A horror movie's last scene should be shocking, somewhat practical, and realistic for the story. Although no one hopes for a confusing ending to a movie that they have just devoted a few hours to, sometimes the plot is left up in the air to create an air of mystery, but this can be frustrating.
While there are some killer (no pun intended) horror movie endings that fans love, there are just as many that make audiences wish that the plot had been concluded differently. Although fans enjoy watching Rebecca Gayheart in Urban Legend and there has been hope for a Truth Or Dare sequel, neither film has a convincing or satisfying ending. The Blumhouse Truth Or Dare horror movie in particular has a conclusion that could set up another movie, which is why fans are curious about a sequel.
Updated on October 17, 2022 by Aya Tsintziras: The fall 2022 horror movies that fans are waiting for, like Blumhouse's Run Sweetheart Run to Bones In All, promise weighty plotlines that will live up to expectations, and fans hope that the endings will be smart and thoughtful.
Horror movie fans are always seeking out films that have endings worth talking about, but while some are impressive, this isn't always the case. There have been several releases from the past few decades that have endings that either ruin a character arc or move the story in an odd direction, and these movies don't have the most interesting conclusions that they could.
Urban Legend (1998)
While the urban legends in the 1998 movie are a lot of fun, the ending is a little unsatisfactory and not quite as shocking as it should be. It seems like Natalie Simon (Alicia Witt) has beaten Brenda Bates (Rebecca Gayheart) as Brenda seems to die. But then, in the final scene, audiences watch Brenda sitting with a group of college students, explaining that she will share the full story of what really happened at the college.
This ending feels rushed, not entirely surprising, and full of cliches. The idea that a villain has been hiding in plain sight all of this time has been done many times before, and it seems hard to believe that Brenda has survived and enrolled at another college.
Orphan (2009)
While there are some timeless horror movie plot twists, the ending of Orphan seems obvious and expected. When fans find out that Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) is not a child but 33-year-old Leena Klammer, it doesn't seem like such a huge reveal.
The explanation that Esther has a disorder called Hypopituitarism that affects her hormones and makes sure that she doesn't grow properly feels lackluster and not that exciting. It just seems really clear throughout the entire movie that Esther is secretly much older than a child. Since the movie hinges on this reveal, and not everyone will be taken by surprise, it seems hard to appreciate the ending and say that it's a good way to wrap up the story.
Truth Or Dare (2018)
Truth Or Dare is a Blumhouse horror movie that fell flat, and the ending leaves a lot to be desired as well. When a horror movie focuses on a curse or a game, it's only logical that audiences want a conclusion where the main characters figure out how to win and get rid of the horror.
In this case, Olivia Barron (Lucy Hale) shares a Truth Or Dare video online, which suggests that others will start playing the deadly game and she will be safe for the time being. But since there's no sequel, this isn't the best ending. Why can't Olivia and her friends find out a way to beat the game? Suggesting that more people will die and the game will just continue doesn't feel good enough. There also aren't enough explanations in the movie itself about why this game emerged in the first place. There are great female-led Blumhouse horror movies, but Truth Or Dare could wrap the film up better.
The Open House (2018)
The Open House is one of the worst Netflix horror movies and that's mostly because of the ending. It's hard to think of a horror film that has such a dark and disturbing conclusion. Logan Wallace (Dylan Minnette) is killed, and fans see his dead body by some water behind the country house where he and his mom Naomi (Piercey Dalton) have been living. Naomi seems to die as well as she passes out after being attacked.
Why did someone target this mother and son? Why was Logan being stalked and spied on? Why did they die? While some horror movie endings are left vague on purpose and that's a good thing, that isn't the case here, and viewers will wish for a lot more.
What Lies Below (2020)
The 2020 horror movie What Lies Below can be considered one of the worst haunted house movies as the characters aren't fully formed and the ending is also anything but satisfying.
Libby (Ema Horvath) doesn't like the man that her mom Michelle (Mena Suvari) has fallen in love with, John (Trey Tucker). It's awkward watching Libby try to avoid John in their house in the Adirondacks, and it turns out that John has been keeping some water tanks in the basement. At the very end of the film, John has put Libby in a tank, and it also seems that he has gotten Michelle pregnant with a creature. This is not only gross to watch but also upsetting. Why can't Libby be a strong final girl who survives? After watching this character try to figure out what John is up to, it's a shame to watch John emerge victorious. The movie also has some haunted house tropes and cliches.
Delirium (2018)
The 2018 horror movie Delirium focuses on Topher Grace's main character, Tom Walker, who goes home after being in a hospital for 20 years because of mental health struggles. He thinks that there's a spirit in the house, and the film has some tired haunted house movie cliches. The movie isn't the most well-crafted, but it does focus on a character rebuilding their life, which is an important conversation to have. However, the ending is funny, which doesn't fit the tone of the film.
At the end of Delirium, family secrets are revealed, and Tom's brother Alex (Callan Mulvey) is killed. Alex is an evil person who has haunted Tom all his life. A police officer inquiries whether the house is Tom's and Tom says, "It is now." This joke doesn't land as this isn't a horror movie with funny quotes or humorous moments. It's also confusing that Tom wouldn't want to move on from a place with terrible memories.
Men (2022)
The ending to the A24 horror film Men is definitely confusing and intense. It might be too dark for some moviegoers, which begs the question of whether horror can be too elevated. Harper (Jessie Buckley) stays at a country home and her world gets turned upside down as she encounters various men (with Rory Kinnear playing every man in the movie) who all seem creepy.
Harper can tell that she's in danger, and before the movie concludes, she sees a series of men giving birth to other men. The bodies are gross-looking and distorted and the sequence goes on for a long time. Harper is definitely freaked out and this is a more thoughtful ending than some, as it's trying to say something about gender roles and motherhood. But a final scene that focuses on Harper instead would be better.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
The ending of Halloween: Resurrection is unsatisfying because Michael Myers hasn't been defeated. There are several Halloween timelines, which can get convoluted, and Halloween: Resurrection isn't very popular, mostly because final girl Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) dies. It's a shame not to watch this beloved character for more of the movie and also hard to agree that she should be killed.
When a slasher franchise continues for a long time, there's a fine balance between allowing the main characters to beat the killer and being able to tell the story of this villain over and over again. However, it's difficult to like this particular ending as no one has made any progress when it comes to fighting Michael Myers.