wanted: good examples of films with twist endings - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

oliver9184 · 01-14-2010, 04:05 PM

Trying not to give away any endings or if necessary using Spoiler: spoilers in here like his, what films have the best twist endings?

The Game (1997) with Michael Douglas and Sean Penn is a very good example: if I remember right, it has three or more twists and counter-twists stacked on each other at the end(!) but the best I can think of now is No Way Out (1987), an old political thriller starring Kevin Costner: Spoiler: everything gets turned on its head in the final few seconds of this film and you barely have time to recover before it ends. It's not one you could have guessed before you find out and it's not one that leaves you feeling cheated. There hasn't been a super-twist ending in a big film for years, it seems, but I think that could change with this summer's Inception - it's going to be one you'll have to see early to avoid hearing about and having it ruined, I think.

Jetée · 01-14-2010, 04:22 PM

I hate whiteout, so I'm not going to give any spoilers away. In fact, I think you all think I talk too much, so no descriptions whatsoever (other than what wiki decides to gives you).

Come to ponder it a bit, I'm not sure if I know what qualifies as a twist at all.

LoganSnake · 01-14-2010, 04:29 PM

The Others.

telekinetic · 01-14-2010, 05:22 PM

The Usual Suspects. Fight Club. Sixth Sense.

kramus · 01-14-2010, 06:19 PM

"There Was a Crooked Man" - one of my favourite all-time westerns.

"Matchstick Men" and "The Sting" were similar yet different, and both were very good in what they did.

"Electra Glide in Blue"

"Being John Malkovich"

"Back to the Future"

"Blade Runner"

"Chinatown"

"Citizen Kane"

"Dr. Strangelove"

dlish · 01-14-2010, 06:24 PM

im with TK on this one. My all time favourite movie with a twist is The Usual Suspects

followed closely by Sixth Sense

Baraka_Guru · 01-14-2010, 06:34 PM

Se7en
12 Monkeys

evilbeefchan · 01-15-2010, 09:27 PM

Just watched these back to back on Netflix, have great twists, but can't really say for sure if they qualify for twist endings.

A History of Violence
Eastern Promises

Favorite of all time has to be Shawshank Redemption

oliver9184 · 01-16-2010, 03:49 AM

Eastern Promises was an ok film, Viggo Mortensen is good but the story's not very compelling - and not sure about twists - but that fight at the end is bloody brilliant, made the whole film for me.

MSD · 01-18-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telekinetic

The Usual Suspects. Fight Club. Sixth Sense.

I didn't see the ending of The Usual Suspects coming, but I figured out Fight Club at the "can you wake up as a different person?" line and Sixth Sense during the restaurant scene.

LoganSnake · 01-18-2010, 05:17 PM

Identity has a pretty twisty ending.

fresnelly · 01-18-2010, 05:18 PM

Baraka_Guru · 01-18-2010, 05:20 PM

Planet of the Apes (Edit: I suppose it's seconded now....

)
Primal Fear (the first Ed Norton film I saw, and his performance blew my mind)

highthief · 01-18-2010, 05:24 PM

The Crying Game.

Baraka_Guru · 01-18-2010, 05:26 PM

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Frosstbyte · 01-19-2010, 12:28 AM

Arlington Road has a great twist but it is an intense fucking movie to watch, so don't go into it expecting a fun little thriller. I did. And I came out of it drooling and twitching. Not so much fun.

mrklixx · 01-19-2010, 12:54 AM

Jacob's Ladder

Leto · 01-19-2010, 05:24 AM

the Vanishing. the original from Holland in 1988, where it was known as Spoorloos:

Rex and Saskia, a young couple in love, are on vacation. They stop at a busy service station and Saskia is abducted. After three years and no sign of Saskia, Rex begins receiving letters from the abductor.

Spoorloos (1988)

there was a fail remake by Hollywood in 1993

The Vanishing (1993)

with Jeff Bridges & Kiefer, but it isnt half as good.

Lucifer · 01-19-2010, 05:42 AM

Two movies, but 1 story:

Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. French films from the mid-eighties. The first doesn't have any twist at all, but the near the end of the second film you learn a secret which will totally twist the entire plots of the first and second story lines! The two have to be watched back to back for maximum impact!

mixedmedia · 01-19-2010, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucifer

Two movies, but 1 story:

Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. French films from the mid-eighties. The first doesn't have any twist at all, but the near the end of the second film you learn a secret which will totally twist the entire plots of the first and second story lines! The two have to be watched back to back for maximum impact!

We watched Jean de Florette recently and will prob. watch Manon of the Spring tonight!

I LOVED Jean de Florette! It's a fabulous film.

Lucifer · 01-19-2010, 06:02 AM

you ain't seen nothing yet!!

oliver9184 · 01-19-2010, 11:33 AM

Thanks everyone, this is exactly what I was looking for.

The Planet of the Apes is a good twist but it's become so famous like Sixth Sense that almost everyone knows it now. Even more so because it's an image that can be taken out of context and has a clear meaning even for those who didn't see the film.

Arlington Road - good film, great twist. Yes I'll agree it's not a fun little thriller but it is a proper thriller, a 90s thriller like they don't seem to make anymore.

Primal Fear, another one I had forgotten. That's one of the absolute best super shocking twists in an otherwise so-so film that I don't think anyone could have seen coming. The nearer the end of the film the twist is the better I think so it's in your head when you leave/finish it and you'll be thinking of it for days.

I don't remember it too well but I didn't much care for Jacob's Ladder. I think I felt that it was vague and trippy enough that it had license for pretty much anything and everything to happen in a sort of David Lynch way.

The Vanishing, very good film! What a Spoiler: nightmarish ending! Of course the original one was way better. That Spoiler: "happy ending" of the remake one was dreadful but I saw it first so I didn't know until I saw Spoorloos!

And of course, Jean de and Manon des - excellent films with a wonderful twist that pays off all the better because it's been so long coming. Though I remember feeling very pleased with myself for guessing it maybe 15 mins before it was revealed so maybe not one of the most shocking and outlandish twists but profound and staggering for those involved all the same.

Plan9 · 01-19-2010, 11:59 AM

Richard Bachman's (Stephen King) Thinner.

Christopher Nolan's Memento.

MexicanOnABike · 01-19-2010, 02:58 PM

I'm just skipping ahead of all the comments to say that reading any titles of movie would ruin it even if i didn't know what was or wasn't the twist. RUINED!

dd3953 · 01-19-2010, 04:13 PM

Sixth Sense
Hard Candy
The Interview - this one has a link mostly cuz it ain't american

MSD · 01-19-2010, 04:50 PM

I guess they're not so much twists as shocker endings, but American Beauty and American History X were pretty good ones.

mixedmedia · 01-19-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucifer

you ain't seen nothing yet!!

not the sort of twist I was expecting...wow

thirdsun · 01-20-2010, 12:35 PM

Recent capers with a twist ending:

Flawless - Michael Caine, Demi Moore
The Prestige - Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman
Inside Man - Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer

ratbastid · 01-20-2010, 01:56 PM

Long as we're Caine-ing...

Sleuth - Michael Caine, Lawrence Olivier

Marlon's Mom · 01-21-2010, 01:00 PM

Deathtrap (Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve)

Anxst · 01-25-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

Long as we're Caine-ing...

Sleuth - Michael Caine, Lawrence Olivier

You beat me to it, and heartily seconded.

Titan_Uranus · 01-27-2010, 02:57 AM

a perfect getaway,
american psycho

01-14-2010, 04:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
oliver9184 Psycho	wanted: good examples of films with twist endings Trying not to give away any endings or if necessary using Spoiler: spoilers in here like his, what films have the best twist endings? The Game (1997) with Michael Douglas and Sean Penn is a very good example: if I remember right, it has three or more twists and counter-twists stacked on each other at the end(!) but the best I can think of now is No Way Out (1987), an old political thriller starring Kevin Costner: Spoiler: everything gets turned on its head in the final few seconds of this film and you barely have time to recover before it ends. It's not one you could have guessed before you find out and it's not one that leaves you feeling cheated. There hasn't been a super-twist ending in a big film for years, it seems, but I think that could change with this summer's Inception - it's going to be one you'll have to see early to avoid hearing about and having it ruined, I think.

01-14-2010, 04:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jetée The Reforms Location: Rarely, if ever, here or there, but always in transition	I hate whiteout, so I'm not going to give any spoilers away. In fact, I think you all think I talk too much, so no descriptions whatsoever (other than what wiki decides to gives you). Gone Baby Gone Hero Victor Victoria Mind Game Rosemary's Baby Come to ponder it a bit, I'm not sure if I know what qualifies as a twist at all. __________________ As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world (that is the myth of the Atomic Age) as in being able to remake ourselves. —Mohandas K. Gandhi

01-14-2010, 04:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	The Others. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

01-14-2010, 05:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	The Usual Suspects. Fight Club. Sixth Sense. __________________ twisted no more

01-14-2010, 06:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
kramus loving the curves Location: my Lady's manor	"There Was a Crooked Man" - one of my favourite all-time westerns. "Matchstick Men" and "The Sting" were similar yet different, and both were very good in what they did. "Electra Glide in Blue" "Being John Malkovich" "Back to the Future" "Blade Runner" "Chinatown" "Citizen Kane" "Dr. Strangelove" __________________ And now to disengage the clutch of the forebrain ... I'm going with this - if you like artwork visit http://markfineart.ca

01-14-2010, 06:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	im with TK on this one. My all time favourite movie with a twist is The Usual Suspects followed closely by Sixth Sense __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

01-14-2010, 06:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	Se7en 12 Monkeys __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

01-15-2010, 09:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
evilbeefchan Addict Location: Alhambra, CA	Just watched these back to back on Netflix, have great twists, but can't really say for sure if they qualify for twist endings. A History of Violence Eastern Promises Favorite of all time has to be Shawshank Redemption

01-16-2010, 03:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
oliver9184 Psycho	Eastern Promises was an ok film, Viggo Mortensen is good but the story's not very compelling - and not sure about twists - but that fight at the end is bloody brilliant, made the whole film for me.

01-18-2010, 05:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	Identity has a pretty twisty ending. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

01-18-2010, 05:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	__________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

01-18-2010, 05:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	Planet of the Apes (Edit: I suppose it's seconded now.... ) Primal Fear (the first Ed Norton film I saw, and his performance blew my mind) __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

01-18-2010, 05:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	The Crying Game. __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

01-18-2010, 05:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

01-19-2010, 12:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
Frosstbyte Winter is Coming Location: The North	Arlington Road has a great twist but it is an intense fucking movie to watch, so don't go into it expecting a fun little thriller. I did. And I came out of it drooling and twitching. Not so much fun.

01-19-2010, 12:54 AM	#17 (permalink)
mrklixx President Rick Location: location location	Jacob's Ladder __________________ This post is content. If you don't like it then you are not content. Or perhaps just incontinent. This is not a link - Do not click here I hate animated avatars.

01-19-2010, 06:02 AM	#21 (permalink)
Lucifer Husband of Seamaiden Location: Nova Scotia	you ain't seen nothing yet!! __________________ I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. - Job 30:29 1123, 6536, 5321

01-19-2010, 05:24 AM	#18 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	the Vanishing. the original from Holland in 1988, where it was known as Spoorloos: Rex and Saskia, a young couple in love, are on vacation. They stop at a busy service station and Saskia is abducted. After three years and no sign of Saskia, Rex begins receiving letters from the abductor. Spoorloos (1988) there was a fail remake by Hollywood in 1993 The Vanishing (1993) with Jeff Bridges & Kiefer, but it isnt half as good. __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

01-19-2010, 05:42 AM	#19 (permalink)
Lucifer Husband of Seamaiden Location: Nova Scotia	Two movies, but 1 story: Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. French films from the mid-eighties. The first doesn't have any twist at all, but the near the end of the second film you learn a secret which will totally twist the entire plots of the first and second story lines! The two have to be watched back to back for maximum impact! __________________ I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. - Job 30:29 1123, 6536, 5321

01-19-2010, 11:33 AM	#22 (permalink)
oliver9184 Psycho	Thanks everyone, this is exactly what I was looking for. The Planet of the Apes is a good twist but it's become so famous like Sixth Sense that almost everyone knows it now. Even more so because it's an image that can be taken out of context and has a clear meaning even for those who didn't see the film. Arlington Road - good film, great twist. Yes I'll agree it's not a fun little thriller but it is a proper thriller, a 90s thriller like they don't seem to make anymore. Primal Fear, another one I had forgotten. That's one of the absolute best super shocking twists in an otherwise so-so film that I don't think anyone could have seen coming. The nearer the end of the film the twist is the better I think so it's in your head when you leave/finish it and you'll be thinking of it for days. I don't remember it too well but I didn't much care for Jacob's Ladder. I think I felt that it was vague and trippy enough that it had license for pretty much anything and everything to happen in a sort of David Lynch way. The Vanishing, very good film! What a Spoiler: nightmarish ending! Of course the original one was way better. That Spoiler: "happy ending" of the remake one was dreadful but I saw it first so I didn't know until I saw Spoorloos! And of course, Jean de and Manon des - excellent films with a wonderful twist that pays off all the better because it's been so long coming. Though I remember feeling very pleased with myself for guessing it maybe 15 mins before it was revealed so maybe not one of the most shocking and outlandish twists but profound and staggering for those involved all the same.

01-19-2010, 11:59 AM	#23 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Richard Bachman's (Stephen King) Thinner. Christopher Nolan's Memento.

01-19-2010, 02:58 PM	#24 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	I'm just skipping ahead of all the comments to say that reading any titles of movie would ruin it even if i didn't know what was or wasn't the twist. RUINED! __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

01-19-2010, 04:13 PM	#25 (permalink)
dd3953 Psycho: By Choice Location: dd.land	Sixth Sense Hard Candy The Interview - this one has a link mostly cuz it ain't american __________________ [Technically, I'm not possible, I'm made of exceptions. ]

01-19-2010, 04:50 PM	#26 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	I guess they're not so much twists as shocker endings, but American Beauty and American History X were pretty good ones.

01-20-2010, 12:35 PM	#28 (permalink)
thirdsun rolls good	Recent capers with a twist ending: Flawless - Michael Caine, Demi Moore The Prestige - Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman Inside Man - Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer

01-20-2010, 01:56 PM	#29 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Long as we're Caine-ing... Sleuth - Michael Caine, Lawrence Olivier

01-21-2010, 01:00 PM	#30 (permalink)
Marlon's Mom Tilted Location: In the woods. With a shotgun.	Deathtrap (Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve)

01-27-2010, 02:57 AM	#32 (permalink)
Titan_Uranus Insane Location: South Africa	a perfect getaway, american psycho