Comments on: Eric’s Top 10 Worst Twist Endings http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/ Movies with Rock Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:52:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Daymare http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9098 Daymare Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:01:30 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9098 I enjoyed it the first time as a pure emotional roller-coster ride, now I enjoy it as movie about something "more" then that - as a movie that actually has something to say about the medium and the genre itself, instead of just offering us an hour and a half of suspense. There's nothing wrong with that kind of simplicity in this genre, if done right, but High Tension is, just, not, that, kind, of a, movie:) I could also argue that *all* (horror) movies change after the first viewing, since you then know where the ride will go and you know all the twists and turns. You can never experience that "first time" again. Especially so in High Tension which practically forces you to either watch it differently or hate it. What was radical (and so awesome, to me) about High Tension is that its cruelest murder was the cold-blooded killing of our suspension of disbelief:) Most movies - intent on pleasing us, on giving us the Bang for our buck, on making us forget our lives for an hour - don't have the guts to do that. It lured us in (with such exquisite flair and gusto, I might add) and then *bang*, "ha-ha, you're watching a movie pal, wake up - I wasn't the narrator, SHE was and she's crazy!":) We have no problem watching someone's imagination turned into a movie but we can't stand watching a movie *about* someone's imagination - a movie that turns out to be told "through" imagination of an imagined character? Is that *really* any less real then a more traditional narative? High Tension challenges that (by no means the first time) and you either hate it for that (most of people) or love it (myself, for instance, as you've probably gathered hehe). It's certainly not a "main-stream" movie, I'd say:) Oh and one last thing before we just agree to disagree; I always though most of the killings we see in the movie were pretty much "real" so the ending shouldn't really take much away - you just have to replace the homicidal maniac with a homicidal female maniac (and accept that some things were completely fabricated or twisted by her, the narrator). It's of course open to interpretation, but, for me, High Tension (its story) is about a woman slowly coming to terms with her guilt, her Demon, her crime (that's just a simple version - there's also the whole gender angle and so on). In her troubled mind she tries to "frame" some unknown maniac for the crimes she did and make herself a victim, even a hero, but in the end, the truth comes through. I enjoyed it the first time as a pure emotional roller-coster ride, now I enjoy it as movie about something “more” then that - as a movie that actually has something to say about the medium and the genre itself, instead of just offering us an hour and a half of suspense. There’s nothing wrong with that kind of simplicity in this genre, if done right, but High Tension is, just, not, that, kind, of a, movie:)

I could also argue that *all* (horror) movies change after the first viewing, since you then know where the ride will go and you know all the twists and turns. You can never experience that “first time” again. Especially so in High Tension which practically forces you to either watch it differently or hate it.

What was radical (and so awesome, to me) about High Tension is that its cruelest murder was the cold-blooded killing of our suspension of disbelief:) Most movies - intent on pleasing us, on giving us the Bang for our buck, on making us forget our lives for an hour - don’t have the guts to do that. It lured us in (with such exquisite flair and gusto, I might add) and then *bang*, “ha-ha, you’re watching a movie pal, wake up - I wasn’t the narrator, SHE was and she’s crazy!”:) We have no problem watching someone’s imagination turned into a movie but we can’t stand watching a movie *about* someone’s imagination - a movie that turns out to be told “through” imagination of an imagined character? Is that *really* any less real then a more traditional narative? High Tension challenges that (by no means the first time) and you either hate it for that (most of people) or love it (myself, for instance, as you’ve probably gathered hehe). It’s certainly not a “main-stream” movie, I’d say:)

Oh and one last thing before we just agree to disagree; I always though most of the killings we see in the movie were pretty much “real” so the ending shouldn’t really take much away - you just have to replace the homicidal maniac with a homicidal female maniac (and accept that some things were completely fabricated or twisted by her, the narrator). It’s of course open to interpretation, but, for me, High Tension (its story) is about a woman slowly coming to terms with her guilt, her Demon, her crime (that’s just a simple version - there’s also the whole gender angle and so on). In her troubled mind she tries to “frame” some unknown maniac for the crimes she did and make herself a victim, even a hero, but in the end, the truth comes through.

]]> By: Eric Melin http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9095 Eric Melin Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:59:16 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9095 Hmmm...I dig what you're saying about there being no rules. But individual movies set their own rules about their environment and when they betray those rules, it's either a revelation that adds deeper understanding, or it comes off like a cheap trick. In this case, the reveal at the end changes everything you know for the worse. Like you said, on a repeat viewing, it's no longer a first-person horror journey. You called it a 'post-modern movie with a psychoanalytical edge.' Ok, granted. But what I'm saying is that that same internal, psychological journey that you're defending just doesn't work. There is no suspense left knowing that you are watching someone's invented "version" of what really happened, and it becomes a rather boring movie. The tension only exists if you believe the character is in danger. As soon as we know who she really is there a couple of clues for us to go "Oh, yeah, the director was trying to tell us that the whole time," but the fact remains that the film turns into a cold, dead fish. Great discussion, by the way! Hmmm…I dig what you’re saying about there being no rules. But individual movies set their own rules about their environment and when they betray those rules, it’s either a revelation that adds deeper understanding, or it comes off like a cheap trick. In this case, the reveal at the end changes everything you know for the worse. Like you said, on a repeat viewing, it’s no longer a first-person horror journey. You called it a ‘post-modern movie with a psychoanalytical edge.’ Ok, granted. But what I’m saying is that that same internal, psychological journey that you’re defending just doesn’t work. There is no suspense left knowing that you are watching someone’s invented “version” of what really happened, and it becomes a rather boring movie. The tension only exists if you believe the character is in danger. As soon as we know who she really is there a couple of clues for us to go “Oh, yeah, the director was trying to tell us that the whole time,” but the fact remains that the film turns into a cold, dead fish. Great discussion, by the way!

]]> By: Daymare http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9091 Daymare Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:22:15 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9091 What's happening in pretty much *any* movie is Not Actually Happening;) We're just watching somebody's imagination, played by real people in real locations, but that doesn't make the whole thing Real per se. All movies are like that (Lynch knows, he'd tell ya';)), High Tension just dares to hammer that point home, unapologetically, not before tricking you into believing what you're seeing is somehow real (even if only within the movie). High Tension was tense the first time, but the rules change at the end, which transforms every next viewing. What, at first, seems to be a very traditional genre flick with a simple narrative is suddenly turned into a very "post-modern" movie with a psychoanalytical edge (cue somebody calling me pretentious). Of course people freaked out, all pissed off - everyone feels like that when the proverbial rug is pulled underneath their feet. But it's their fault they felt balanced on that rug:) It's not the movie's fault we've grown too "comfortable" with what we're looking at on the screen (it's funny we still do, in this day and age, after so many movies proving us we shouldn't) - it's our fault. Just because most of the movies follow a very traditional narative structure or just because Sixth Sense's (and many others') twist ending "falls into place" so nicely, that doesn't mean that there are rules on how this should be done. High Tension is just not traditional and it's not trying to be "comfortable" - it challenges the way we watch movies (which is nothing new in cinema and yet people are still complaining) and that's not "cheap" in any way. People either accept the movie on its own terms or they don't and hate it because it's something they don't want it to be. There are no rules; there shouldn't be any - especially not in horror movies. Not all movies are here to please us. And you/we should never ever *really* trust the narrator/director - especially not the one as clearly deranged as in High Tension:) What’s happening in pretty much *any* movie is Not Actually Happening;) We’re just watching somebody’s imagination, played by real people in real locations, but that doesn’t make the whole thing Real per se. All movies are like that (Lynch knows, he’d tell ya’;)), High Tension just dares to hammer that point home, unapologetically, not before tricking you into believing what you’re seeing is somehow real (even if only within the movie).

High Tension was tense the first time, but the rules change at the end, which transforms every next viewing. What, at first, seems to be a very traditional genre flick with a simple narrative is suddenly turned into a very “post-modern” movie with a psychoanalytical edge (cue somebody calling me pretentious). Of course people freaked out, all pissed off - everyone feels like that when the proverbial rug is pulled underneath their feet. But it’s their fault they felt balanced on that rug:)

It’s not the movie’s fault we’ve grown too “comfortable” with what we’re looking at on the screen (it’s funny we still do, in this day and age, after so many movies proving us we shouldn’t) - it’s our fault. Just because most of the movies follow a very traditional narative structure or just because Sixth Sense’s (and many others’) twist ending “falls into place” so nicely, that doesn’t mean that there are rules on how this should be done. High Tension is just not traditional and it’s not trying to be “comfortable” - it challenges the way we watch movies (which is nothing new in cinema and yet people are still complaining) and that’s not “cheap” in any way. People either accept the movie on its own terms or they don’t and hate it because it’s something they don’t want it to be.

There are no rules; there shouldn’t be any - especially not in horror movies. Not all movies are here to please us. And you/we should never ever *really* trust the narrator/director - especially not the one as clearly deranged as in High Tension:)

]]> By: Eric Melin http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9076 Eric Melin Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:06:31 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9076 I completely disagree. I ask myself who the narrator is during this and it's just a cheap "Usual Suspects" trick that takes all tension away from any repeat viewings because you know none of this is ACTUALLY happening. Things are scarier when they are permitted, within the rules of the movie, to be real. I completely disagree. I ask myself who the narrator is during this and it’s just a cheap “Usual Suspects” trick that takes all tension away from any repeat viewings because you know none of this is ACTUALLY happening. Things are scarier when they are permitted, within the rules of the movie, to be real.

]]> By: Daymare http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9073 Daymare Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:56:44 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-9073 People complaining over High Tension's ending are people who just can't wrap their head around the fact that High Tension is something *more* (not less, by any fucking chance) then just a straight homage to 70's horror. It's *not* just a simple gore-fest, no matter how much you want it to be. You just have to turn on the "Lynch viewing mode" the second (and subsequent) time you watch it and try not to be so pissed off just because you were fooled into thinking it's just a dumb slasher flick. And ask yourself who's the narrator of this movie while you're at it. People complaining over High Tension’s ending are people who just can’t wrap their head around the fact that High Tension is something *more* (not less, by any fucking chance) then just a straight homage to 70’s horror. It’s *not* just a simple gore-fest, no matter how much you want it to be. You just have to turn on the “Lynch viewing mode” the second (and subsequent) time you watch it and try not to be so pissed off just because you were fooled into thinking it’s just a dumb slasher flick. And ask yourself who’s the narrator of this movie while you’re at it.

]]> By: Moeez http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-8594 Moeez Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:20:49 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-8594 IMO, I thought "Identity" had a great twist ending, I wasn't expecting that at all and it all made sense. It wasn't really a twist "ending" though, because the twist is revealed pretty far back as that the character had many personalities when they're interviewing him. IMO, I thought “Identity” had a great twist ending, I wasn’t expecting that at all and it all made sense. It wasn’t really a twist “ending” though, because the twist is revealed pretty far back as that the character had many personalities when they’re interviewing him.

]]> By: Melusine http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-8457 Melusine Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:12:14 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-8457 I think we are also missing the "I cannot decide on what monster to use" travesty that was the Mist. Obviously people who are stupid enough to stand in front of a window and hold up lights that are attracting giant bugs who slam into and then break through the glass as well as swinging flaming mops around inside of a store to "kill" said bugs/creatures are going to be stupid enough to sit around inside of a car contemplating a four bullet to five people suicide ratio only to be seconds away from rescue. I spent the entire car scene wanting to scream at the guy to put the kid in front of the woman and shoot them both with one bullet so he would still be able to die. But noooooooo, he had to go for his drama moment and pull the trigger hoping for a magic bullet. Then, after he boohoohoos for a few minutes the cavalry moves in and saves his stupid ass. I'm surprised I was even able to watch the movie because I spent so much time rolling my eyes at how ridiculous it was. The "twist" at the end had me doubled over laughing and telling my boyfriend that from now on I pick the movies we go see. Stephen King needs to get back on the drugs or hang it up. I think we are also missing the “I cannot decide on what monster to use” travesty that was the Mist. Obviously people who are stupid enough to stand in front of a window and hold up lights that are attracting giant bugs who slam into and then break through the glass as well as swinging flaming mops around inside of a store to “kill” said bugs/creatures are going to be stupid enough to sit around inside of a car contemplating a four bullet to five people suicide ratio only to be seconds away from rescue. I spent the entire car scene wanting to scream at the guy to put the kid in front of the woman and shoot them both with one bullet so he would still be able to die. But noooooooo, he had to go for his drama moment and pull the trigger hoping for a magic bullet. Then, after he boohoohoos for a few minutes the cavalry moves in and saves his stupid ass.

I’m surprised I was even able to watch the movie because I spent so much time rolling my eyes at how ridiculous it was. The “twist” at the end had me doubled over laughing and telling my boyfriend that from now on I pick the movies we go see. Stephen King needs to get back on the drugs or hang it up.

]]> By: V http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-8452 V Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:12:24 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-8452 Not to be bringing back up, but I need to toss out my feelings on The Village. Namely, that I read a book that was almost identical when I was a kid. It was called "Running Out of Time". Basically, there is a disease killing the children in an 1800's village, and no one knows what to do about it. But, oh wait, the main character's mother, who is the village midwife, does. So she sends her daughter out into the real world, where it is 1997. The main difference was that the book I had read was actually entertaining, as opposed to $8 and over 2 hours of my life, neither of which I will ever get back. Not to be bringing back up, but I need to toss out my feelings on The Village. Namely, that I read a book that was almost identical when I was a kid. It was called “Running Out of Time”. Basically, there is a disease killing the children in an 1800’s village, and no one knows what to do about it. But, oh wait, the main character’s mother, who is the village midwife, does. So she sends her daughter out into the real world, where it is 1997. The main difference was that the book I had read was actually entertaining, as opposed to $8 and over 2 hours of my life, neither of which I will ever get back.

]]> By: vaudeville villain http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-7481 vaudeville villain Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:07:40 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-7481 I totally disagree about The Game and High Tension being on this list. That said, I love you guys and I listen to you every Friday on Dick Dale :) I totally disagree about The Game and High Tension being on this list.

That said, I love you guys and I listen to you every Friday on Dick Dale :)

]]> By: Fingerling http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-7390 Fingerling Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:17:21 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10/erics-top-10-worst-twist-endings/#comment-7390 Hahaha, man once you see it add 'The Happening' to this list. Alright movie but the ending ... what the eff. Is M. Night even trying anymore? Hahaha, man once you see it add ‘The Happening’ to this list. Alright movie but the ending … what the eff. Is M. Night even trying anymore?

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