Closing Takes
A finale can totally change the whole experience—for better or worse. And, boy, did these movies prove that time and again. Do you have controversial takes on how they could’ve done things differently? Spoilers ahead, you’ve been warned!
The Devil Inside (2012)
This is a found-footed supernatural horror film directed by William Brent Bell. Even though it grossed around $101 million worldwide on a $1 million budget, Peter Howell from the Toronto Star considered it to be one of the worst films of 2012.
The Devil Inside- Official Trailer by Paramount Pictures
The Devil Inside (2012) (Cont.)
The story is focused on Isabella Rossi, who investigates her mother's involvement in a triple murder during an exorcism in 1989. However, the film ends abruptly with a title card stating that the case remains unresolved and directs viewers to a website for further information. Dismal.
Insurge Pictures, The Devil Inside (2012)
The Box (2009)
Norma and Arthur Lewis receive a mysterious box that offers them one million dollars if they press a button but at the cost of an unknown person's life. What could end in an interesting manner sadly turns out to be a “cliché moral lesson” about greed.
The Box #2 Movie CLIP - What Do You Want to Do? (2009) HD by Movieclips
The Box (2009) (Cont.)
The Box was written by Richard Kelly and is related to the short story "Button, Button" by Richard Matheson. It was officially released on November 6, 2009. The main characters, Norma Lewis and Arthur Lewis, are played by stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden, respectively.
The Box #2 Movie CLIP - What Do You Want to Do? (2009) HD by Movieclips
Grease (1978)
Apparently, Grease opened as the No. 2 film at the box office and became the top movie in its second weekend, ultimately collecting $132.5 million domestically. The closing is… a surreal moment where Sandy and Danny drive off in a flying car.
Grease (1978) (Cont.)
The movie is basically a romantic musical comedy about high school students Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. The ending has puzzled audiences for decades (obviously). Sandy's unexpected shift into a leather-clad greaser girl brings many more questions and interpretations into play.
High Tension (2003)
How about a French horror thriller? In this film, you’ll find two best friends (Alex and Marie) traveling to a family farmhouse for a weekend study session. Their retreat turns into a nightmare when a masked killer invades the home and murders Alex's family.
High Tension (2003) - Horror Movie ft. Cécile De France & Maïwenn by Lionsgate Movies
High Tension (2003) (Cont.)
Spoiler! There is a shocking twist where it is revealed that Marie is actually the killer. The narrative implies that she suffers from a form of dissociative identity disorder. This twist actually left a "bad taste" according to viewers, especially after rooting for her throughout the film.
HIGH TENSION Trailer German Deutsch (2003) by GARDEN OF GORE
Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
If you need another nonsensical ending, you can watch this one. It reportedly earned only $14.3 million at the U.S. box office. Which was the lowest gross of the series up to that point.
Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) (Cont.)
So, the story is about Jason Voorhees, who is accidentally awakened from his watery grave at Crystal Lake. He then boards a cruise ship with graduating students, whom he kills while heading to Manhattan. The film concludes with a weird transformation of Jason, who reverts to a childlike version of himself.
Serenity (2019)
Ever wake up from a dream and feel it was so real? Well, the end of the plot reveals that this entire story is just a video game created by a boy, making the events feel pointless. That means Baker Dill is just a character within this game. Oopsie.
Serenity (2019) (Cont.)
Baker Dill is just a character that is designed based on Patrick's memories of his father. The film is centered on him—a fishing boat captain who lives a quiet life on the fictional Plymouth Island—played by Matthew McConaughey. It has a 21% Tomatometer rating.
Bullet Train (2022)
Directed by David Leitch, the movie takes inspiration from the novel Maria Beetle by Kotaro Isaka. Within the plot, you’ll find Ladybug, an assassin who is reluctantly pulled back into the game to retrieve a briefcase on a bullet train traveling from Tokyo.
BULLET TRAIN - Official Trailer (HD) by Sony Pictures Entertainment
Bullet Train (2022) (Cont.)
While the movie might be fun to watch, the ending gets kinda ridiculous with random cameos and confusing plot twists. With multiple assassins on board, each with their own motivations and backstories; it gets hard for viewers to just go along with it.
The Shining (1980)
In May 1980, this film was released with an unsettling ending. Jack Torrance, a former alcoholic and failing writer, is the caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel. He moves in with his wife and their son, Danny, who has psychic abilities known as "the shining”.
Warner Bros., The Shining (1980)
The Shining (1980) (Cont.)
As winter sets in and isolation takes its toll, Jack goes into madness, influenced by supernatural forces within the hotel. The final shot suddenly shows a photograph from July 1921, showing Jack at a party in that hotel. Viewers hence relate it to the reincarnation theory.
Warner Bros., The Shining (1980)
Fight Club (1999)
Finding out that Tyler Durden is actually the same person as the Narrator truly flips the story around. It sparks conversations about identity, consumerism, and the nature of self. Fight Club centers on an unnamed (and unreliable) narrator, a discontented office worker suffering from insomnia.
Fight Club (1999)
He creates an underground fight club with the soap salesman Tyler Durden. Critics say that even though the Narrator appears to have gotten rid of Tyler, the fallout from Project Mayhem's activities is still a big question mark. The film features a stunning cast of Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Carter, and more.
Regency Enterprises, Fight Club (1999)
Old (2021)
Old is about a family on vacation who discovers a secluded beach that rapidly ages them with horrifying consequences. It is built on the graphic novel Sandcastle by Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters. In the final scenes, after numerous deaths among the group, only two characters remain.
Old First 9 Minutes - Exclusive (2021) | Vudu by Fandango at Home
Old (2021) (Cont.)
Maddox and Trent. As they try to escape, it is revealed that their experience was part of "Trial 73," an experiment conducted by the resort staff to test medical treatments on unsuspecting guests. Some found it quite jarring and unsatisfying.
Old First 9 Minutes - Exclusive (2021) | Vudu by Fandango at Home
Lucy (2014)
Once Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) downs the last of the CPH4 bags, she taps into 100% of her brain power. This change lets her move beyond her body and become this incredible, all-seeing awareness. Apparently, the movie surrounds the myth that humans only use 10% of their brains.
Lucy (2014) (Cont.)
The story begins with Lucy, a young American woman (Scarlett Johansson), who is abducted in Taipei and forced to act as a drug mule. It is believed that the character Lucy is named after the famous Australopithecus afarensis fossil known as "Lucy," which symbolizes evolution.
Lucy (2014) - Lucy's Epic Battles That Will Blow Your Mind by Binge Society
I Am Legend (2007)
In I Am Legend, the ending delivers an intense finish to the story of Dr. Robert Neville (Will Smith). He is the last human standing in a world turned upside down by a virus that transforms people into typically aggressive creatures called Darkseekers.
Warner Bros., I Am Legend (2007)
I Am Legend (2007) (Cont.)
Neville detonates a grenade, sacrificing himself to protect them and ensure the survival of the cure. Accompanying him are Anna and Ethan, fellow survivors who bring hope and companionship, while his loyal German Shepherd, Sam, serves as his only emotional support.
Warner Bros., I Am Legend (2007)
I Am Legend (2007) (Cont.)
In a Happy Sad Confused podcast interview, the film’s director, Francis Lawrence, explained that he believes the film's conclusion missed the mark by not aligning with the novel's themes. He noted that there was concern about creating a "nihilistic" ending.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
