Dumbing it down

[TPotSS]

This is nothing like that - it is not a cinematic surprise at all

I agree.

So to say that this "twist" was a cinematic effect at all seems incorrect to me.

Me too. That's why I didn't say that.

My point was that people involved with audio/video mediums are more shock obsessed than writers. Now yeah I may be generalizing a bit, but it seems like many film types have it in their heads that shock always equals good, so they are motivated to do some things (like change a story line) merely to shock a portion of their audience.