underestimation based on appearance

His films consistently reveal how deceptive appearances are, particularly in 'Gone Girl' and 'The Social Network' where characters and situations subvert initial impressions.

He masterfully exploits visual and social prejudices to deceive audiences, most notably in 'Oldboy' and 'The Handmaiden' where assumptions about class and appearance drive tragic misunderstandings.

His psychological thrillers like 'Prisoners' and 'Enemy' deliberately manipulate viewer perception, revealing how quickly judgments based on appearance lead to moral catastrophe.