Do you like BAD ENDINGS?

[naimas]

I wrote a screenplay where the protagonist dies at the end. I thought it was a scarier, more powerful ending than the usual, predictable happy ending. But I know that Hollywood hates a bad ending.

But movies like Descent, Nightmare on Elm Street had bad endings.

Do you like bad endings?

Since this is a site dedicated to horror I am wondering if you feel it is getting too cliche to let the good guys always win. I don't want my script to be rejected because the ending is (yawn) another slasher movie ending where the protagonist escapes. But then again I don't want it to be rejected because the ending is too dark.

[VM666]

I wouldn't say I like bad ending any more than I do good ending. What I like is an ending that you don't see coming, and that wraps up everything without shitting on the product.

[K.I.N.G]

I love bad endings, I feel more satisfied ending on a bad note. A good ending isn't too bad if it's not extremely happy.

[Driden]

Love bad endings because it adds surprise, shock and realism

[Knight]

Having a 'bad' or 'twist' ending just for the sake of it is just as bad as having a shitty cliched Hollywood ending where everyone lives happily ever after.

It all depends if it fits the tone of the movie or not.

[Driden]

Good example of a bad ending is Wolf Creek, TCM prequel, Session 9.

[Knight]

It helps if the characters are likable too. Obviously, if you care about the characters then it's easy to root for them. Like in the original 'Dawn of the Dead'...did anyone really want to see Peter blow his head off at the end? Or when Roger had to be put down...that was sad.

Annoying or typical characters are a lot more expendable.

[Joker]

Yeah,I like a bad ending when it fits e.g.,The Descent,King Kong and The Butterfly Effect (Directors cut).A bad ending can even make a mediocre film better like T3.

An example of a bad ending that sucks would be Identity.IMO

[deathslasher666]

Depends on the movie. For horror movies, I mostly like bad endings because they leave you left to imagine your own possibilities.

[TacK]

A Nightmare on Elm Street did not have a bad ending

[Late For Reality]

Yeah,I like a bad ending when it fits e.g.,The Descent,King Kong and The Butterfly Effect (Directors cut).A bad ending can even make a mediocre film better like T3.

An example of a bad ending that sucks would be Identity.IMO

OMG, the Director's Cut ending for The Butterfly Effect was the baby one right? Godddd they should've used that for the actual movie.

But yeah, i LOVE unhappy/bad endings. I dunno why, it's just better. But not if it doesn't make sense or is just whack (like someone said, Identity).

Vacancy is a good one. If that counts? The Descent, Final Destination 3 (if it counts), god I'll have to think of more.

[dead breed]

Overall I like bad endings in horror movies, but in non horror movies it depends really. Like Mystic River for example has a "bad" ending..but I loved it.

[Chief Falling Rock]

im not one for bad endings, but if it fits then it fits. I like the over coming evil idea of it. I also really hate the bad endings that Knight mentioned. The ones that are there for the sake of trying to shock you. Thats kinda dumb. Not that I always hate bad endings. I guess it just depends on the movie. We all wanna see Freddy and Jason win. But then again you've got the ending to say Jeepers Creepers which was just stupid.

Like that movie coming out called P2. I wanna see her get away from the guy. I dont go to the movies to be reminded the world can suck.

[naimas]

RE: NOES
Nightmare on Elm Street had the Protagonist driving off in a car that turned into a Freddie-mobile. And it had the mother sucked through the window. It worked but it was a bad ending because good did not win. It ended with that twist.

From Wikipedia:

"In the last scene, Freddy possesses Glen's car and makes him and the gang drive away with Nancy screaming for her mother when Marge gets grabbed by a clawed hand and pulled through the door window."

And from the same page:

"'Wes Craven originally planned for the film to have a happy ending..."
"However, New Line leader Robert Shaye demanded a twist ending..."
"Both a happy ending and a twist ending were filmed, but the final film used the twist ending."
"where Freddy reappears as a car that "kidnaps" Nancy, followed by Freddy reaching through a window on the front door to pull Nancy's mother inside..."

Chief Falling Rock,

I think the ending to Jeepers Creepers was stupid too. Sounds like "someone" just wanted an excuse to see someone with a shirt off and film it. And I understand about P2.

[pastor_ice43]

Bad endings suck with the exception of movies that are part of a planned series, in which the series should end on a good note.

[Duff McCartney]

I dunno if I like bad endings but in movies in general...there have been some when I wanted the bad guy to win. Like in The Incredibles...I wanted Buddy to win.

Others movies have had bad guys that you want to win.

[Chief Falling Rock]

always hated in Resident Evil how they spent the whole movie trying to save Michelle Rodriquez and she died anyway.

[WarBeast]

I like the movies where I want both sides to win... like Heat... I wanted Deniro and Pacino to both come out victorious.... couldn't happen though...

[Toxic Voorhees]

I like a shock ending that actually shocks

[Late For Reality]

I like a shock ending that actually shocks

OMG YES!!!

I was DEF. shocked at the SAW and Dead Silence endings. Loved em!!!

The SAW series needs another shocking ending, part 2 and 3's twists sucked! I'm seeing 4 this weekend so hopefully it doesn't suck.

[ASoron0424]

lol, this thread has a really deceptive title

[slimeisacharacter]

Personally, I enjoy a movie that is written and built to support the death of the entire cast, from hero to villian. Well done, I love those kind of flicks... poorly done and it shatters the movie.

[holdmycock]

These kind of "bad" endings as you call them have worked well not only in horror. Movies like the Thing, Reservoir Dogs, Naked Lunch... it's more like, and unhappy ending. Not everyone makes it out alive, or to get their own profit. It shows a more realistic tone.

This has become kind of popular as a late in film.. not a lot of movies have extremely happy endings like they used to.

I think the best example was in Cube 2. Everyone gets put through so much, and they gain a bit of knowledge, and just when you think the last one is going to make it out, she doesn't. It made me like the movie a lot more.

[Oravear]

the departed kinda sucked for me. But on the other hand NOTLD was perfect