Movies with multiple plot twists
June 9, 2008 5:31 PM Subscribe
Tell me thriller/mystery movies have lots of plot twists, like in "The Game." Spoilers inside as examples.
I don't mean end-of-movie-twists specifically-- but my favorite movies in the thriller genre have "Switches" (not sure of the proper term), where the audience becomes convinced of one thing, then convinced of a different thing. Obviously the degree of being "convinced" will apply to different individuals, but a particularly good one was "The Game," where the movie's plot made a reasonable "case" for it being serious/being a game at several different points. A less successful example was "The Village," where after we learn that the creatures are fake, there's a sequence in the forest where the movie implies (through voiceover and camera angles) that a *real* creature is stalking Bryce, until it turns out it was a person after all. I can't for the life of me think of other movies with these "switches" in them (other than single Twist Ending switches, like 6th Sense).
Anyone?
I don't mean end-of-movie-twists specifically-- but my favorite movies in the thriller genre have "Switches" (not sure of the proper term), where the audience becomes convinced of one thing, then convinced of a different thing. Obviously the degree of being "convinced" will apply to different individuals, but a particularly good one was "The Game," where the movie's plot made a reasonable "case" for it being serious/being a game at several different points. A less successful example was "The Village," where after we learn that the creatures are fake, there's a sequence in the forest where the movie implies (through voiceover and camera angles) that a *real* creature is stalking Bryce, until it turns out it was a person after all. I can't for the life of me think of other movies with these "switches" in them (other than single Twist Ending switches, like 6th Sense).
Anyone?
The Spanish Prisoner has numerous plot twists of the sort your describe.
posted by justkevin at 5:40 PM on June 9, 2008
posted by justkevin at 5:40 PM on June 9, 2008
The Sting, The Usual Suspects, LA Confidential, The Prestige, The Illusionist, Intermission, (and if you like the artsy drama) The Fountain
Those are all personal favorites. Now I'm off to my netflix queue to see if I can remember any more
posted by ibfrog at 5:43 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Those are all personal favorites. Now I'm off to my netflix queue to see if I can remember any more
posted by ibfrog at 5:43 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh! I was going to say Blue Velvet but anything by David Lynch fits your bill
posted by ibfrog at 5:44 PM on June 9, 2008
posted by ibfrog at 5:44 PM on June 9, 2008
Wild Things, if you like your twists of the soapy trashy variety....
posted by Lucinda at 5:46 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Lucinda at 5:46 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Mamet is pretty good at this. 2nding Spanish Prisoner, and adding House of Games, Spartan, and Heist.
I would also add The Prestige.
posted by lilnemo at 5:46 PM on June 9, 2008
I would also add The Prestige.
posted by lilnemo at 5:46 PM on June 9, 2008
Nueve Reinas or the American version Criminal (in English). IMDB has lists of movies based on keywords that you might want to look at, "long con", "surprise ending" e.g.
I'm assuming from your example of "The Village" that I needn't mention "The Sixth Sense."
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 5:58 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm assuming from your example of "The Village" that I needn't mention "The Sixth Sense."
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 5:58 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
The Usual Suspects
Primal Fear
Final Analysis
Dead Again
Saw
Secret Window
Angel Heart (I haven't seen this in almost 20 years, but I remember being freaked out by it, and seen to remember a plot twist...I was however very young then.)
posted by illek at 6:14 PM on June 9, 2008
Primal Fear
Final Analysis
Dead Again
Saw
Secret Window
Angel Heart (I haven't seen this in almost 20 years, but I remember being freaked out by it, and seen to remember a plot twist...I was however very young then.)
posted by illek at 6:14 PM on June 9, 2008
'Shallow Grave' is a really excellent twist thriller. It's the first film made by Danny Boyle and Andrew McDonald (who later made 'Trainspotting,' '28 Days Later,' 'Sunshine' and some others) and it's Hitchcockian in the best sense of the word. I couldn't recommend it more highly for what you are looking for.
posted by Hat Maui at 6:24 PM on June 9, 2008
posted by Hat Maui at 6:24 PM on June 9, 2008
Identity. Hat Maui, Speaking of Hitchcock, there's Rear Window. It has you going back and forth, was it him, or wasn't it?
posted by gauchodaspampas at 6:33 PM on June 9, 2008
posted by gauchodaspampas at 6:33 PM on June 9, 2008
You could work your way down this list. I'd say about 80% of those have what you're looking for (and the other 20% are just plain good movies)
posted by gwint at 6:57 PM on June 9, 2008
posted by gwint at 6:57 PM on June 9, 2008
GREEN FOR DANGER
THE BAD SLEEP WELL
THE SHOOTING
Almost anything directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
posted by cinemafiend at 8:04 PM on June 9, 2008
THE BAD SLEEP WELL
THE SHOOTING
Almost anything directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
posted by cinemafiend at 8:04 PM on June 9, 2008
Jacob's Ladder, to an extent?
posted by greatgefilte at 9:02 PM on June 9, 2008
posted by greatgefilte at 9:02 PM on June 9, 2008
Ne le dis à Personne (Tell No One).
posted by Beardman at 9:54 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Beardman at 9:54 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Big Deal in Dodge City - (Or A Big Hand For The Little Lady if you're in the US)
posted by Jofus at 3:39 AM on June 10, 2008
posted by Jofus at 3:39 AM on June 10, 2008
Every good movie I thought of has already been mentioned, leaving me only with Entrapment. It's not awful, but it's no classic.
posted by Kattullus at 5:59 AM on June 10, 2008
posted by Kattullus at 5:59 AM on June 10, 2008
Nine Queens is a great example. You'll never guess the ending.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:55 AM on June 10, 2008
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:55 AM on June 10, 2008
Fight Club
posted by and for no one at 9:21 AM on June 10, 2008
posted by and for no one at 9:21 AM on June 10, 2008
Seconding "Green for Danger" and "The Conversation."
Also...
"Double Indemnity"
"The Maltese Falcon"
"Lady in the Lake"
"Everybody Wins"
posted by grumblebee at 10:00 AM on June 10, 2008
Also...
"Double Indemnity"
"The Maltese Falcon"
"Lady in the Lake"
"Everybody Wins"
posted by grumblebee at 10:00 AM on June 10, 2008
Someone already mentioned Heist, but I feel it's necessary to mention that in that movie, the twists start to get really annoying after a while, especially since it's effectively the same gag over and over and over again.
posted by Deathalicious at 12:48 PM on June 10, 2008
posted by Deathalicious at 12:48 PM on June 10, 2008
Gone Baby Gone. I liked this one because the plot twists never feel gimmicky or contrived. The plot turns itself on its head several times, but it feels more like legitimate misreading of particular characters motivations rather than the writer throwing in plots twists for the sake of shock value.
posted by The Gooch at 9:53 PM on June 10, 2008
posted by The Gooch at 9:53 PM on June 10, 2008
Would it be naiive to say Hitchcock?
Like, if you're into the suspense/thriller genre at all i'd expect you've already seen these, but Rear Window and Vertigo both have the "long con" you're looking for.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 1:51 AM on June 11, 2008
Like, if you're into the suspense/thriller genre at all i'd expect you've already seen these, but Rear Window and Vertigo both have the "long con" you're looking for.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 1:51 AM on June 11, 2008
Thirding The Prestige -- I finished watching it a few hours ago and it's exactly what you're looking for. Twistiest plot I've encountered in awhile, along with some very interesting philosophical and metaphysical questions.
posted by Rhaomi at 8:25 PM on June 12, 2008
posted by Rhaomi at 8:25 PM on June 12, 2008
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posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:38 PM on June 9, 2008 [2 favorites]