Kevin's Watch

I get annoyed when I see people criticize movies like The Sixth Sense or The Usual Suspects because they're "gimmicky", or who don't want to watch them because they already know the ending.

For me, a surprise or trick ending is only a gimmick if the movie is ruined by knowing the ending. Some movies, though, are worth watching despite knowing the ending.

So, what movies have surprise endings, but are worth watching anyway?


Sixth Sense, The
Unbreakable
Village, The
Usual Suspects, The
Game, The
Friday the 13th, The (just ignore the part with the boy in the lake... the whole section with his mother was fantastic, and one of the best ideas for a horror movie I've encountered)


Conversely, some movies just aren't worth watching when you know the ending. Please don't mention them here I've got enough junk in my life already, I don't need more!

Wait, are we talking about gimmicks or trick/twist endings? Because I'd consider how Memento is told as a gimmick. And to be honest, I've found most of M. Night's movies to be dull upon second viewings as I know the ending. Unbreakable being the exception.

I can watch The Usual Suspects over and over.

Cagliostro wrote:Wait, are we talking about gimmicks or trick/twist endings? Because I'd consider how Memento is told as a gimmick. And to be honest, I've found most of M. Night's movies to be dull upon second viewings as I know the ending. Unbreakable being the exception.

Yes.

Yes.


Yesyesyesyes.

Knowing the secret of Tyler Durden doesnt ruin Fight Club, for me anyways. I found that on the second viewing I picked up more quickly on the clues that were placed for you ( obviously ), but that film almost requires a second veiwing.

Jacob's Ladder!!!

danlo wrote:Jacob's Ladder!!!

Yes, and it was your discussion of it that made me think of this topic!

Now I've got to go see it

Mr. Broken wrote:Knowing the secret of Tyler Durden doesnt ruin Fight Club, for me anyways. I found that on the second viewing I picked up more quickly on the clues that were placed for you ( obviously ), but that film almost requires a second veiwing.

That's a good example (as is Unbreakable). Both of those films aren't about the twist, like The Usual Suspects is.

The problem with gimmicky twists is that most films that employ them are so smug about it. TUS is a perfect example of that. It's not that good of a movie, just a 2-hour excuse for a mind-hump.

Planet of the Apes. Probably one of the first, or at least the best, twist endings, though I wouldn't call it a gimmick.

For me a 'gimmick' movie would be something like Saw or Seven. Basically one idea stretched as far as possible with squat else going on. Re Saw they've somehow managed to stretch that in to an entire franchise of movies..who goes to see them?

A surprise ending isn't a gimmick, unless that's the only hook the film has to offer. I suppose the secret to a good twist ending is make sure you bring the audience with you.

What about when the Gimmick's work? Scream was succesful at the box office, and its success could be credited to its use of horror movie cliches (Gimmicks). They put it right in your face, let you know that the gimmicks there, and then find a way to surprise you with it any way. Its when the director doesnt understand how to properly set up the gimmick that they become annoying.