The first time I laid eyes on the poster for David Fincher's Gone Girl, adapted from Gillian Flynn's excellent book, I didn't think much of it. Futura? Yawn. Ben Affleck looking sad? Tell it to Batman. A giant floating head? Probably the most overused poster cliché there is. Then I noticed the whopping great easter egg for fans who have already read the book. Then it clicked. And now I think it's genius. Read on if you want to see it (spoiler).



I wasn't impressed with the Gone Girl poster until I realised the (not subtle) easter egg for readers of the book. pic.twitter.com/39W6C53hFZ — Ali Gray@The_Shiznit (@The_Shiznit) September 28, 2014

@The_Shiznit What the fuck are you talking about? — Benjamin Lee (@benfraserlee) September 28, 2014

@The_Shiznit my wife has read the book and is staring at the poster, willing her memory not to be so terrible. She's no idea what it is. — Dave Higgins (@twig84) September 28, 2014

@The_Shiznit I have. I’m staring at this thing like it’s a magic eye painting. Maybe my memory of the book is fading. — David Franklin (@davefranklin) September 28, 2014

@The_Shiznit I have read the book and CAN'T SEE IT — Chris Mandle (@chris_mandle) September 28, 2014

@The_Shiznit OH COME ON (can I know to please I have read it and everything) — Nathan Ditum (@NathanDitum) September 28, 2014

@The_Shiznit Can I get in on this DM action plz? — Sam Ashurst (@samashurst) September 28, 2014

@The_Shiznit DM ME THE ANSWER BEFORE I GO MAD — Chris A (@ChrisA) September 28, 2014

It seems bloody obvious once you know, but if you've read the book, you know that Amy isn't dead at all and is masterminding her own disappearance. Her eyes that you can see at the top of the poster aren't just floating there for no reason: that's a reflection of Amazing Amy, alive and well, watching the saga of her own murder on TV (check out the news ticker and the fidelity of the image).

Follow us on Twitter @The_Shiznit for more fun features, film reviews and occasional commentary on what the best type of crisps are.

It's one of those little design elements that transforms a poster from an average one to an excellent one. And it's even cleverer once you think about it because it subverts a poster cliché we've seen a thousand times, so much so it's hidden in plain sight and you probably didn't even notice it.Want to know what it is? Apparently you do, because about ten seconds after I did an admittedly teasing tweet on the subject, these started appearing in my @-feed:Enough tickling your balls: LET'S WORK THAT SHAFT.>>><<