deception and disguise

His films obsessively explore identity deception and psychological manipulation, most notably in 'Gone Girl' and 'The Game' where characters strategically construct false personas.

A pioneer of exploring disguise and mistaken identity in cinema, particularly through his noir and expressionist works like 'M' and 'Metropolis' where appearance masks true nature.

His films such as 'The Handmaiden' and 'Oldboy' masterfully layer deception, hidden identities, and elaborate cons that fundamentally question what characters and viewers perceive as truth.