25+ Secrets From Famous Mystery Movies
A lot goes into making a movie. Weeks of shooting, months of production, not to mention all the time it takes to edit the thing. During that time a lot can happen, some of which are pretty surprising. In this case we decided to investigate what’s going on behind some of our favorite mystery movies.
After all, what’s juicier than a mystery BEHIND the mystery? From minor pet peeves all the way to life-altering events, this list has it all. If you love mysteries as much as we do, you’ll enjoy reading this article.
Prepare to be shocked as we present some of the most incredible secrets behind mystery movies!
Se7en
Oftentimes we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes of a film set. We come to the theater, watch and enjoy the cinematic adventure, and go home. If it’s a great movie we might even talk about it with our friends and family and possible strangers online. But we think it’s important to appreciate the hard work that goes into each and every movie.
The ending of Se7en was great, but did you know that it was almost changed by the executives? Luckily Brad Pitt stepped in and announced that he won’t take part in the movie if they change the ending. Can you imagine that story ending any other way? We don’t want to.
The Silence of The Lambs
Have you ever wondered why Hannibal Lecter is dressed in a white jumpsuit? It’s certainly not typical attire for a prison inmate. At first, you might think it’s because he’s a mental patient. But that’s not how prison works, even in movies. The truth behind the white jumpsuit is far more interesting.
Instead of giving him the usual prison colors, Sir Anthony Hopkins thought it would be more unsettling if he wore white. The reason behind it comes from his visits to the dentist, an undoubtedly scary and unsettling experience. Who knew that this common childhood fear would inspire a villain as terrifying as Lecter?
Kiss the Girls
Actors doing their own stunts isn’t unheard of. On one hand, it’s admirable to put yourself out there and risk everything just to say you did it. On the other hand, some professionals work their entire lives to learn how to perform the most dangerous stunts safely. Regardless of where you stand on the matter, Ashley Judd worked really hard to do her own stunts in the movie Kiss The Girls.
She was so fearless and driven by adrenaline that she even wanted to jump off the 150-foot waterfall. Unfortunately, the studio was very much against it and instead let a stuntman with a wig do it.
Blue Velvet
One of the most important things when making a movie is keeping it professional on stage. We often hear cast and crew say things like “the atmosphere on stage was charged” or “the director was a nightmare to work with”. That’s why some directors try their best to keep everything on the down low so that the actors can do their job without distractions.
David Lynch had a very interesting way of doing that. Instead of cursing on stage whenever he felt like it, he would simply point to the word in the script and say “that word”. Which is kind of funny when you think about it. Sounds like something you would do if there were kids around, but not with adult actors.
Eyes Wide Shut
We think one of the best things about being a film actor is traveling abroad. We all love to travel and nothing is better than doing that on company time. Of course, you still have to work, but on your time off you have the chance to explore a different culture. It’s a big bonus if you have kids. This kind of job gives them the chance to live in a different country during their formative years.
When Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman filmed the movie Eyes Wide Shut, they spent so much time in the UK that their kids actually acquired the local accent. We wonder how long the accent stuck with them! Do they still have it today?
Gone Girl
When picking a star for your film, every director has their preferences. Some want their actors to resemble the image in their mind while others look for very specific characteristics. One thing’s for certain, you never know what’s going on in a director’s head. So much so that some will say that getting chosen for a role is the same as winning the lottery.
In David Fincher’s case, he picked Rosamund Pike for some very interesting reasons. For starters, he liked the fact she appeared to be an ambiguous age. This gives the character a layer of mystery in and of itself. But the second reason is quite baffling, it was because she was an only child!
Shutter Island
When we watch a mystery movie, we’re used to getting all the answers at the end. But sometimes the people in charge decide they want to hide smaller “mysteries” for their audience to find by themselves. This gives us a way to participate while watching the plot unfold. It can be a lot of fun if done properly and leads to a ton of fan speculation.
Have you ever wondered why they called the movie Shutter Island? Yes, they’re on an island and it’s rather “shut” away from the rest of the world, but that’s not the reason they chose that name. It’s an anagram of “truths and lies” which fits the movie so much more.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Many actors use method acting to do a better job at bringing their characters to life. It involves the actor fully immersing himself in the character and their personality. One famous method actor you might’ve heard of is Jared Leto in the movie suicide squad. Where he would harass his co-stars by “pranking” them in all kinds of ways.
A more positive example involves Rooney Mara in the movie The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. None of the piercings the character had were fake, Mara went and pierced her ears, eyebrow, and even her nipple. Those of us who’re afraid of needles know how much bravery that takes!
The Usual Suspects
We all remember the lineup scene in The Usual Suspects where they all read that one line and have a laugh. Well, you’d be surprised to know that it wasn’t the original vision of the director. The scene was supposed to be charged and serious, but something changed the actor’s mood completely, and after a full day of filming they just started laughing.
You might think that someone misread their lines or told a joke, but the real reason is far funnier. During the multiple takes of this scene Benicio Del Toro, according to filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, “farted like 12 takes in a row.” He never confessed and the actors thought it was so funny they couldn’t contain their laughter anymore.
Donnie Darko
We’ve come across unusual details about movies that were added to make the premise seem more authentic. Sometimes the director will torment the actors so that their dramatic scenes would feel more natural. Other times actors immerse themselves in the character they play to portray a more believable persona.
But it’s not every day you hear about a movie that has been shot in less than a month to keep up with a plot involving the world ending in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. We’re sure Richard Kelly didn’t time the filming down to the last second but it really is admirable that he pulled that off.
Fargo
When we watch a movie, we assume that everything we see was meticulously planned by the director and storyboard crew. But it’s not always the case. When filming in public directors are bound to come across difficulties. Sometimes pedestrians unknowingly walk onto the set, essentially ruining a take. Whatever it is, directors can usually deal with it in post-production.
But once in a blue moon, something unexpected happens that ends up enhancing the film rather than bringing it down. In Fargo the snow plow scene wasn’t scripted, it was a state employee who didn’t care about the film being shot and decided to just drive through the set.
Basic Instinct
Are we the only ones who feel awkward when watching an intimate scene in a film? It can feel unforgeable to watch two people who’ve known each other for a few days go at it like they’ve been together for months. Well if you’re like us and dread the sight of two famous people fornicating, you might be delighted to find out that in some cases they use body doubles.
Apparently dangerous stunts aren’t the only thing that requires a body double. However, this isn’t always the case. In the film Basic Instinct, both actors were present at all times while filming R-rated scenes. It makes you wonder what they were talking about after those takes.
Prisoners
It’s no secret that if you want to make it big in Hollywood you have to make friends with everybody you meet. You never know where the next movie offer will come from, most likely it’ll be from someone who heard about you or saw you in another film. But friends do more than just offer you parts, they also get you into the movie without going through the usual screening process.
This was the case with Jake Gyllenhaal and Denis Villeneuve when they were filming Enemy. The two had so much fun together that Villeneuve didn’t even audition Gyllenhaal when casting him in Prisoners. You might say that’s not fair for other actors who could’ve done a better job, but we trust that the director has the best intentions in mind when picking the cast.
Jack Reacher
Sometimes actors have to go through a lot of training before being cast. You have to remember that some movies require them to do things they may not be familiar with, like riding a horse or speaking another language. These days we’re so used to special effects and stunt doubles that we forget that actual effort is put into acting.
For example, Jai Courtney and Josh Helman had a real struggle with the American accent when filming Jack Reacher. It was so bad that many of the lines had to be scrapped and dropped because they were so bad. It’s not easy doing something you’re not used to and in some cases, the movie suffers as a result.
Now You See Me
Accidents are bound to happen on set, most of the time it’s something minor like a prop falling over and breaking or a light not working. But on rare occasions, something happens that puts lives at risk. We’ve heard about these before, and unfortunately, sometimes these incidents are fatal. Thankfully, no one was injured or killed in this case, but the experience was definitely terrifying.
When Isla Fisher was filming the piranha tank scene, she was certain that if anything went wrong she could easily get out of her handcuffs. But that wasn’t the case and when trouble struck she was stuck and screaming for help.
Primal Fear
It’s not uncommon for Hollywood stars to add their own take to certain characters. Sometimes they’ll decide that they need an accent or want to tweak their appearance. This might be a great addition to the film…or it can ruin an entire movie. Plus, sometimes the crew can’t commit to last-minute changes like that.
This is impressive when you realize how many characteristics Edward Norton added to his character in Primal Fear. For starters, not everybody can pull off a stutter without it sounding offensive or ableist. Secondly, the slow clap that he gives during the final scene? Yeah, that’s completely improvised as well. No one knew it was coming!
Scooby Doo 2002
Isn’t it funny how the show is named after the dog, yet he’s not the most important part of the group? Scooby Doo is one of those shows that’s been around for decades, almost every generation is familiar with it. But no matter how many times they might change the series, Scooby and Shaggy will always stay our favorite duo.
Honestly, it was a bit surprising to find out that the 2002 film was meant to have a heavier plot. As adult as the film tried to be, it always had its roots in children’s entertainment. We’re glad the network decided to go with the old format we all know and love.
The Da Vinci Code
One of the great things about Hollywood is that if you stay there long enough, you’re bound to meet your heroes one day. And that’s exactly what happened to Audrey Tautou on the set of The Da Vinci Code. Before sharing the news with her friends and family she wanted a little “proof”.
So she did what every fan would do, she asked to take a picture of them together. Seeing as they’re probably the nicest people in Hollywood, they agreed. In hindsight, it might’ve been a bit of an odd request coming from a co-star on a movie set. Though we’re sure it was a welcome souvenir from the experience!
Memento
You’d be surprised how much work goes into a movie in post-production. Ideally, a movie can be filmed in a few weeks, but the post-production can take months and months. That’s because they’re a lot of edits and cuts that need to be made to give you the cinematic experience you pay to see in theaters or stream at home.
For example, in Memento when the producer didn’t like the way Joe Pantoliano delivered one of his lines, what do you think he did? He obviously asked him to repeat the line until it was perfect, but even that wasn’t enough. So the second best thing to do was try and do the best impression of Pantoliano’s character and loop it over.
The Sixth Sense
There are many elements at play when it comes to choosing the right actor for a role. They need to be talented performers and memorize their lines, but they also need to look the part. Some say that the third element is luck, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes all you need to do is just impress the right people.
When Haley Joel Osment auditioned for the part in The Sixth Sense he went through the typical screening process. He read the lines for the part he wanted and was asked some personal questions. But one aspect made him stand out from the rest. M. Night Shyamalan was beyond impressed that Osment read the entire script three times before coming to the audition!
Mulholland Drive
Becoming a Hollywood star might look easy, but reaching that status can be incredibly difficult if you’re not born into fame. Even if you’re talented, it’s not worth much if you don’t make the right friends in the right places at the right time. The hard work and constant rejection can be a burden too heavy to bear. So much so that countless people quit every year.
Naomi Watts was very close to ending not only her career but her life before David Lynch offered to cast her in his movie Mulholland Drive. Her career began in 1986 and it wasn’t great, she was mainly cast in commercials and very small parts. For the next 14 years, her career didn’t go anywhere until this fateful breakthrough role.
Chinatown
Some actors who have difficulty expressing certain emotions have special tricks to help them. Some think back to a time that triggers the right feelings, while others resort to more physical options. Although getting drunk is generally frowned upon, physical “assistance” is a different story. On the set of Chinatown, Faye Dunaway had a hard time delivering her lines the way she wanted to. She got some help from her co-star director Jack Nicholson.
She asked him to actually slap her during one of their scenes. He reluctantly agreed and the take made it into the final cut of the film. It just shows you becoming a great actor involves a little suffering.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Freddie Prinze Jr has an inspiring Hollywood story. When he auditioned for a role in the mystery horror I Know What You Did Last Summer, nobody wanted him. For starters, he wasn’t well-known in the industry and he didn’t have much on his resume aside from a few unknown movies.
The other problem was that he didn’t look the part, he was too “soft” and “not bulky enough.” But Prinze didn’t give up, after several failed auditions he decided to hit the gym. He buffed himself up, got a haircut, and eventually managed to land the role. It just shows that sometimes a little willpower and hard work can go a long way.
Zodiac
Many mystery thrillers are inspired by or based on real events. So when you see the phrase “based on a true story” it’s just there to scare you. Usually, movies are based on mysteries that have been solved. After all, it’s easier to write a story based on events that have a conclusion.
But sometimes you have to take a case that hasn’t been solved and write the best story you can. That’s how Zodiac. In fact, it was so inspiring that the original case was reopened again, years after it had been closed. To this day we don’t know for certain who the Zodiac killer is, the police have only ever named 1 suspect publicly.
The Game
When you sign up to be in a movie, you don’t always know what will be required of you. You may need to run away from a murderous clown or jump from a waterfall 150 feet high. This can be a risky business and sometimes people get injured on set. Thank god those Hollywood stars have good insurance plans.
If you were asked to jump into a rat-infested dumpster for a film, would you do it? Deborah Kara Unger did just that when she was cast in the movie The Game. And if that wasn’t enough she also fractured a bone in her foot. We don’t know how she managed to do all that but it sounds very painful.
Sherlock Holmes
Arguably one of the most annoying things an actor goes through on their day-to-day is getting in and out of makeup and wardrobe. Worst case scenario they wear a latex mask and have their entire face reconstructed with silicone and makeup. In Rachel McAdams’s case, she had to wear a very uncomfortable corset.
Those who have worn them know it’s not always a pleasant experience. It’s tight, restricts your movement, and can sometimes make it hard to breathe. So it’s no surprise she did everything she could to not wear it, from pushing her stomach forward to eating filling meals that made her look bloated more than usual.
Clue
This film wasn’t a box office hit, but it’s gained a cult following over the years. Based on one of the world’s most famous mystery board games, this film stars some of the big names, including Christopher Llyod, Madeline Kahn, and Tim Curry. The entire cast gave excellent performances, audiences couldn’t tell who the murderer was. And you would’ve gotten a different answer depending on the theater you went to.
Three alternate endings were filmed and shown at different movie theaters. While this might have contributed to the low box office, we think it was a brilliant idea that made the film that much more memorable.
The Bourne Identity
Some actors feel ashamed to admit they have stunt doubles. But there’s no shame in using a professional for something you can’t do yourself. Unfortunately, even with a double, some stunts have to be done by the actor. The tense building climbing scene in this film was mostly shot with a stunt double…
…but Matt Damon had to climb the last 30 feet by himself. Damon described the experience as “grueling”. That’s kind of surprising considering he’s in great shape and does a lot of action movies which require peak physical performance. We guess sometimes even the biggest stars get tired!
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Brand rivalry is nothing new in Hollywood. There are a lot of companies that won’t sponsor or appear in a movie if they know a rival company will be featured. But brands aren’t the only thing that companies rival over, cartoon characters and even actors are sometimes excluded from appearing in certain productions.
But even the biggest of rivals can set their differences aside for the sake of a truly great movie. And that movie is Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The cinematic masterpiece combines cartoon characters from both Disney and Warner Bros. Though they required the film to give equal time to characters from both companies!
Knives Out
Product placement in movies is nothing new. We’ve seen a character eat a slice of Domino’s pizza and use the latest iPhone to call their girlfriend. Movie audiences are used to the idea that movies use product placement to get enough funding for their film. But what if we told you that certain brands don’t want specific characters seen with their products?
For example, Apple doesn’t allow movie villains to use their products. If you ever watch a thriller movie and wonder who the bad guy is, all you have to do is check what kind of phone he’s using. Knives Out was no exception to this rule!