History Main / EmergingFromTheShadows

* In the Creator/StanleyKubrick adaptation of ''Film/{{Lolita}}'', Humbert comes home to find a man waiting inside; he turns on the lights to reveal Claire Quilty (known to the audience but not Humbert) in the guise of the college psychiatrist, Dr. Zempf. "I sat in ze dark to save you ze expense of ze electricity." Given his general behavior, it's likely this is a deliberate attempt to screw with Humbert's head.

* In the 5th SeasonFinale of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Sela showing her face is the last shot.

* The original version of Creator/SternPinball's ''Pinball/{{Batman|Stern}}'' has a large black cylinder in the middle of the playfield. During the game, the side rotates away, revealing SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker inside.

* How Ursula was introduced in her own lair, whilst spying on Ariel and Flounder with the crystal bubble in ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid''. King Triton does this to Ariel when he discovers her secret grotto.

* In ''WesternAnimation/Cars'', this is how we first meet Lightning [=McQueen=].

* Another PlayedForLaughs example shows up in the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "Two to Tutor", Señor Senior Senior records a warning message about an upcoming heist by Junior and Shego (he'd gotten annoyed with them because, after he hired Shego to tutor Junior in villainy, she kept blowing him off whenever he tried to check in on them). He recorded the message in a dark room with [[ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes only his eyes showing]]... until Junior barged in and turned on the light.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E10ARoyalProblem A Royal Problem]]"
Daybreaker appears at first completely obscured by shadows, so that only the dark silhouette of an alicorn (with no mane or tail) can be seen. This increases the impact of the WhamShot when [[spoiler:she lights up her FlamingHair and reveals herself as Celestia's EvilTwin]].

--> '''Junior:''' "Father? Why are you sitting in the dark?"

* ''VideoGame/PersonaQ'' has it revealing the protagonists from P3 and P4.

* Used for a VisualPun in ''Film/TheNakedGun''-type adds for Red Rock Cider. LeslieNielsen shouts, "Hey! You, over there, in the shadows!" The man steps forward and reveals himself to be Hank Marvin, guitarist with sixties pop group, the Shadows.

->''"Sorry, this corner was really dark and I couldn't help myself. ''(beat)'' I think a bulb is out or something."''

* The fight against Meta Knight of ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'' starts as this, he appears as a colorless shady figure, then he becomes suddenly colored and proceeds to strike toward you ''[[DangerouslyGenreSavvy without]]'' [[MythologyGag giving you a sword]]. [[spoiler: this is the first sign he's an impostor, he's actually [[EvilKnockoff Dark Meta Knight]].]]

* ''Film/BloodDiamond''. Used for the reveal that the feared warlord the protagonist is going to meet is actually a ChildSoldier.

%%* Franchise/{{Batman}}

* The fight against Meta Knight of ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'' starts as this, he appears as a colorless shady figure, then he becomes suddenly colored and proceeds to strike toward you ''[[MythologyGag without]]'' [[LetYouAndHimFight giving you a sword]]. [[spoiler: this is the first sign he's an impostor, he's actually [[EvilKnockoff Dark Meta Knight]].]]

* The fight against Meta Knight of ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'' starts as this, he appears as a colorless shady figure, then he becomes suddenly colored and proceeds to strike toward you ''without'' giving you a sword. [[spoiler: this is the first sign he's an impostor, he's actually [[EvilKnockoff Dark Meta Knight]].]]

* The [[InTheHood Shadows of Yharnam]] of ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' appear from a fog, they still remain shady and hooded. [[spoiler: Until you dealt enough damage to them, snakes burst out from their faces.]]