His [[SignatureStyle stylistic trademarks]] are explorations of alienation, isolation and sexuality (though often as FanDisservice, sometimes not, but at the very least always in service of the story), as well several uses of non-linear storytelling. Egoyan's rise took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s when independent film was becoming a force in Hollywood. He is generally considered on the level of StevenSoderbergh Creator/StevenSoderbergh and Creator/QuentinTarantino, and is seen as one of the most important filmmakers in Canada, along with DavidCronenberg Creator/DavidCronenberg and [[Creator/DonMcKellar Don [=McKellar=].McKellar]]. His work often lends itself to WildMassGuessing, due to his occasional use of the MindScrew.