuals and official strategy guides of Red, Blue, and Yellow.
180* ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' features a variant on this- prior to the first time they are fought, each member of the Deadly Six will be completely in shadow, even when it's broad daylight. Zavok is the only member who this doesn’t apply to because of his presence in the game's story.
181* Tarion in ''VideoGame/TelepathTactics'', whenever he appears through a telepathic message. Only [[RedEyesTakeWarning his eyes]] and a bit of his hands are visible. It's not until the final battle that you get to see his CharacterPortrait in proper lighting.
182* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' has an unusual variant with Asgore, the king of monsters. When you fight him, his face isn't visible because he's looking at the ground. [[GameFace It makes him look vicious]], but [[spoiler:it's really because he can't bear to look the player character, a child, in the eye as he tries to kill them]].
183** Ralsei in ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' appears to have black fur, [[spoiler:but when he takes his hat off, his full face is shown and his fur is actually white, revealing that he bears an uncanny resemblance to the "Boss Monster" species featured in both games, which includes Asgore and his family]].
184* In ''VideoGame/ViceProjectDoom'', one half of the villain's looming face isn't even drawn in the opening cutscene.
185[[/folder]]
186
187[[folder:Web Animation]]
188* In ''WebAnimation/TIEFighter'', the Imperial Commander gets this at one point, coupled with a very sinister grin.
189[[/folder]]
190
191[[folder:Webcomics]]
192* Parodied in ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow''. [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2012-03-17/comic/the-bookend-of-unimaginable-power/back-in-black-and-white/ Marley calls]] a mysterious contact, hidden in shadow, to let him know he has the artifact...only for said contact to turn on the light, revealing he's been woken up from bed and has no idea what his friend is talking about. It was a wrong number. When he calls the ''actual'' contact, he's [[VillainsOutShopping cooking while wearing an apron that says "Kiss the Cult Leader."]]
193* Used on Mr. Raven in [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2009-02-13 this]] ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' strip to illustrate a mysterious nature rather than a sinister one.
194* Used on Ahem in [[https://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/11 this]] early ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' strip, when he admits he lied about why he came to Earth; an interesting example because as a [[StarfishAliens nonhumanoid]], he kind of doesn't ''have'' a face.
195* In ''Webcomic/Life2012'', when Lex calls Felicia, [[http://www.cha0sden.com/Life.php?comic=363 his face is wreathed in shadows]] ... [[InvokedTrope because he's shielding himself from the lightbulb with an umbrella]].
196* ''Webcomic/SandraOnTheRocks'': Used in the introduction of Sandra's possibly-mysterious enemy [[http://www.sandraontherocks.com/strips-sotr/wild_and_glamorous here]].
197* In ''Webcomic/WeakHero'', after being beaten down by Donald, Ben is on the verge of unconsciousness and operating purely on instinct. This is visualised as his face being entirely in shadow except for his BlankWhiteEyes.
198[[/folder]]
199
200[[folder:Web Videos]]
201* ''WebVideo/AgentsOfCracked'''s "Chief" purposefully puts a lamp behind him to create this effect in his office, which works in tandem with a voice distorter.
202* ''WebVideo/CellSpex'' has an avatar that is basically just a shadowy shape with purple hair and glowing white eyes that do most of the emoting.
203* ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'': During "My Eyes", Doctor Horrible sings about the darkness within him growing with his face half lit by a nearby lamplight. When he sings that soon darkness will be all that remains, he steps back allowing the darkness to cover the rest of his face, so that only a few specks of light (coming from a hobo's burning trash can) hit him.
204* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic has this a lot in ''{{WebVideo/Kickassia}}'', highlighting how his darker DrunkWithPower side is consuming him. More serious RuleOfSymbolism version in "The Review Must Go On", as both he and [[spoiler:Doug]] have half their faces obscured by darkness, while innocent sacrifice [[WebVideo/DemoReel Donnie]] always has his in the light.
205* WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows is always backlit, so he projects a silhouette to the camera. In crossovers and live appearances, he wears a black mask that obscures all of his face except his mouth.
206[[/folder]]
207
208[[folder:Western Animation]]
209* [[BigBad Fire Lord Ozai]]'s face is seen like this for the first two seasons of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. He drops it in the third season premiere, though.
210* The end of the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE46AlmostGotIm Almost Got 'im]]" has a variant. [[spoiler:When it's revealed that Killer Croc is really Batman, a swinging ceiling light casts a shadow over Croc's face and you see ''Batman's'' face framed in shadows.]] Creator/PaulDini even admits on the DVD commentary that it made no sense, but it was just [[RuleOfCool so cool]] they had to do it.
211* [[BigBad Von Reichter]]'s face is ''always'' like this in ''WesternAnimation/{{Cybersix}}'', save for his glowing monocle and bright yellow eye.
212* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' has Orko, whose face is shrouded in shadows, save for his two yellow eyes.
213* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS9E4SparklesSeven Sparkle's Seven]]", Luna is in the shadows petting the goose when Spike reveals that she's his accomplice.
214* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E5SideshowBobRoberts Sideshow Bob Roberts]]", Smithers, a la Deepthroat, is in shadow while telling Bart and Lisa to "follow the names", trying to offer as little information as possible about his identity other than the fact that he was one of the people in Sideshow Bob's campaign. Unfortunately for Smithers, Homer chose that exact moment to drive up and activate the front lights of his car.
215* Slade from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' is shown this way in his earliest appearances. We find out that half of his mask looks like this, not that it helps with him being unnerving.
216[[/folder]]

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