Being caught off guard by an effective twist is a cinematic joy like no other. Over the years, writers and filmmakers have dreamed up fresh ways of keeping audiences on their toes. Some remain astonishingly bold by today’s standards, while others have had the gleam worn off by the movies they’ve gone onto inspire.
There are some filmmakers who have attempted to make the twist their trademark (M Night Shyamalan), then there are others who have impressively shaped a film around its rug-pulling denouement (Christopher Nolan’s magician drama The Prestige was essentially one giant magic trick). Either way, they make for memorable viewing. Intriguingly, twists are mostly prevalent in horror films, which is what makes it so breathtaking when they show up mid-way through a drama – or, even rarer, a comedy.
The Independent has run through 31 of the greatest twists ever, from Planet of the Apes and Spider-Man: Homecoming to Oldboy. Read on to see what has made the cut. Naturally, spoilers abound – and don’t go ruining the surprise for those who haven’t seen any of these films.
Among the twists highlighted: in Arrival, Louise Banks deciphers alien language, giving her the ability to see into the future – what seemed like flashbacks are actually flash-forwards. In Atonement, the happy ending is revealed to be another lie; both Robbie and Cecilia died in the war. In Dark City, John Murdoch breaks through a wall to find the city is an island floating in space. In The Departed, both moles end up dead in a shocking sequence. In Gone Girl, the husband faked his death with his mistress's help to destroy his wife. In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader is revealed to be Luke Skywalker's father. In Fight Club, the narrator and Tyler Durden are dissociated personalities – the same person.
