Frankenstein has a similar problem, though there is a lengthy explanation for that one.
I think framing can function as fake-out if it's highly unexpected with regard to the expected genre, else you would have to severely limit Fake Out to situations like "The Happy Elf" intro to A Series of Unfortunate Events, in which the opening sequence never proves to have anything to do with the film as a whole at all. There would be very few examples in that case.
Some of the examples seem to be simply setting up the origins of the story. For example, Stargate and Fifth Element, 24, Harry Potter, Firefly, Doctor Who. The opening sequence is in a different place from the rest of the show, but it genuinely is the place where the story starts. They aren't really a fake-out. Should they be listed here?
Edited by DJClayworthWhoever made the entries for Stargate and the Fifth Element almost identical, I salute you. I definitely did a double take.
Hide / Show RepliesAnd the Exorcist has yet another archaeological dig in the Middle East :)
The Princess Bride is obviously an example of Framing Device (and is listed under that trope) which is a different thing from Fake Out. I think it should be deleted here. (Or change the definition of Fake Out to include any Framing Device which differs greatly in setting or tone from the framed story, but that seems wrong.)
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