History Main / PlayingPossum

* ''ZombieLand'' and it's golden rule, the ''doubletap'', is key to avoiding this kind of situation with zombies.

* Hei from ''DarkerThanBlack'' does this in the second episode, at which point we and some hapless goons learn both that his BadassLongcoat is bulletproof and that [[TheCombatPragmatist he doesn't really go in for that whole "fighting fair" thing]].

* Can be done in the entirety of the ''{{Unreal}}'' series, and continues into ''UnrealTournament''. In the earlier editions of the game, it caused the player to rather obviously fall over very slowly without bending any joints, leading to a "hinges in the feet" type of effect. Later games corrected this with the use of a ragdoll engine.

* In ''{{Shooter}},'' Bob Lee Swagger is badly wounded after being shot twice, but as a highly trained [[{{Badass}} Marine Scout Sniper]] he is far from disabled. He plays up his injuries so FBI Agent Mephis will get close to him, then quickly disarms him and steals his car.

* ''ZombieLand'' and it's golden rule, the ''doubletap'', is key to avoiding this kind of situation with zombies.

* In 1984, "Subway Vigilante" Bernard Goetz reportedly told one of his vanquished muggers "you don't look so bad, you could use another" before plugging another bullet into him (This was later disputed by defense-lawyers as impossible).

'''Examples:'''

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

** I don't know if he was PlayingPossum, or simply unconscious and LeftForDead by [=McClane=]. Karl was avenging his brother, and would never have given up willingly to feign death; however if he was hung by the neck with chains like that, it's also impossible for him to wake up and free himself--thus the trope wasn't very plausible (but it never is).

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:ProfessionalWrestling]]

[[AC:{{Manga}} and {{Anime}}]]
* [[spoiler:[[DualWielding Deed]]]] attempts this during the finale of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha [=StrikerS=]'' so she can perform one last sneak attack on [[spoiler:[[GirlsWithGuns Teana]]]] ([[spoiler:it fails thanks to [[ImprobableAimingSkills Vice]]]]), though since she was struck by [[StunGuns stun rounds]], it's more accurate to say that she was playing unconscious instead of playing dead.
* Hei from ''DarkerThanBlack'' does this in the second episode, at which point we and some hapless goons learn both that his BadassLongcoat is bulletproof and that [[TheCombatPragmatist he doesn't really go in for that whole "fighting fair" thing]].

[[AC:RealLife]]
* TruthInTelevision just recently: at least one "dead" Islamic terrorist turned out NotQuiteDead and killed at least one U.S. soldier. Despite the perfidy and the laws of war mentioned above, the squad was savagely smeared by the media when the same soldiers, days later, shot a "corpse" for making a sudden move. Fortunately, it ended up into nothing.
* In 1984, "Subway Vigilante" Bernard Goetz reportedly told one of his vanquished muggers "you don't look so bad, you could use another" before plugging another bullet into him (This was later disputed by defense-lawyers as impossible).
* Real life: this troper's dog "killed" the ''same possum....'' many times.
* When the State of Qi during China's [[DynastiesFromShangToQing Spring and Autumn period]] was entangled in a SuccessionCrisis in 685BC, the two pretenders, with their retainers, were racing back to the capital to be enthroned. When a retainer of Pretender Jiu saw Pretender Xiaobai, he promptly shot Xiaobai-- but only hit his belt buckle. Xiaobai quickly played possum to fool Jiu's faction and won the crisis.
* A college football defensive coordinator was suspended for a game after it surfaced that he ordered his players to feign injuries to slow down another team's hurry-up offense, designed to keep the defense winded and unable to substitute players. However, feigning injuries in and of themselves carries no penalty, unless they're blatant. The only "penalty" for going down with an injury is to leave the field for at least one play...an outcome the player faking the injury likely wanted to do in the first place.

[[AC:VideoGames]]

* In ''TheDarkKnight'' [[spoiler: The Joker]] uses this to gain control of a gang.

** In the early days it was pretty effective in PvP as well. Well timed Feign Death could make the opposing player think their enemy is already dead... until the realized the Hunters' pet was still attacking (normally auto dismissed at player death), and that Hunter that ''was'' on the floor is now using Aimed Shot (charging, really powerfull attack back in the day) on you... ouch! Trying it these days will now get you the following statement from your opponent: KEK! N00b!

* This was one of the powers of the Spy in the original ''TeamFortress''.
** The Dead Ringer lets him do it in Team Fortress 2.

* Liam Neeson's character Bryan Mills in the movie ''{{Taken}}'' does this in one scene. After Mills massacres all the bad guys in the kitchen, the men standing guard outside run in to find the cause of the commotion. They see a room filled with dead bodies. Suddenly Mills begins firing from underneath a corpse.

** On harder difficulty, however, the necromorphs will do it ''after you've shot them''. Remember kids: In this game, just because you shoot it's head off and it falls down ''doesnt mean its dead''.

* TruthInTelevision just recently: at least one "dead" Islamic Terrorists turned out NotQuiteDead and killed at least one US soldier. Despite the perfidy and the laws of war mentioned above, the squad was savagely smeared by the media when the same soldiers, days later, shot a "corpse" for making a sudden move. Fortunately, it ended up into nothing.
* In 1984, "Subway Vigilante" Bernhard Goets reportedly told one of his vanquished muggers "you don't look so bad, you could use another" before plugging another bullet into him (This was later disputed by defense-lawyers as impossible).

* In ''The Patriot,'' Col. Tavington does this at least once.

* In ''Fatal Attraction'', Glen Close appears to be dead-- but wakes up and attacks Michael Douglas again.
* In the movie ''Runaway Jury'', [[spoiler: Marlee]] plays possum to stab a hitman's leg.
* Liam Neeson's character Bryan Mills in the movie ''Taken'' does this in one scene. After Mills massacres all the bad guys in the kitchen, the men standing guard outside run in to find the cause of the commotion. They see a room filled with dead bodies. Suddenly Mills begins firing from underneath a corpse.
* Played straight in ''Enemy at the Gates'', with two characters both pretending to be dead in order to eliminate a German officer. On the other hand, the German soldiers were Bayoneting corpses just in case.

They approach the apparent corpse, or corpse is brought to them via TheBodyBagTrick. As they stand over them, the "corpse" [[EyeAwakening opens their eyes]]. And beats them up.

They approach the apparent corpse, or corpse is brought to them via TheBodyBagTrick. As they stand over them, the "corpse" opens their eyes. And beats them up.

See also ISurrenderSuckers. Compare DefensiveFeintTrap.