In the dead center of a film is a scene known as "the reversal". This scene is where the hero's goal is turned on its head. Effectively, the hunter becomes the hunted. Examples of this is Luke Skywalker arriving at Alderaan only to find it destroyed and the getting snagged by the Death Star's tractor beam. Another example can be found in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl when Barbossa drops Elizabeth's blood on the treasure and the curse is not lifted. It then becomes clear that someone else has the precious cursed blood.

This scene turns the tables on the hero and leads to all of his complications for the rest of the film. To find the Reversal in a film, the easiest method is to find the literal middle of the movie. In most cases you will be able to recognize the scene.

Labels: movie watching tip