Huffington Post has got a list of the nine worst surprise endings in movie history (well, in the past few years). I was pleased to see three of my Gothika Rule picks on the list, "Perfect Stranger," "23," and "The Forgotten." (For newcomers -- the "Gothika Rule," named for a movie with one of the worst endings of all time, means that I will give away the surprise to anyone who sends me an email to save them what I had to suffer in watching it.) Be sure to check out the comments from readers with their own suggestions. I'd add "The Pink Jungle," "Desperate Measures," and, of course "Gothika." Any others?
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The Worst Surprise Endings in Movie History
Thursday October 22, 2009
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I am also one of the few fans of the Tim Burton "Planet of the Apes," and I thought the ending was pretty good! Endings I hate: when the culprit turns out to be the main character we were supposed to have been rooting for all along, when it turns out to have been a dream, and when some mastermind was behind it all and somehow able to control things that no one could possibly determine.
In addition to the whole "it was just a dream" endings, I've never been a fan of variations on the "it was just a dream" ploy - such as Superman II and Donnie Darko.
I also may be one of the few people that didn't like Seven (or SE7EN, however it's supposed to be spelled), partly because of Brad Pitt's rediculously over-the-top performance, but also because there are several elements of the killer's final actions that I thought broke from his established pattern, for no reason.
Likewise, I was disappointed by the ending of Castaway - for all that we'd been through with Tom Hanks' character, I just went away feeling like zero had been resolved. Not so much a "surprise" ending as one that just felt weak to me; not since Ishtar had I sat through such a great story only to be completely let down by the ending.
Well said, Dave! Though that might be the best review "Ishtar" ever got.
I remember about 4 movies coming out around the same time with the same sucky ending:
1. Gothika of course.
2. Identity
3. Secret Window.
4. The Village
Thanks Your Name. I kind of liked "Identity" and "The Village," even though I guessed both endings. But there are a lot of stupid "twist" endings out there. Most recently "A Perfect Getaway" with a very non-perfect, non-surprise ending.
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