History Main / InexplicableCorneredEscape

* Occurs twice in [[https://youtu.be/CZSywQ1r7ZQ this scene]] from ''Film/DieHard''. [=McClane=] has sneaked into the villain's lair. Then a mook enters the room where [=McClane=] was just seen. By the time the camera pans back to his original position, [=McClane=] is gone. The next scene reveals that he is now hiding behind a stillage. The mook walks up to said place with anticipation, steps around it and starts shooting... but [=McClane=] is gone again.

This trope usually comes in three distinctive flavors:

* '''ChaseScene''': Bob needs to flee from a bunch of mooks or some other advancing danger and runs headlong into a [[ChainLinkFence dead-end passageway]], there to discover that further retreat is impossible. He's trapped, seemingly with no avenue of escape except to charge at the pursuing adversary. Cut to the pursuers arriving at that spot. But instead of facing Bob, the place is now empty with no explanation given how the escape might have happened.

May lead to a DecoyHidingPlace situation. Can overlap with CliffhangerCopout if this is split across two episodes (with the protagonist getting cornered as the ending of one episode, and their implausible escape as the beginning of the next).

* In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'', during the GreatEscape from Sunnyside Daycare, Woody and the three aliens try to sneak behind Big Baby in the yard. They almost passed it but then one of the aliens falls and make and squeaky noise, which catches Big Baby's attention. The camera then takes the perspective of Big Baby and approached the spot where the toys were last seen, only to find it empty. The next shot shows Woody and the aliens hiding under a bucket close by.

* In ''Film/X2XMenUnited'', Mystique shapeshifts into Lady Deathstrike in order to gain access to Colonel's Stryker's office. While she is sifting through his computer files, the real Lady Deathstrike approaches the office. On her entering Mystique is gone. A couple of shots later we see her moving behind Lady Deathstrike, now in the shape of a [[BeneathNotice janitor pretending to be cleaning out bins]].

* In ''Series/Dark2017'' episode "[[Recap/DarkS2E2DarkMatter Dark Matter]]", Jonas has to steal diesel from a tank. He almost gets caught by a guard who patrols around the tank but when the latter turns the corner where Jonas was hiding, the latter is gone. The next scene shows him hiding behind a wall in some distance of the tank.

* Played with in ''Series/TheWire''. Omar is on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against Marlo Stansfield and Marlo's entire gang, which now holds the Baltimore underworld in a stranglehold. To escape a trap set for him, Omar has to jump out the window of a fourth floor apartment building. When the hitmen who ambushed him run to the window and look outside, Omar has vanished without a trace. The gang tries hunting him down, searching the ground floor of the apartment building, questioning locals, going to multiple hospitals to see if Omar checked himself in for injuries, etc. Nothing turns up any trace, and they lampshade that it seems impossible. Only when they give up looking in the area is the truth revealed; that Omar broke his ankle jumping out the window, but immediately limped or dragged himself into an open janitor's closet and locked it, then kept quiet while they searched the area, causing them to miss him.

** In episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E20TheBoyWhoKnewTooMuch The Boy Who Knew Too Much]]", Bart is chased up a mountain by [[NonGivingUpSchoolGuy Principle Skinner]]. He hides behind a rock and shakes in fear. Skinner approaches the rock, but when he reaches for Bart behind the rock, he is gone. Apparently, the boy jumped onto a bypassing car while Skinner was distracted for a moment.

* Played with in ''Series/TheWire''. Omar is on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against Marlo Stansfield and Marlo's entire gang, which now holds the Baltimore underworld in a stranglehold. To escape a trap set for him, Omar has to jump out the window of a fourth floor apartment building. When the hitmen who ambushed him run to the window and look outside, Omar has vanished without a trace. The gang tries hunting him down, searching the ground floor of the apartment building, questioning locals, going to multiple hospitals to see if Omar checked himself in for injuries, etc. Nothing turns up any trace, and they lampshade that it seems impossible. Only when they give up looking in the area is the truth revealed; that Omar broke his ankle jumping out the window, but immediately limped or dragged himself into an open janitor's closet and locked it, they kept quiet while they searched the area, causing them to miss him.

* In ''Film/ThePatriot'', the British dragoons under Tavington have just burst into Martin's sister-in-law's mansion looking for his family. One of Martin's younger sons is hiding under a dining room table as Tavington is searching the room. When he goes to look under the table, it appears that the boy will be discovered, but it turns out he crawled out while Tavington was briefly distracted by one of his men.

* Happens twice in ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'':
** Nick and Judy are trapped in a cell at Cliffside and the mooks are about to open the door and find them. Judy asks Nick if he can swim and he affirms. Cut to the door swinging open and the mooks entering. When they come to the cell Judy and Nick were hiding in, they only see the [[ToiletTeleportation toilet flushing]].
** Later, when Judy and Nick break into Doug's train car and find the [[spoiler:toxic flowers]], the camera abruptly pans over to the door and we see Doug entering. He walks straight to the spot where Judy and Nick were standing a second ago, but they are gone. Then the camera pans below the table where we see our heroes hiding.

* A rare villainous version in ''WesternAnimation/{{Bolt}}''. Bolt and Penny observe a mook receive his orders from the villain Doctor Calico. The pair shadow this mook as he leaves the building, turns left, and walks down an alleyway. After he makes a right turn, Bolt and Penny come to the corner, and peer around it. Surprise! the mook is gone, and that part of the alleyway is a dead end. Suddenly, a steel panel slides into place, preventing Bolt and Penny from leaving the way they came.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'', during the GreatEscape from Sunnyside Daycare, Woody and the three aliens try to sneak behind Big Baby in the yard. They almost passed it but then one of the aliens falls and make and squeaky noise, which catches Big Baby's attention. The camera then takes the perspective of Big Baby and approached the spot where the toys were last seen, only to find it empty. The next shot shows Woody and the aliens hiding under a bucket close by.

* Happens in ''Film/{{Triangle}}'', when Sally is chased by "Mean" Jess across the GhostShip. At one point the camera is focused on Sally leaning against a wall, panting. Then the camera pans around to show Jess arriving at the same location a few seconds later. The camera pans back to where Sally was standing seconds ago... but she's gone.

* A double fakeout in the original ''Film/SpiderMan1'' film. Peter sneaks into his room before a dinner party, and guests come up to investigate the noise. A pan of the room shows it empty -- then we see him hiding on the ceiling. Just as they leave, a drop of blood falls from his arm. Someone sees the blood on the floor and looks up... at an empty ceiling. He walks to the window and looks out, again seeing nothing -- then a pan down shows Peter has [[OffscreenTeleportation teleported offscreen under a balcony]].

* In ''Film/X2XMenUnited'', Mystique shapeshifts into Lady Deathstrike in order to gain access to Colonel's Stryker's office. While she is sifting through his computer files, the real Lady Deathstrike approaches the office. On her entering Mystique is gone. A couple of shots later we see her moving behind Lady Deathstrike, now in the shape of a [[BeneathNotice janitor pretending to be cleaning out bins]].
* Tony Stark pulls an implausible escape in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', when he travels back in time to infiltrate a meeting at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. We see him listening in on the discussion when the camera pans away from his position to show mooks entering the room. They walk past the spot where Tony was hidden but now he is gone. The next scene shows him hiding in another spot.

* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'': Gabriella and Troy are trying to secretly practice the song they'll perform during call-backs to avoid any interference from Sharpay. In one instance, Gabriella is singing in the girl's bathroom when Sharpay happens to walk by. Sharpay stops and heads into the bathroom to figure out who's singing. Sharpay walks through, but no one's there so she leaves. Gabriella then pops out from an alcove by the sinks. This became [[https://www.buzzfeed.com/shelbyheinrich/tiktok-hsm-continuity-error-funny something of a meme]] because there was simply no way for Sharpay to not see Gabriella given the angle and lack of cover.

* In ''Series/DayBreak2006'', Hopper is in the back of a van and watches a weapon deal going down outside. Then the villain approaches the van ... he opens the back door ... Hopper is gone. Apparently, he sneaked out to the front.
* In ''Series/{{Fargo}}'' episode "[[Recap/FargoS03E08WhoRulesTheLandOfDenial Who Rules the Land of Denial]]", Nikki [[ChainedHeat is chained up]] to Mr. Wrench while both try to hide in the forest from two killers sent after them. One scene has them hiding under a tree stump upon which the camera pans over to the pursuers approaching. When the camera pans back to the tree stump, our two fugitives have inexplicably vanished.
* In ''Series/Dark2017'' episode "[[Recap/DarkS2E2DarkMatter Dark Matter]]", Jonas has to steal diesel from a tank. He almost gets caught by a guard who patrols around the tank but when the latter turns the corner where Jonas was hiding, the latter is gone. The next scene shows him hiding behind a wall in some distance of the tank.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' episode "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBlueSpirit The Blue Spirit]]", the [[{{Ninja}} Blue Spirit]] clings to the [[UndersideRide underside of a carriage]] in order to sneak into the villain's lair. At the gate, a guard comes close to check the underside and when the camera pans over to where the Blue Spirit hid, he is gone. The next shot shows him in the back of the carriage.

* ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot'': In ''The Riot in New Scotland Yard'', Bond is hiding in the secret file room with the evidence he needs while Sherlock--who will certainly recognize him despite his transition--approaches the room to find the same evidence. Then Inspector Lestrade causes a ruckus trying to break into the room for Sherlock and his detainment ushers everyone away so Bond can leave safely.

* A rare villainous version in ''WesternAnimation/{{Bolt}}''. Bolt and Penny observe a mook receive his orders from TheVillain Doctor Calico. The pair shadow this mook as he leaves the building, turns left, and walks down an alleyway. After he makes a right turn, Bolt and Penny come to the corner, and peer around it. Surprise! the mook is gone, and that part of the alleyway is a dead end. Suddenly, a steel panel slides into place, preventing Bolt and Penny from leaving the way they came.

** Later, when Judy and Nick break into Doug's train car and find the [[spoiler:toxic flowers]], the camera abruptly pans over to the door and we see Doug entering. He walks straight to the spot where Judy and Nick were standing a second ago, but they are gone. Then the camera pans below the table where we see our heroes hiding. Watch the scene [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMOPSeRwvjE here]].
* In the prologue of ''WesternAnimation/{{Brave}}'', little Merida plays hide & seek with her mother. In one scene we see her hiding underneath a table but when the mother checks there a second later, Merida is gone. The next shot reveals Merida hiding in another spot that required OffscreenTeleportation to reach. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/P2neexKvlOM?t=45 here]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'', Violet and her two siblings are infiltrating the evil lair, when Jack-Jack makes a noise that alarms one of the guards outside. Violet sees the guard approaching through the door window and scans the room for escape routes. Cut to the guard bursting through the door, finding the room empty. Then the camera slowly pans up the air duct below the ceiling, where the kid heroes have escaped into in no time. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/Drd0LWv_zDk here]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'', when Riley sneaks downstairs to steal her mom's credit card while she is on the phone, Mom turns around just as Riley takes the card out. When Mom looks up, Riley's vanished. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/II7VKiSJLFU here]].

* Happens in ''Film/{{Triangle}}'', when Sally is chased by "Mean" Jess across the GhostShip. At one point the camera is focused on Sally leaning against a wall, panting. Then the camera pans around to show Jess arriving at the same location a few seconds later. The camera pans back to where Sally was standing seconds ago... but she's gone. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/OqCrXyO50uQ here]].

* Grifter Johnny Hooker from ''Film/TheSting'' flees from an armed thug sent by the vengeful BigBad, running into an alley behind a diner, which presents him with a dead end. The gunman is only moments away from cornering and killing Johnny then and there. [[spoiler:Apparently, adrenaline gave Johnny enough strength to lift a steel manhole cover, and escape into the sewer below.]] Watch the scene [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7H8BnPCzYw here]].

* Tony Stark pulls an implausible escape in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', when he travels back in time to infiltrate a meeting at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. We see him listening in on the discussion when the camera pans away from his position to show mooks entering the room. They walk past the spot where Tony was hidden but now he is gone. The next scene shows him hiding in another spot. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/RQlO54QKvaU here]].

* In ''Series/DayBreak2006'', Hopper is in the back of a van and watches a weapon deal going down outside. Then the villain approaches the van ... he opens the back door ... Hopper is gone. Apparently, he sneaked out to the front. Watch [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4WSOpiQdhg this clip]] to see how the situation plays out.
* In ''Series/{{Fargo}}'' episode "[[Recap/FargoS03E08WhoRulesTheLandOfDenial Who Rules the Land of Denial]]", Nikki [[ChainedHeat is chained up]] to Mr. Wrench while both try to hide in the forest from two killers sent after them. One scene has them hiding under a tree stump upon which the camera pans over to the pursuers approaching. When the camera pans back to the tree stump, our two fugitives have inexplicably vanished. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/kwjgIegoNmQ here]].
* In ''Series/Dark2017'' episode "[[Recap/DarkS2E2DarkMatter Dark Matter]]", Jonas has to steal diesel from a tank. He almost gets caught by a guard who patrols around the tank but when the latter turns the corner where Jonas was hiding, the latter is gone. The next scene shows him hiding behind a wall in some distance of the tank. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/CvtARrsWKpk here]].

** In episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E20TheBoyWhoKnewTooMuch The Boy Who Knew Too Much]]", Bart is chased up a mountain by [[NonGivingUpSchoolGuy Principle Skinner]]. He hides behind a rock and shakes in fear. Skinner approaches the rock, but when he reaches for Bart behind the rock, he is gone. Apparently, the boy jumped onto a bypassing car while Skinner was distracted for a moment. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/bR0lOftIoi4 here]].
** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E9SideshowBobsLastGleaming Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming]]", Sideshow Bob escapes this way. He starts off locking the Colonel's bathroom from the inside and teases him from there which makes the Colonel [[OpenSaysMe break open the door]]. Inside he finds nobody and leaves. Then the camera pans to the bin basket with Sideshow Bob inside. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/sMCdnrKWVOg here]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' episode "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBlueSpirit The Blue Spirit]]", the [[{{Ninja}} Blue Spirit]] clings to the [[UndersideRide underside of a carriage]] in order to sneak into the villain's lair. At the gate, a guard comes close to check the underside and when the camera pans over to where the Blue Spirit hid, he is gone. The next shot shows him in the back of the carriage. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/NO2JuWer_Hw here]].

* In ''Series/{{Fargo}}'' episode "Who Rules the Land of Denial", Nikki [[ChainedHeat is chained up]] to Mr. Wrench while both try to hide in the forest from two killers sent after them. One scene has them hiding under a tree stump upon which the camera pans over to the pursuers approaching. When the camera pans back to the tree stump, our two fugitives have inexplicably vanished. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/kwjgIegoNmQ here]].
* In ''Series/Dark2017'', Jonas has to steal diesel from a tank. He almost gets caught by a guard who patrols around the tank but when the latter turns the corner where Jonas was hiding, the latter is gone. The next scene shows him hiding behind a wall in some distance of the tank. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/CvtARrsWKpk here]].

* In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E9SideshowBobsLastGleaming Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming]]", Sideshow Bob escapes this way. He starts off locking the Colonel's bathroom from the inside and teases him from there which makes the Colonel [[OpenSaysMe break open the door]]. Inside he finds nobody and leaves. Then the camera pans to the bin basket with Sideshow Bob inside. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/sMCdnrKWVOg here]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' episode "The Blue Spirit", the [[{{Ninja}} Blue Spirit]] clings to the [[UndersideRide underside of a carriage]] in order to sneak into the villain's lair. At the gate, a guard comes close to check the underside and when the camera pans over to where the Blue Spirit hid, he is gone. The next shot shows him in the back of the carriage. Watch the scene [[https://youtu.be/NO2JuWer_Hw here]].