Movies with downer endings

Doug Nelson · #1 09-04-2006, 02:36 AM

I think it says something wonderful about the complexity of human nature that sometimes we actually want a movie that says "no, it's not going to be all right". Or a movie where the bad guy wins. Or they don't live happily ever after. Or the earth blows up.

What are some of your favorite movies with downer endings? (I guess it goes without saying that this entire thread needs a spoiler alert)

DannyRaphael · #2 09-04-2006, 10:27 AM

Vanishing Point - 1971

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067927/

Sort of a Thelma and Louise-type ending. Instead of a cliff, it was a very high speed head-on encounter with the front of a bulldozer, mashing up a brand new car of the same model as I was driving at the time.

byRo · #3 09-04-2006, 11:22 AM

Well, seeing as we're on the subject.....
Maybe you folks can identify a film for me - I only remember the last second of the film.

The guy (hero / subject) is walking through some sort of field, there's a gunshot and that's the end! (Maybe the gunshot is after the image fades?)

Other than that, I suppose that the guy had been trying to stay alive for the whole film.
I have the impression that Michael Caine was in the film (but he's in all of them).
I also have the impression that the song "Windmills of your mind" is in there somewhere.
....But I may be wrong on both counts.

Any ideas? (pretty easy, huh?)

Rô

chris h · #4 09-04-2006, 11:56 AM

Get Carter ? I mean the 71 original not the Stallone rubbish.

Trimoon · #5 09-04-2006, 12:42 PM

Easy Rider

Photo678 · #6 09-04-2006, 01:23 PM

12 monkeys

Ken Fournelle · #7 09-04-2006, 01:25 PM

Ro,

The Windmills of Your Mind was the Academy Award-winning song from the film, The Thomas Crown Affair, (1968), starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. The song was written by Noel Harrison, son of Rex Harrison.

k

Littlecoo · #8 09-04-2006, 08:49 PM

"Carrie" ...not even sure if it is an 'ending' per se

aceman · #9 09-04-2006, 09:10 PM

Requiem for a Dream

Kraellin · #10 09-04-2006, 11:42 PM

Ro,

the only one i remember that resembles what you describe was "Bullet" with Steve Mc Queen and George Kennedy, but i dont think he was shot during the fade-out. or, have i got this right? was "Bullet" the one in the swamp prison camp? well, that's the one i'm thinking of, the one in the prison camp in the South. good 'downer' movie.

craig

Stroker · #11 11-05-2006, 01:46 PM

City of Angels
Nicolas Cage and Melanie Griffith

Everybody I've talked to absolutely *hates* this movie for the downer at the end.

Doug Nelson · #12 11-05-2006, 01:58 PM

I agree totally on City of Angels. Great movie, until the end. I saw the original, but can't remember if the ending was the same.

Similar is The Life of David Gale, not a great movie, but OK until the ending, which ruins everything that came before.