Movies that emphasize hope and provide uplifting messages often conclude with positive endings, while movies where villains triumph deliver darker, more somber messages. Thrillers and horror films commonly conclude with villains' victories, aligning with their thematic essence and offering cautionary narratives. Films like "Midsommar" and "Hereditary" delve into the power of malevolence and the vulnerability of characters, leaving an unsettling and enduring impact on the audience.
Audiences are drawn to films where the good guys win, but some films with evil protagonists leave a profound and unsettling impact.
Thrillers and horror films can more often lend themselves to having endings where the heroes win than other genres. Many times, the heroes in these types of films are metaphors for real-life challenges. Having the heroes win not only fits thematically with the genre of thrillers and horror films, but it helps films tell cautionary tales designed to warn, and terrify, audiences and inspire in-depth discussions about these films' greater meanings.
In this suspenseful tale, a group of college friends travel to a remote Swedish village to participate in a midsummer festival. The scenic landscape where the sun never sets becomes a captivating escape for the group, but it becomes clear that the village harbors sinister intentions as they prepare to sacrifice one of their members as part of an unsettling ritual. As the festivities unfold, Dani (Florence Pugh) rises to prominence as the May Queen, embodying the village's deadly plan and ultimately becoming the sole survivor of their deadly ritual.
Hereditary is a gripping story from start to finish, with the tragic death of Dani's family serving as a central motif throughout the film. The film explores the profound impact of malicious forces, such as cults, to take advantage of and manipulate people when they are at their most vulnerable. Through Dani's perspective, the ending of the film is both disturbing and unforgettable, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer long after the credits roll.
After Ellen dies, her grief intertwines with her sister's (Toni Collette) torment. As her grief intensifies, she uncovers her mother's dark past, revealing her involvement in a coven that worshipped Paimon, a demon king. This revelation fuels a series of increasingly disturbing supernatural events that endanger every member of the family.The film ends with every member of the Graham family dead, with the coven successfully possessing Peter with Paimon. The film hints at the devastating ending to come, with Peter's English class discussing whether it's more or less tragic if someone's disastrous fate, like the one Peter meets, is unavoidable. Much of Hereditary is confusing and left up to interpretation, but the fact that there's seemingly nothing the Graham family could've done to prevent the coven's victory makes the tragic ending of Hereditary that much more of a gut-punch for the viewer.
Based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation follows a group of military personnel as they venture into The Shimmer, an enigmatic, destructive alien region. They seek answers about the mysterious disappearance of a former expedition member, Lena (Natalie Portman), who was the sole survivor of her expedition. However, their fate remains ambiguous, with The Shimmer holding the potential to reshape reality itself.
Written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, The Neon Demon Horror Thriller Release Date June 9, 2016 Director Nicolas Winding Refn Cast Keanu Reeves
The warm demeanor she begins the film with fades away into a chilling narcissism as she gains prominence, giving viewers hope that she might just be able to escape the evil forces closing in on her. However, the tragic end suffered by Jesse, a stark contrast to the protagonist's initial optimism, highlights The Neon Demon's critique of society's superficial value of physical beauty over all else. This destructive attitude can take sweet people like Jesse and eat them alive, as illustrated by the film's gruesome conclusion.
A Christmas-horror film inspired by European folklore depicts a contentious family on Christmas. Their bickering and distaste for one another have extinguished the Christmas spirit, leading to the demonic figure, Krampus, appearing and raining terror upon them. The film's ending is particularly disturbing, as the family is enslaved by Krampus and forced to endure his torment forever.
Release Date October 9, 2015 Director Alejandro Amenábar Cast David Thewlis , Ethan Hawke , Dale Dickey , Devon Bostick , Emma WatsonGray's sudden revelation of her true colors when Kenner confronts her in the film "Gone Girl" is an unsettling and chilling sight. The film also explores the devastating impact of mass hysteria and the devastating power of belief in the face of injustice. By having Gray escape the consequences of her actions, the film comments on the devastating consequences of such beliefs, echoing the tragic events of the "Satanic Panic" of the 1980s.
Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn, this Gone Girl follows Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) as he navigates a media storm following his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), going missing. As the truth unfolds, Nick's infidelity emerges as a central suspect, leading him down a path of suspicion and potential tragedy. However, the film's ending unveils a shocking twist, revealing Amy's apparent disappearance as a carefully orchestrated act of revenge for her husband's mistreatment, casting doubt on the initial narrative and leaving the audience with a sense of mystery and intrigue
Nightcrawler explores the moral ambiguity of its characters. While the audience can sympathize with Amy to an extent, considering how Nick mistreated her, her actions become so extreme that she could be considered the main antagonist of the film. However, this devastating ending leaves audiences with much to discuss as the credits roll, as the movie reveals the complexities and contradictions surrounding the characters' motives and the truth about their pasts.
Nightcrawler tells the story of Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a cunning criminal who exploits his criminal prowess by engaging in unethical activities. Initially, Bloom thrives in the world of videography, but his ruthless pursuit of success leads him to engage in gruesome acts and amass a fortune. This pursuit of wealth and power ultimately transforms Bloom into a ruthless and manipulative figure who prioritizes his own interests above all else. The film explores the dark underbelly of ambition, showcasing how individuals willing to go to any lengths to achieve their goals can become corrupted and lose their humanity.
2013 Enemy Directed by Denis Villeneuve A mystery thriller Thriller Drama Release Date February 6, 2014 Director Denis Villeneuve Cast Mélanie Laurent , Isabella Rossellini , Jake Gyllenhaal , Kedar Brown , Sarah GadonThe film ends with Bell carrying on with what seems like it'll be a happy marriage between him and Claire's wife, Helen, only to reveal that he, like Claire, will cheat on Helen in the final moments of the film. The film is deeply metaphorical, using visual storytelling to tell a tale about one man's battle with his divided psyche. Claire was seemingly his darker half, so his death could've meant a happy ending for Bell and Helen, but the reveal that Bell has the same unfaithful characteristics as Claire suggests that his darker self, his inner enemy, triumphed at the end of Enemy.
After her love, Lucius (Joaquin Phoenix), is injured and nears death, Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard) is entrusted by the villagers to leave her secluded 19th-century village and travel to a neighboring village to retrieve medicine for him. However, the villagers' fear of the monsters lurking in the surrounding woods manifests itself in a sinister plot twist, as they are revealed to be the true monsters behind Lucius's injury and eventual demise.
Ivy was trusted with retrieving the medicine because her blindness made her unaware of the modern world's dangers and prevented her from discovering the elders' hidden secrets during her journey. As the story concludes, the elder's sinister control over the community remains intact, ensuring that their malevolent manipulation remains a threat.