Why The "Primal Fear" (1996) Plot Twist Works So Well

Primal Fear is a 1996 crime/thriller with an impressive plot twist. This video suggests a few reasons for why it works so well.
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thank you so much everybody for your support on this video and channel!! ❤️ please see the pinned comment below if you want more info on the future plans for this channel, but in the meantime, here's a link to my actual main channel if you're interested: ‪@__nicoleerin‬
i feel bad for being such a ghost on here, so i figured the least i could do is provide access to some of the content i've made over the years. it's more casual-style content so it's not the format of video essays like this, but that's what this channel will be for one day should i decide to venture in that direction :)
thanks again for your support 🤍🤍🤍
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[@nikki_ikki]

hey everyone! first of all i wanted to say a massive thank you for the incredible support on this video ❤❤❤ i created this for a uni school project and we were obligated to post it online, so i really did not expect this response but i couldn't be more grateful for it!! i love seeing everybody discussing the film in the comments and there are some really interesting analyses and points there~ i do read the comments! i have just honestly been overwhelmed with the influx of support so i've chosen to just be an observer instead of responding to everybody. i hope you can understand! i’ve decided to leave this comment instead to just say a huge thank you and that i do appreciate all of the support and interest, especially after i’ve been a ghost on this channel for years!! ❤ i don’t want to get anybody’s hopes up too fast but creating a video essay channel is something i’ve considered for years now. i do have a main channel where i post content like vlogs, self-development, i guess just sorta sharing my life with the internet! but i’ve never felt video essays would fit in there, so who knows, maybe one day this channel will become the outlet for that and i’ll actually do something with it! anyways, thank you again

[@juliachristinaheikamp246]

I hope you got an A for it, because it very well presented and worked out professionally. Brief, on the point, no blabla, esp the comparison with other plot twists.

[@nikki_ikki]

@@juliachristinaheikamp246 thanks so much

[@elisabethschmerzler963]

I think another reason the twist works so well is that is emphasizes one of the major themes of the movie; manipulation. Aaron/Roy has been manipulated constantly and we see Richard Gere manipulate him further to get what he wants. So when it’s revealed that Aaron/Roy is in fact the real puppet master, everything is turned on it’s head

[@CityThatCannotBeCaptured]

Yes good summation. The whole thing is magnificent.

[@patriceaqa288]

​@@CityThatCannotBeCapturedon first viewing you really do not see the final twist coming. Why? Because we were already treated to a twist of sorts in the middle of the film with Roy's reveal. We come to empathise with both Norton and geres characters. So you're completely off balance when the twist of the final moment is revealed.

[@angiefrancis8633]

Primal Fear is my favorite movie. for that very reason. I immediately felt for Aaron. When the final plot twist was revealed i was completely crushed. When Stampler told Vail "You started to feel for old Aaron" I knew I too had fallen into his trap. It made it feel a lot more real. I've seen this movie about 5 times and I never get tired of it. Edward Norton did an incredible job with this movie.

[@adamstanheightkinnie]

i felt so betrayed at the end, aaron had really grown on me lol, he did a wonderful job indeed, every time i watch it, the plot twist makes my heart drop.

[@CityThatCannotBeCaptured]

You're right; it was superb.

[@francescoperrone6227]

Edward Norton is an incredible actor, that's why it works so well

[@Willie_McBride]

Between Primal Fear, & Fight Cub, Edward Norton has been involved in two of the greatest end game, plot twists in cinematic history.

[@RColon-rc9ob]

🥊🥊🥊One can make the case that he did have a multiple personality disorder, by making Roy his main personality; and Aaron his secondary personality…People automatically assume that the person with the disorder is a good person first and a bad person second…

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

I just have to say, I believe Roy knows exactly what he was doing when he said he was sorry. Because never once did he show signs of remembrance when flipping sides, but at that moment of all moments, he remembered events of his “split person”. This was beautifully placed at this scene, as it shows his true intentions and mindset. This is further seen as he goes on to say, “I wanted you to figure it out.” Then when Martin says, “There is no Roy?” Stampler fires back with, “There was never an Aaron!” These key points right here, go to show how he wanted to get caught, but specifically on his own terms and while putting them through trouble. He could’ve simply kept his mouth shut (like he did in majority of scenes) but instead opted to give a clue, which Martin picks up on. In all honesty, my first ever time watching Primal Fear, I was disappointed that he was actually the murderer and desired to get caught, but the second time around, it makes the movie that much more interesting.

[@ICxrsedII]

same, i was like whyyy but then i realized that made the movie so much better

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

@@ICxrsedII let me guess, did you start to take pity on him and hope he was actually just mentally ill? That’s what I hoped for!🤣

[@ian9toes]

“Wanted to get caught”, is really wanted to boast of his masterpiece

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

@@ian9toes yea of course, it was like a badge of pride to him and he couldn’t be tried again.

[@vingram100]

I like the detail that Roy/Aaron fooled everyone with a persona that is almost stereotypical based on his past. Once they discover the sexual abuse, they won't see him objectively unless he acts pathetic. If he was his real volatile personality, they wouldn't consider the abuse and he'd rot in jail.

[@Whatchamawhozit]

I remember when this was coming out in 96, I was really into up and coming films and the trailer for this struck a chord with me. I convined 9 friends to go opening night, I could see they were not into it at first but by the time the movie reach 20 minutes in, they were hooked. By the end at Denny's that night all they were talking about is Edward Norton... I felt happy they enjoyed it and I became a huge fan of this film, then American History X came out... didn't have to convince those same friends.. we all went opening night. American History X is my Favorite Ed Norton film, with Primal Fear 2nd and Fight Club Third.

[@alecaquino4306]

Thank you for making this video! This was my first introduction to Edward Norton as a child and man did he deliver!

[@harley7836]

This was Edward’s first introduction to the world. It was the very first movie role he got.

[@t-7777]

Watch fight club I think you'll enjoy that too

[@mycommentpwnz]

Good observations!!!! Well done! I thought about this as well: And coming at it from a physiological point-of-view, I firmly believe the brains tendency to predict outcomes/conclusions (even when only given tiny bits of information) plays a role in this twist working so well. Imagine you are putting together a jigsaw puzzle, and you have NO IDEA what the final picture is. You're putting the puzzle together from the TOP DOWNWARDS. When you're halfway through, you can see the face of a monkey, who looks to be sleeping happily. Your brain will infer/suggest a ton of possibilities of what the bottom-half could be. But, when you complete the puzzle, you see the monkey isn't sleeping, he has in-fact been drugged, and he is currently being eaten alive by a tiger. Most people will be slightly shocked.

[@nicktroisi6347]

“I just didn’t know who you wanted to hear it from? Aaron or Roy or Roy or Aaron…it don’t matter who you hear it from, it’s the same story…There never was an Aaron” that sent chills down my spine and it made me scared because there was no “Aaron” or “Roy”, we (The Audience) and characters in the film have no idea who this guy really is, he could be The Devil himself

[@rosemarymcgrory]

You have gotta respect ..the artistry that went in to pretending to be two completely different people ..on the stand to fool everyone .. to keep that up requires intelligence

[@zachariahlloyd6043]

*Primal Fear* was one of if not the best courtroom/crime dramas I have ever come across & *Norton* nailed the *Aaron/Roy* thing to the wall!!

[@NothingButStardust]

Love this breakdown! This quote from a great leader comes to mind -> “We will watch your career with great interest.”

[@gingerbread._.llama._.]

I love your analysis of the layers. I think it also helps that in the beginning when Aaron is running away, we think it MUST be him. However as we get to know him we doubt it and have two options - either he was framed and really is innocent or he killed him. Then we think the real plot twist is when Roy is revealed. It all makes sense - we can basically have both options in our head, the one we initially had when Aaron was running bloody away from the crime scene (where we were pretty sure he killed him) and the other being the innocent boy. This is why the real plot twist is so crazy. It completely proves all out theories wrong and basically tells us that we should have just trusted our initial thoughts (like judges a book by its cover - the first scene was exactly that).

[@floffan2333]

This is a really thorough and well-made video! Thank you!

[@CityThatCannotBeCaptured]

Primal Fear is one of the best movies ever made. The whole thing was brilliant. The casting and acting was superb. And that plot twist, OMG it's BEAUTIFUL.

[@rosemarymcgrory]

I truly believe the plot twist in primal fear , with Roy and Aaron was one of the best twists I've ever seen in a movie 👍👍👍 played absolutely outstanding by Edward Norton....it's my favorite part in the whole movie when Roy loses it in the court room outstanding

[@treytheriot825]

If you really wanna mess with someone tell them this movie’s a prequel to Fight Club

[@Movierebel3]

Saw it in the theater. I figured it out in the beginning, the moment that Gere's character said that he didn't care whether the person was innocent or guilty. That it wasn't his job to discern innocence or guilt, only that his job was to defend without judgment. Right then, I knew that the character was guilty and Gere would be forced to face that very dilemma. Had they not telegraphed that, it would've been much harder to spot.

[@scottb8454]

it seem to have zero effect on the rest of us. maybe if you weren't such a movie rebel you could enjoy movies like everyone else

[@Movierebel3]

@@scottb8454 Well, my date said the same thing. And I do enjoy movies. I enjoyed this for the performances and the writing. Just because the twist didn't work for me, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the film. Saw Scream in the theaters and figured that out, too. Still love the film and recently purchased it. You seem to have it in your head that just because someone finds a flaw in something, somehow it's a zero-sum game. Maybe it's you that need to lighten up.

[@Jpgundarun]

My favourite saying watching movies is 'Picked it like a dirty nose'. I see the so called twist so often its as common as picking your nose. The only movie that has ever gotten me at the end is Titanic, I never would have guessed that.

[@janetseitz8055]

no, dont agree the attorney (vail) did not care if anyone was guilty or innocent he was upset over what happened when he work for the prosecution and then quit to go to the defense side of the law so that was not a clue;

[@Movierebel3]

@@janetseitz8055 No. The very first exchange of the film lays it out. When Vail is confronted with, "Let's say you have a client that you know is guilty?" Vail replies, "No, I told you to stop that. Our justice system doesn't care about that and *neither do I*. Every defendant, no matter who he is, regardless of what he has done, has a right to the best defense his attorney can provide. Period!" Then, when asked about whether or not the truth even matters, Vail replies -- "There is one version that matters: my version of it, the one I create, in the minds of those twelve jury members." The film is about him confronting that. He may have cared about it at the end, but he sure didn't in the beginning. So, the character arc is going from not caring to caring. So, you knew as a viewer that very scenario was what he would be confronted with, thus it was easy to ascertain that Aaron was guilty from the start. Later, Aaron pleads with him that Vail "has to believe him," Vail coldly retorts -- "No, I don't have to believe you. I don't care." You knew that he was going to care by the end. And he does. Because he did believe him.

[@Runway5]

Amazing video, totally explains it in full, thanks

[@Dragonblaster1]

It is a fantastic plot twist, and I'm ready to watch it any time. But one thing that makes me dubious about the whole idea of MPD/DID is that the alters take the hurt and anguish so the main personality doesn't have to. But it's always the main personality who seems to be broken, while the alters are just fine.

[@starwarscity9393]

You should make more videos on niche films you struck gold this was amazing I subscribed hope you make more

[@npcimknot958]

another thing is the lawyer is one of thr most honest characters. his honesty makes him flawed. ( he cant date properyl) , hes terroble at de ception, and.. easily manipulated. in a way, he is so honest he lies to himself he doesnt do it for fame.

[@dannyolortegui3776]

I still think The Usual Suspects has the best plot twist

[@claudermiller]

The classic Witness for the Prosecution has a similar plot twist. This one was much more frightening.

[@csf801]

Yes! That movie is criminally underrated, and I was stunned at the end because I didn't expect any more twists at the end. I'm late to watching Primal Fear, and whilst I greatly enjoyed it (especially because I'm an Edward Norton fangirl), I've heard that the film was going to have a twist, so the end was not totally unexpected for me.

[@danilocamus7126]

Excelent analisys! I love Primal Fear!

[@fernandodelarco2720]

I realized of this movie existence by a random scene that popped in my screen time ago, I'm glad people faked it telling and discussing in the comment section, it was about DID (Dissociative Indentity Disorder) just like the movie split (2016) then when I finally watched it on Netflix the real plot twist came out and my reaction was exactly the lawyer's

[@npcimknot958]

it's kinda like he over exaggerated did that he convinced everyone

[@Brunixlala]

Nice video!

[@juliachristinaheikamp246]

Nr 1 on my list for plot twist masterpieces, followed by "Sixth Sense" and "Fight Club" I watched this film with my boyfriend shortly after it was released on video - and we were so in shock that we couldn't even touch our pizza, that arrived just before that scene. The whole time, you ask yourself, why the title... ?? And then you understand, which primal fear is actually meant: It takes a brilliant as well as malicious and hostile mind to pull that off - and it can happen to ANYONE, ANYTIME... For two young people just finished with school, this was a nasty, but also very helpful wake-up call. It also kick started my interest in psychology.

[@Dragonblaster1]

The slow hand clap is the real shock twist.

[@wiseauserious8750]

Wow great job 👍

[@kadarabdullahi]

Poor Twilight, just taking all the collateral damage right there 😂

[@portmanjohn1]

Great video

[@frankd9945]

Great video! Next time though he is a different reference other than Twilight referring to plot twists. I have a feeling the middle of the Venn diagram of people who seen primal fear and the third Twilight movie are very small.

[@npcimknot958]

such a great cast.

[@jeffreyatlee8785]

That Vail's character became a prosecutor again is telling.

[@thomasmacgruber6701]

The plot twist at the end of Breaking Dawn part II was awesome. My wife and I saw it in theaters and the whole crowd was shocked and applauded when it turned out to be a vision. You have to read the books to appreciate the movies. They were spot on, for the most part...describing the vampires difficulty in being human, moving, breathing was done really well by Robert Pattenson. Everyone called his acting emotionsless and stiff but that was the point. Look how different he was when Bella turned. We all know he is a great actor now soaybe people can look back and go against the sheeple hate thrown his way for that role.

[@johnjamesleahy4065]

Now that I think of it, technically Edward Norton has been in at least 3 movies with someone struggling with identity or having dual personalities or anything related to that Then also if you include hulk that makes 4 movies LOL, then if you include his "evolution/transformation" in American history x that makes five movies, but that is a stretch of the point I'm making

[@just_me6128]

and that was the precise moment when I fell in love with Edward norton 😍, since that day about 15 years ago when I saw the movie for the first time, he became my platonic love.

[@vdoggydogg3922]

Well good for you marty!!!

[@brianellinger6622]

Phone is a hub. Brian I kind of held hostage while a crime family uses imposters and steals money. I send the state's attorney 3 or4 emails per week about this

[@craigmacdonald5352]

You also need, the right actor.

[@tanyagwatiringa7559]

So does this mean the tape was made up?

[@npcimknot958]

watching thisnmovie again for the 5th time? and norton did a great job. i think inred this was his first movie. u see arron/roy early in thr mo ie if u wat h closely. he smirks from time to time . it is gibting roy is playing everyone. (dupers delight)- way before the "roy" comes out

[@phantom_frozen_diamond]

Хороший обзор

[@ravensong9030]

I liked the movie but I had mixed feelings with the ending. I wonder if it really is a skillful use of this type of device. I think that the reason it surprises one is because of the "layers" thing mentioned in the video: you think YOU ALREADY SAW the film's plot twist (aaron's dissociated identity) and the consequent dramatic climax (how Vail cleverly uses this to win the case). In other words, you think the film has no more surprises for you. And then, in the final scene, when you're expecting the credits to roll in, this happens. BUT, I think all of this is a bit cheap if they don't drop any kind of hint along the way. I like it when everything is pieced together again in a different way, and loose ends that you ignored all of a sudden make sense. You feel they fooled you, but you have to admit they played fair. I didn't see this happen here, the revelation that Aaron in the end is just an evil psycho has little to do with the rest of the plot elements and doesn't fit into anything. It's just an entirely different story we weren't given clues about. If a good plot twist is good, there should always be someone clever enough in the audience who will realize beforehand (I'm not among that kind of people btw). In any case, thanks for uploading and giving me the opportunity to express my feelings about plot twists 🤪

[@noamflorin4554]

I agree, I was shocked watching the movie, but making the audience shocked doesn't necessarily mean it was a good decision for the overall story

[@rosemarymcgrory]

But the thing is weather it was true insanity or not coz it couldn't of gone any other way legally..as no one can change plea mid trial I personally...thought it was extremely clever 👍 of Aaron / Roy to fake insanity coz he knew he wouldn't be locked up in a prison ..even tho he wasn't really insane very clever

[@ravensong9030]

@@rosemarymcgrory Ultimately a matter of taste =) But for the sake of building a stronger claim and having a fun debate: one of the problems I see here is that if you try to explain in a linear way what happened in the movie, with the knowledge of the final revelation, the story becomes absolutely intricate and improbable. And we simply have to assume that Roy/Aaron is a) simply evil, with no further explanation than that to his behaviour and motivations and b) has superhuman intelligence, since it seems that everything that happened was his plan, and that he was several steps ahead of everyone... only to give himself away accidentally in the end.

[@gigel008]

I agree the ending was enjoyable but it's not one that makes you rewatch the movie for sublte hints. My biggesst issue is with the reasons why you eliminate the possibility of the plot twist. In this case you're guaranteed that Aaron is not lying because brain scans and the psychologist would have figured it out. Nobody ever mentions the medical analysis ever again. Also, it makes Roy a mastermind that manipulated everybody into the verdict he wanted. Not only there's not even the slighest hint that he knows enough legal intricacies to get the whole court where he wanted; the beginning of the trial starts off very bad for him when his attorney does not plead insanity. Nothing goes right in the trial for him and it feels that only by chance the jury bended the proper procedure for him. Nothing really proves that he was in control of anything. *I'm not even going to start questioning how wil he be free in three months and not spend a lifetime in a mental hospital after he murdered somebody.

[@ravensong9030]

@@gigel008 yeah I agree... and also, it's like he masterminded the whole thing to make himself end up in a mental hospital with a fake psychiatric diagnosis. A diagnosis so severe that he will not be allowed to go anywhere for some time... and as I write these words I think...will he also fake multiple personality disorder during the treatment he's got ahead?🤣 If he was such a genius, he could have simply killed the Archbishop and leave no hints, or frame somebody else.

[@vladch2016]

So i dont get it if he never has personality shifts and was aware of what his doing, why did he killed bishop and Linda o.O ?

[@Sagarvatsal5702]

Bishop for revenge obviously and Linda so that, no one will uncover the facade of multiple personality disorder. Linda knew his real identity. Totally my thoughts !!

[@JohnMainz]

Interesante

[@MonkeymanVRmovies]

Dude, I looked up. Why primal fear sold themselves and this popped up this is not primal fear. This is absolutely nothing to do with horror or monkeys or VR.

[@loganmannke9023]

Hitchcock was overrated

[@Indomita506]

DID is not real so the plot twist wasnt a twist

[@jj5643]

it is 💀

[@tedcomet3121]

Stantler could have just said "duh duh grade tood me"