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We love a good drama, don’t mind shedding a few tears during a heart-wrenching story, and always appreciate a classic comedy. But when it comes to the ultimate movie experience—whether on the big screen, small screen, or any screen—we live for the thrill of an unexpected plot twist.
These twists, often unveiled in the final act, are clever surprises designed by writers and directors to stun the audience and turn the story on its head. When done right, they create that magical moment every filmmaker aims for: true movie magic. Here are some of the most memorable plot twists in films, with spoilers.
1. Barbarian (2022)
- The Plot: Tess arrives at her Airbnb for an interview, only to discover it’s double-booked and already occupied by Keith, who is somewhat friendly yet unsettling and refuses to leave.
- The Twist: Halfway through the movie, the plot takes an unexpected turn, adding more mystery and twists. However, the biggest shock comes when Tess discovers that Keith is not the primary danger. Instead, it’s a deformed creature lurking in the dungeon beneath the rental property.
2. Decision to Leave (2022)
- The Plot: While investigating the murder of a man found at the foot of a mountain, Detective Jang Hae-jun, who is married, begins to develop feelings for Song Seo-rae, the wife of the deceased.
- The Twist: Ultimately, Song is revealed as the murderer, having taken the lives of not just her husband but several others. Yet, this hauntingly beautiful love story’s most heart-wrenching and powerful scene comes at its conclusion. In a quiet act of surrender, Song digs a hole on the beach, steps into it peacefully, and waits as the rising tide slowly washes over her, choosing to vanish forever.
3. Get Out (2017)
- The Plot: Rose Armitage, a white woman, introduces her Black boyfriend, Chris Washington, to her parents at their home. As Chris spends time with Rose’s family, he becomes increasingly uncomfortable in their presence.
- The Twist: The Armitages are part of a disturbing cult that sells Black individuals to wealthy white buyers. These buyers then undergo surgery to transfer their consciousness into the bodies of the Black people they acquire, convinced that they are genetically superior.
4. Les Diaboliques (1955)
- The Plot: The wife and mistress of a ruthless boarding school headmaster plot to eliminate him once and for all. However, even after his death, his presence continues to haunt and torment them.
- The Twist: He’s not dead—he’s very much alive. In a twisted scheme, he pretends to be a ghost to terrify his wife to the point of death, all so he can be with his mistress without obstacles.
5. Missing (2023)
- The Plot: June loves her mother, Grace, but she’s also excited about having the house to herself while Grace goes on a trip to Colombia with her new boyfriend. However, when Grace fails to return on time, June becomes worried and starts investigating her mother’s disappearance using the internet and her digital footprint.
- The Twist: The shocking truth is that June’s father is the one orchestrating the entire kidnapping plot. He is revealed to be the mastermind behind the scheme, pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
6. Saltburn (2023)
- The Plot: Oliver Quick, an ordinary student at Oxford, is unexpectedly invited to spend the summer at Saltburn, the lavish estate of the wealthy and well-known Catton family. But as time passes, something sinister unfolds—members of the family begin to die under mysterious circumstances, one after another.
- The Twist: All the tragedy and turmoil were part of Oliver’s carefully crafted scheme. It is eventually revealed that he was the mastermind behind every death and moment of chaos, executing his plan with cold and calculated precision.
7. Soylent Green (1973)
- The Plot: In a dystopian future plagued by climate disaster, overpopulation, and severe pollution, a determined detective uncovers a horrifying secret behind Soylent Green, the main food supply for the struggling population.
- The Twist: Soylent Green is secretly produced from human remains, forcing the population into unwitting cannibalism. This horrifying truth is hidden by a ruthless corporation that manipulates and controls society’s food supply.
8. The Skin I Live In (2011)
- The Plot: Following his wife’s tragic suicide after a devastating car accident, a disturbed plastic surgeon carries out gruesome surgeries on a young woman he keeps imprisoned in his remote estate. His twisted goal: was to reshape her into a replica of his late wife.
- The Twist: It is later uncovered that the young woman is a young man with a dark and complicated past tied to the doctor’s daughter, adding a shocking layer to the surgeon’s obsession.
9. The Third Man (1949)
- The Plot: Carol Reed’s iconic film noir masterpiece stars Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, and Alida Valli in a suspenseful tale. The plot centres around a novelist who delves into the enigmatic death of his friend, Harry Lime, set against the haunting backdrop of post-World War II Vienna.
- The Twist: Harry Lime is not dead—he’s very much alive, and that’s only the beginning of the film’s revelations. The story wraps up with yet another shocking twist that leaves a lasting impact.
10. They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
- The Plot: An unlikely trio—Fontaine, a drug dealer; Yo-Yo, a sex worker; and Slick Charles, a flamboyant pimp—team up to expose a sinister government conspiracy. The plot involves manipulation, cloning, and disturbing experiments targeting the Black community in a fictional neighbourhood.
- The Twist: It turns out that Fontaine is the brains behind the entire operation. And as for the Tyrone twist—we’ll leave that jaw-dropping revelation for you to uncover on your own.
Conclusion
These are some of cinema’s most iconic plot twists—the kind that keep viewers glued to their seats and demonstrate how a brilliant twist can turn a good film into a cinematic masterpiece. Each unexpected turn defies expectations and leaves a powerful impression, making these movies timeless showcases of storytelling brilliance.
