By Robert Scucci
| Published 7 seconds ago

When I fired up Thrash (2026), I immediately knew people were going to hate this movie for all the wrong reasons. Within a day of its Netflix premiere, Rotten Tomatoes had already delivered its death blow, with critics and audiences alike tanking Thrash’s reputation overnight with a 37 percent approval rating across the board. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what went wrong here, but I’m going to break it down anyway because it’s a fascinating look at the at moviegoers who may not be in on the joke, or simply don’t want to be.

Thrash Was Released With A Straight Face

Thrash plays like a straight-up disaster thriller. A category 5 hurricane absolutely destroys an east coast town. Then, out of nowhere, there are bull sharks circling submerged houses under the leadership of a great white that will stop at nothing to eat anything in its path. Everybody panics. A lot of people die. The storm rages on, and a series of convenient plot devices fall into place at just the right moment.

At face value, Thrash sounds like any other low-budget B-movie thriller, but there’s one key distinction. The film was written and directed by Tommy Wirkola, best known for writing and directing the Dead Snow films, both of which are horror satires. He also directed 2022’s Violent Night, a black comedy action flick starring David Harbour as a violent, alcoholic Santa Claus who also happens to be a Viking warrior with a taste for extreme brutality.

With that context in mind, Thrash becomes a lot more fun because it has a perfect poker face. Every character plays everything completely straight, despite the fact that it’s all clearly ridiculous.

How do I know this? I don’t, not for sure. I avoid reading about films before watching them because I like forming my own opinions. I just want to experience the thing. But right off the bat, I was reminded of 2008’s The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan’s most misunderstood film. People criticized the wooden acting and absurd premise, but it was never meant to be taken seriously, no matter how straight-faced Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel play it.

Thrash operates in the same lane. When the hurricane hits, the levee breaks, and sharks become the primary threat, why else would a tanker truck full of animal blood that just so happens to be in the area conveniently spill to chum the water? I’m all for plot devices moving a story forward, but when it’s that on the nose, coming from a filmmaker known for subversion, it feels intentional.

Signs Of Satire Aplenty

Here are some other clues that tell me Thrash is in on the joke. Our protagonist Dakota (Whitney Peak) has agoraphobia and refuses to leave her house when an evacuation order is issued. Flooding. Sharks. Doesn’t matter. Meanwhile, her uncle, Dr. Dale Edwards (Djimon Honsou), just so happens to be a marine researcher who conveniently has everything he needs to show up at the perfect moment to save her, right when she’s about to overcome her fears because she’s not certain help is on the way.

Then there’s Lisa (Phoebe Dynevor), who is nine months pregnant and stranded in town. If you’re thinking it would be unfortunate for her water to break, forcing her to give birth in shark-infested floodwaters, with her placenta essentially functioning as bait, you’re not going to believe this. That is exactly what happens.

There’s also a separate plotline involving foster siblings Dee (Alyla Browne), Ron (Stacy Clausen), and Will (Dante Ubaldi), who live with their abusive foster father, Billy (Matt Nable). Billy uses his stipend, that’s meant to raise his foster kids, to stockpile expensive steaks in his downstairs fridge along with an arsenal of weapons and explosives that are obviously going to come into play later.

Not Getting The Joke Doesn’t Make It A Bad Movie

Every scenario in Thrash is pushed as far as it can go. Every character is one-dimensional to a fault until they’re forced to face their problems head on. Every setup pays off exactly how you expect. Everyone in this world behaves like they’re unaware of this, while fully committing to every trope you see coming, and they do it all with a completely serious tone.

One quick look at the Rotten Tomatoes reviews tells me people simply don’t get this movie, and it may take time for audiences to catch up with it. One review says, “The sharks are the best actors.” Others go with, “Thrash = Trash! Worst movie I’ve ever seen in my life,” and “Condolences to leading lady Phoebe Dynevor who deserved better.”

It’ll be interesting to see how time treats Thrash. Even now, people still don’t fully appreciate The Happening for what it is, despite its creator going on record saying it was always meant to play like a big-budget B-movie. Tommy Wirkola is being more subtle here because Thrash is marketed as a straight survival thriller, but it’s also not his fault if you’re not picking up on the obvious wink and nod he’s going for here.

If you want to be in on the joke, you have to meet it halfway. Nobody is going to spell it out for you. But if you’re avoiding the film because of the early reviews, I’d seriously reconsider.

Go into Thrash knowing exactly what it is: an intentionally schlocky B-movie meant to sit somewhere between Jaws and Sharknado. It’s trying to be serious and ridiculous at the same time. Within that framework, it works shockingly well. You just have to understand what you’re getting into, because the delivery is so deadpan you might miss it entirely if you don’t know who’s behind it.

Thrash is a Netflix Original and is currently streaming with an active subscription.

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for For All Mankind Season 5, Episode 3.

For five seasons, Joel Kinnaman’s Ed Baldwin has been a constant on Apple TV’s masterpiece sci-fi series For All Mankind. Between NASA politics and interplanetary crises, he’s become a stalwart figure, embodying the spirit of progress. That’s why his passing in Season 5, Episode 3 presents an important turning point for the show, which comes not as a shock, but a heartbreaking farewell.

As Season 5 stays the course for the sixth and final season, the new generation is taking its turn in the spotlight, centering Ed’s grandson Alex (Sean Kaufman) at the forefront of the fight for Happy Valley’s future.

Speaking with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, co-creators Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert discuss why they chose to end Ed’s journey midseason and reveal how far back this decision was made. They also discuss Kinnaman’s emotional final day on set, bringing back Michael Dorman and Shantel VanSanten, and how Ed’s presence continues to be felt “in almost every episode, in almost every way.”

Ed Baldwin’s Presence Is Still Felt in “Almost Every Episode”

“This show does not happen if Joel Kinnaman didn’t sign on to it.”

COLLIDER: Fans had a feeling Ed’s journey would end in Season 5, and when you started Episode 1 by saying he has health issues, it was confirmed. Why did you decide to end his journey in Episode 3, and after rescuing Lee, was it almost something else?

BEN NEDIVI: Was it almost something else? What does that mean?

Did you think maybe he’ll make it six episodes?

NEDIVI: No, we knew before the season started. In fact, I think we knew early, like probably Season 4, that this is where we’re going. We didn’t know exactly what episode or where, but I think in our conversations with Joel [Kinnaman], we felt like it would happen somewhere in the middle of the season, rather than at the end of the season. One, because I think our audience is almost expecting, now, for these things to happen in the finale, so there’s that element of don’t do the expected.

On the other side, I think in working on Season 5, what we realized more and more with this younger generation, especially Ed’s grandson Alex, is that it gave power to that storyline of his and of his mother’s, for Ed’s passing to inform it and to inform the second half of the season, and it does that. So even after he dies, his presence is felt in almost every episode, in almost every way.

Image via Apple TV

It was definitely not an easy decision, because Ed Baldwin is as close to our hearts as any character has been on this show. And Joel Kinnaman, this show does not happen if Joel Kinnaman didn’t sign on to it. It would not have gotten greenlit. So, we owe him everything. This was a decision that we all made together. It’s something that he kind of accepted and embraced, as well. And like everything else he’s done on this show, he did it like a champ. I mean, he pulled this off. I thought it was his best season. No one else, I think, could have played this role the way he did.

He’s fantastic.

Related

10 Binge-Worthy Apple TV Shows That Got Better Every Season

Your innie demands an all-nighter.

Advertisement

The Emotional Story Behind Joel Kinnaman’s Final Day on ‘For All Mankind’

“We’ve all become so close.”

Image via Apple TV

What was it like filming with him on his final day of filming, and how tough was it to get Gordo and Karen back to film for a day or a few days?

MATT WOLPERT: That scene of him walking down the hallway, where you see Gordo and Karen and Shane, was actually Joel’s last day of filming. It was incredibly emotional for everyone. The fact that Michael [Dorman] and Shantel [VanSanten] made time to do this in their very busy schedules meant the world to everybody. It just speaks very highly of how close they are to those characters. It was honestly one of the most emotional days I’ve ever had on a set just because we’ve all become so close. The arc we gave Joel is like a series of five photographs of him in each season, and the arc of that character and the arc of our personal relationship has grown so much over time that it just meant so much to be able to share that with him.

For All Mankind Season 5 is streaming now on Apple TV+. New episodes are released every Friday.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

November 1, 2019

Network

Apple TV

Advertisement

Directors

Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Andrew Stanton, Meera Menon, Dan Liu, Allen Coulter, Craig Zisk, Dennie Gordon, John Dahl, Lukas Ettlin, Wendey Stanzler, Seth Gordon, Sylvain White, Michael Morris, Maja Vrvilo, Sarah Boyd

Writers

Advertisement

Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, Nichole Beattie, Joe Menosky

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The desert might be heating up for Coachella, but the celebrity link-ups just turned the temperate all the way up. Social media is losing it after video footage showed Chris Brown and Damson Idris kicking it an event. Fans wasted no time cracking jokes, saying it’s giving appetizer and entrée and they’re to get a plate.

RELATED: It’s Like That! Lori Harvey & Damson Idris Have The Internet Losing It Over Their Steamy Balcony Kiss In Paris (VIDEO)

Double The Fine! Chris Brown & Damson Idris’ Link-Up Has Fans Goin’ OFF

Roomies, the internet is in shambles after a TikTok video surfaced showing Chris Brown and Damson Idris chopping it up at a Coachella event. The clip has the girlies scrambling to read their lips and figure out what they’re talking about. Tyga also jumps in on the convo, and that instantly turns up the heat, with fans saying there’s too much zaddy energy in one frame. Peep the video below.

@filmsbyjosh0 Unexpected BROMANCE! Chris Brown and Samson Idris link up at Coachella 👀🔥 #fyp #foryoupage #chrisbrown #trending #fashion ♬ It Depends (feat. Bryson Tiller) – Chris Brown

While TikTok user @pxnkdxva wrote, “Too much handsomeness standing right there 😭😭😭😭😍😍😍😫😮‍💨” 

Then TikTok user @indy🫶🏽🩷👀 wrote, “ALL OF THEM!! NOWWWWW!!! Neeeeeeed dattttt.” 

Another TikTok user @Iris wrote, “DAMM CHRIS BROWN AND DAMSON IDRIS❤️❤️”

TikTok user @Maj Jae wrote, “Put me in the middleeeeee.” 

Then another TikTok user @Coco wrote, “My 1st and 2nd husband.” 

While another TikTok user @Jae’Lyn wrote, “I’ll see you this summer Chris.” 

Finally, TikTok user @the junk jinsui wrote, “I need the lip reader girl im nosey 😂” 

Breezy & Usher Tease EPIC Joint Tour

Chris always has fans popping off online, and he did it again after announcing his joint R&B tour with Usher. The duo shared a clip on Instagram showing masked riders speeding through on motorcycles. When they finally meet up, they take off their helmets and reveal themselves and then BOOM — it’s Chris and Usher. Official details on the ‘Raymond & Brown’ tour haven’t dropped yet, but fans are already saying they can “take their money,” because they know it’s about to be legendary.

RELATED: Chris Brown Reacts After TikToker Blasts Diamond Brown For Airing Out Their Co-Parenting Issues & Feuding With Jada Wallace (VIDEO)

If you aren’t eager to see something like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, can Watch With Us interest you in some movies that you probably haven’t heard of before?

We can admit that mainstream movie offerings can be tiresome, but thankfully, streaming platforms offer an easy way to access movies that otherwise struggled to find an audience.

This April, Watch With Us recommends three overlooked movies that you should stream right now.

Our first pick is Kinds of Kindness, the eccentric anthology film from Yorgos Lanthimos starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Margaret Qualley.

Related: Emma Stone and Joe Alwyn Reunite in New Trailer for ‘Kinds of Kindness’

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures/EPK.TV Director Yorgos Lanthimos is back — and he’s bringing some of his favorite performers along with him. The first official trailer for Lanthimos’ upcoming film Kinds of Kindness dropped on Wednesday, May 29, featuring appearances from Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Joe Alwyn, William Dafoe, Hunter Schafer and Margaret Qualley. While the […]

This absurdist black comedy features three distinct stories, all loosely connected by the brief and seemingly arbitrary inclusion of a man named R.M.F. (Yorgos Stefanakos). The first story centers around an employee named Robert (Jesse Plemons), who is at the perpetual behest of his domineering boss and lover, Raymond (Willem Dafoe). The second story follows police officer Daniel (Plemons), whose missing marine biologist wife, Liz (Emma Stone), returns but does not seem to be herself. And the third story follows Emily (Stone) and Andrew (Plemons), two sex cultists seeking a woman who can reanimate the dead.

Bookended between the critical and awards successes of Poor Things and Bugonia, Kind of Kindness got lost in the shuffle, seen as a lesser inclusion to Yorgos Lanthimos’ filmography. However, the film is nonetheless a unique, biting and hilariously misanthropic triptych of surreal stories featuring not one, but multiple great performances from Stone, Plemons, Dafoe, Hong Chau and Margaret Qualley. The film is an intriguing commentary on the thin line that exists between kindness and cruelty.

In a highly stylized version of 1950s Lower Manhattan, young newlywed couple Arthur (Harry Melling) and Suze (Andrea Riseborough) are accosted by a group of street thugs calling themselves the Young Gents, after the couple witnesses the gang beat another couple to death. After being interrogated by the gang’s leader, Teddy (Karl Glusman), about where they live, the Young Gents eventually vacate the premises. But Suze and Arthur nevertheless find themselves preoccupied by their encounter and the reverberating consequences on both of their gender and sexual identities.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Please Baby Please is a campy and eccentric gender-bending drama that considers questions of what it really means to be a man or a woman. The maximalist production design, visual inventiveness and handful of musical numbers add to the fantastical and surreal quality of the film, allowing it to feel both refreshing and unique. Helmed by an incredible performance from Riseborough, the supporting cast also includes Demi Moore, Cole Escola and Dana Ashbrook.

While on a field trip to Washington, D.C., South Carolina teenager Lillian Wade (Talia Ryder) gets whisked away on a road trip across New England. After visiting a pizza restaurant that is attacked by an armed man (Andy Milonakis) who believes it houses a covert ring of pedophiles, Lillian finds herself in with a group of anarchist political activists led by Caleb (Earl Cave). After that, she winds up in New Hope, Pennsylvania, with a neo-Nazi named Lawrence (Simon Rex), then New York City, where she is cast in a film off the street, striking up a romance with her famous co-star Ian Reynolds (Jacob Elordi).

Advertisement

Related: 3 Oscar-Nominated Movies You Should Watch This Weekend: ‘Bugonia’ and More

The 2026 Oscar nominations have finally been announced, which means that Hollywood’s biggest night is just around the corner. 2025 was a banner year for cinema — from the crowd-pleasing Sinners to the gothic horror of Frankenstein and the elegiac beauty of Train Dreams, some of the best movies in recent memory have all come out during […]

Though thematically and ideologically murky, The Sweet East is nevertheless a spirited and riveting satire on the kaleidoscope of Americana that can be found along the Mid-Atlantic and the flailing American Dream we’ve been left with. Directed by cinematographer Sean Price Williams (Good Time, The Moment), The Sweet East draws stylistic cues from 1970s American cinema, yet becomes its own wonderful and weird thing as it explores the self-discovery that occurs when we leave our hometown.

Big Mistakes marks creator Dan Levy‘s first show since Schitt’s Creek — but what is it about?

Created by Levy and Rachel Sennott, Big Mistakes is dark crime-comedy series that focuses on two “deeply incapable” siblings. Nicky (Levy) is a suburban New Jersey pastor while and Morgan (Taylor Ortega) is an impulsive teacher, who get embroiled in the criminal underworld after stealing a diamond necklace that belongs to a crime syndicate.

The Netflix series, which premiered in April, also stars Laurie Metcalf, Jack Innanen, Boran Kuzum and Abby Quinn. Big Mistakes is Levy’s second original scripted series after the Emmy-winning sitcom Schitt’s Creek. In the end, Annette (Elizabeth Perkins) is revealed to be the one calling the shots while Morgan and Nicky’s lives are rocked by the experience.

“I’m so excited to be bringing this truly chaotic family story to life with Netflix,” Levy said in a press released when the show was announced. “I’m thrilled with the team we’re building both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Taylor Ortega is going to become a household name, and it’s been my life’s mission to get to call Laurie Metcalf ‘mother.’ Looking forward to getting to share this with everyone.”

Related: Everything the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Cast Has Said About a Possible Movie

Simply the best! After the hit show’s iconic television run, the potential for a Schitt’s Creek movie looks brighter than ever. The series originally ran for six seasons starting in 2015, and its finale aired in April 2020. The show was created by father-son duo Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, and it slowly rose to […]

Levy reflected on his vision for the show once it was out.

“That’s how long it took, really, to get an idea that I felt as strongly about as I did when we started Schitt’s Creek,” he told Tudum. “When I finished Schitt’s, I really thought, like, I don’t know how I can do anything after this.”

Levy continued: “This show really kind of opened this window of possibility, and I realized I am just as excited about this as I was [about Schitt’s Creek].”

Before Big Mistakes, Levy was involved with Schitt’s Creek. The Canadian production, which was originally on CBC, became a hit when the first three seasons started streaming on Netflix. Three more seasons were released, which earned Schitt’s Creek 19 Emmy nominations. Following the 2020 series finale, creators Eugene Levy and Dan have often been asked about a potential revival.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Related: A Guide to TV Reboots and Revivals Through the Years

From sitcoms and game shows to dramas and cartoons, the list of TV reboots and revivals is a long one. Waiting to Exhale and Conan the Barbarian are both films being made into TV shows, while Gilmore Girls was transformed into four seasons for its Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which […]

Advertisement

“My hope is that one day we can all get together. I see these people all the time. We’re in constant contact with each other. So the love is there. The desire to work together is there, and the desire to tell more stories is there,” Dan told People in 2022. “I think it just comes down to making sure that it’s the right story to tell. And I think we’re also proud of the work we did on Schitt’s. And when you end on such a high, it really forces you to think very carefully about what the next step is.”

Dan continued: “I think when you have an audience that’s paid attention to you for 80 episodes of a television show, the last thing you want is to put something out that makes them think this feels like a cash grab. And that’s not what we’re about. So TBD, but a TBD with an exclamation mark on the end.”

The screenwriter has since walked back those plans following Catherine O’Hara‘s shocking death in January at age 71.

Ryan Seacrest is laying it all out there. During an episode of his radio show, “On Air With Ryan Seacrest,” the “American Idol” host took an unexpected stance while discussing marriage and engagement rings. While the 51-year-old has never been engaged or married, he was candid about his belief that today’s flashy jewelry pieces are becoming more about public perception than a symbol of love. As he continued, the TV personality said he’d rather spend his resources on memorable experiences with his partner than waste them on material objects.

Ryan Seacrest Shares His Unexpected Stance On Engagement Rings, Says People Are Paying Way Too Much

Seacrest has never been one to stay silent, and on the April 7 episode of his radio show, according to Geo News, the “Wheel of Fortune” host questioned whether engagement rings are worth it in the year 2026.

“A lot of couples are saying, ‘Hey, is the engagement ring really worth it?’” he said before asking the average cost, “$10,000?”

“Average cost of an engagement ring in the U.S., $10,000. Think about what you could do with your partner for $10,000,” Seacrest added.

According to an American Express report from September 2025, the average cost of an engagement ring is about $5,200. However, the financial institution noted that there is no “one-size-fits-all formula” and that buyers should consider their current and projected income, expenses, and savings before making the hefty purchase.

Ryan Seacrest Questions The Importance Of An Engagement Ring

Seacrest has never been engaged; however, he has been in several high-profile relationships. Most recently, he dated Aubrey Paige, although the pair called it quits in 2024.

On his radio show, Seacrest questioned whether engagement rings were still important, then suggested that couples could use that money to create meaningful memories.

“I honestly think—and I’m gonna say this—because when I meet my human, and it’s that time, we’re gonna have experiences together,” he said. “We’re gonna focus on building our bond. Doing things together.”

Continuing, Seacrest said the “priority” should be on taking risks and working toward creating the life they want.

Ryan Seacrest Previously Joked About Not Getting Married Because He’d ‘Die Soon’

Seacrest has been open about marriage before, according to TV Insider. In 2025, the former “Live” host stopped by the studio to hang out with Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos. During the episode, Seacrest said he’d given getting married a bit more thought after officiating a friend’s wedding earlier.

However, Seacrest admitted that after even more reflection, he realized getting hitched might not be in the cards for him.

“Well, at this age now, if I got married, it’s like, I’d die soon, so it’s like, ‘What’s the point?’” he said, prompting Conseulos to joke, “You’ve got a good 17 years left.”

Seacrest Reveals His Red And Green Flags In A Relationship

On an earlier episode of his radio show, Seacrest got candid about what he looks for in a partner before sharing what things might throw him off.

Seacrest went on to share that he normally takes his dates out to exercise with him and uses their interaction to determine whether they’re worth pursuing.

“When you’re out on a run or a walk or a bike ride, do you say hi to people that pass?” he asked, noting that those who don’t lack manners. “If you don’t, I’m not so sure about you. And if someone says ‘good morning’ to you on the path and you don’t respond, that is a red flag.”

Another red flag for Seacrest would be if his potential partner wasn’t eager to partake in some of his traditions.

“I really look forward to getting up and having my coffee,” he said. “I think if we can’t share that moment together, it’s a red flag. So, ‘I need coffee,’ is a green flag. Don’t have a lot, and please don’t put milks and stuff in it.”

Seacrest’s Father Passed Away

According to a previous report from The Blast, Seacrest opened up about the devastating news that his father, Gary Lee Seacrest, passed away in October 2025, after a years-long battle with cancer.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week,” he wrote in the caption. “My mom, sister and I have peace knowing he is in a better place and free of any pain or suffering. We are heartbroken.”

Seacrest recalled his final moments with his father on his radio show, saying the 81-year-old looked over to him and asked him to take care of his mother, sister, and the rest of their family. “And then literally a few seconds later, he closed his eyes and said, ‘I’ve got to go.’ … He knew. He was at peace,” Seacrest said.

Heidi Klum knows a thing or two about elevated dressing, often slipping into sleek separates that include modern design details, chic tailoring and bold pops of colors. But Klum’s refined taste isn’t just reserved for red carpets — and her recent bomber jacket serves as proof. Better yet? I found a lookalike silhouette for just $37 on Amazon.

Last week, Klum stepped out in New York City wearing a casual-cool look, including Balenciaga sneakers, a Louis Vuitton tote and the star of the show: an Alpha Industries MA-1 top layer. While the original option isn’t completely out of the budget, the Amazon version is currently $112 less.

Get the Rasujie Satin Bomber Jacket for $37 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The windbreaker isn’t just good for the wallet, either, but it looks strikingly similar to Klum’s. You can look forward to the same buttery satin, micro-ribbed details, side pockets and zippered sleeves. The olive-green hue is also spot-on, making it hard to tell the difference between the two at first glance.

Related: Rihanna’s Denim Bomber Jacket Is the Elevated Layer We’re Eyeing

Advertisement

If anyone can make Us think about spring style in January, it’s Rihanna. The fashion icon stepped out in a denim bomber jacket style that instantly shifted our mindset from heavy winter layers to transitional staples. Her $2,800 version may be out of reach, but we found a $43 alternative that nails the same effortless […]

Spring’s unpredictable weather is yet another reason to snag the lightweight zip-up. The smooth fabric feels light against the skin, offering a transitional dressing solution for bracing against chilly nights and surprise winds.

But perhaps more notable is the outstanding quality. “I’m simply obsessed with this satin bomber jacket,” said a shopper. “It looks way more expensive than what it was!” Another rave reviewer echoed the same sentiment, saying it’s “wayyyyyyy better value than the price indicates…” So, rest assured; you may be getting a deal, but you’re not compromising on quality.

Get ready to fall in love with your new favorite spring bomber jacket. All it took was a Klum sighting and an impressive $37 deal. But I have to warn you: this elevated top layer is sure to go quickly, so snag it while you still can.

Get the Rasujie Satin Bomber Jacket for $37 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more spring jackets here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: Jenna Lyons’s Relaxed Bomber Jacket Is Spring’s Coolest Throw-On Layer

Advertisement

Leave it to Jenna Lyons to make spring dressing look easier than ever. The style icon recently stepped out wearing a relaxed bomber jacket, reminding Us that the layer instantly delivers the effortless, thrown-on polish we’re always chasing. Of course, we knew we had to grab a similar style for ourselves, and discovered a $38 version that […]

How do you end a horror movie? Shock? Mystery? The murder of all the children in the United States? All those and more feature in some of the best, most perfect horror movie endings. Unsurprisingly, these endings all mostly come at the end of some of the most beloved horror films ever made, or, at the very least, films that are undeniably cult favorites. Their endings aren’t what make them classics, but they definitely are a part of the alchemy that’s required.

There’s no one way to end a horror movie and these endings prove that. Even when some of them share similar apocalyptic outcomes, they approach them in vastly different ways. One ending will make you laugh, while the other will leave you stunned in silence. No matter how they leave you, though, you’re going to remember because of how perfectly they end their respective films. These are those ten most perfect horror movie endings, ranked.

10

‘Saw’ (2004)

Image via Lions Gate Films

Regardless of how you feel about the Saw franchise as a whole and its influence on the rise of the so-called torture porn trend, there’s no denying that it’s a series that had audiences hooked for the better part of a decade. Part of that is definitely due to the gruesome death scenes that were a hallmark of the films, but equally responsible were the convoluted plots that always wrapped up with a twist ending. These reveals, set to composer Charlie Clouser’s iconic “Hello Zepp” music cue, are some of the most memorable in modern horror, and the first is still the best.

The original Saw’s plot is fairly straightforward in comparison to more complicated sequels. Two men awaken in a decrepit bathroom with their ankles shackled and a corpse between them. They’re captives of the infamous Jigsaw serial killer who subjects his victims to sadistic survival games. The plot is laid out as a non-linear procedural, revealing more about the two men and the reasons behind their captivity. By the end, one of them has made good on the film’s title by sawing through his ankle and crawling away to get help. The other is left to witness the twist ending; that the corpse in the room has been alive the entire time and is Jigsaw himself in the flesh, who leaves the man screaming as he locks him away. Even if the movie itself is derivative and doesn’t all hang together narratively, the ending is undeniably effective and helped launch the most successful horror franchise of the aughts.

9

‘Halloween III: Season of the Witch’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

Halloween III: Season of the Witch was highly divisive when it was first released. As a standalone installment in the Halloween franchise that doesn’t feature its iconic slasher Michael Myers, audiences were understandably a little perturbed, especially since the film’s marketing failed to effectively explain the change in direction. The movie has since undergone a reevaluation and is often listed as a fan favorite thanks to its bonkers plot and downright ballsy ending.

Halloween masks play a crucial part in the plot of the film as B-movie icon Tom Atkins plays Dr. Challis who, after witnessing a murder-suicide at his hospital, begins investigating the connections to the seemingly sinister Silver Shamrock novelty company. His investigation reveals connections to witchcraft, Stonehenge, Celtic folklore and the celebration of Samhain, which in the film’s plot involves the ritual sacrifice of children. The masks made by the company, which have been sold nationwide, are installed with a chip designed to kill their wearers and activated by a commercial. Challis tries to prevent this mass pedicide by calling the television affiliates to have them pull the commercial, but is unable to convince them all as it begins to play and the film cuts to black on Challis’ screams. Love or hate the film, you will never forget that ending.

8

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2009)

Image via Lionsgate

A mass genocide event as an ending is generally going to elicit shock from an audience, as it did in Halloween III, but, if pitched right, it can also earn some hearty laughter. The Cabin in the Woods is one of those special kinds of horror films that walks a tightrope between self-referential humor and genuine horror. Its subversion and acknowledgment of the genre’s tropes makes its climax all the more entertaining as it collides all its influences into one big monster mash. Even better is the denouement, where it’s not just the coed protagonists whose lives are put on the line, but the entire population of Earth.

Presented first as a standard cabin in the woods horror movie, albeit one where some middle management types are paying close attention and affecting the outcome of events from a control room, the movie slowly reveals its true nature. The archetypal characters are all meant to be sacrifices to ancient gods who demand blood, lest they come unleash hell on earth. When the protagonists emerge triumphant over their would-be killers, they effectively select the nuclear option, as made clear by the god-sized hand that erupts from the ground and crushes the titular location. Meta movies like this can sometimes falter in their third act by failing to effectively pay off their clever set-ups, but The Cabin in the Woods sticks the landing by sticking it to humanity in the most cosmically hilarious way possible.

7

‘The Mist’ (2007)

Image via Dimension Films

In comparison to the deaths wrought at the end of Halloween III or The Cabin in the Woods, the ending of The Mist is downright paltry in terms of sheer numbers. It’s far more affecting though, for how it arrives at its violent end and for those lives that meet it. Stephen King, on whose novella Frank Darabont’s film is based and which ends with a more open-ended note, famously declared that Darabont’s emotional gut punch of an ending was more effective than his text. That’s a bold statement, but who are we to disagree with the master of horror?

The majority of The Mist follows a group of survivors trapped in a supermarket after a seemingly supernatural event covers their town in the titular natural phenomenon, which happens to be filled with monsters. There are also some very human monsters inside the supermarket as well, which leads a small group to make their escape out into the mist. Driving aimlessly, they find nothing but carnage until they run out of gas and are left with little options as they hear the monsters approaching in the distance. Armed with a gun with four bullets, the leader of the group, played by Thomas Jane, executes his companions as mercy, including his own eight-year-old son. He gets out of the car to face the monsters, only to be met by a military force, clearing the way to safety. There’s nothing to add to that, except that it’s brutal, and Stephen King was right.

6

‘The Wicker Man’ (1973)

Most of these perfect endings also happen to be twist endings. A twist ending isn’t inherently better or worse than a more straightforward ending, but when it’s done right, it can feel like a magic trick. Like the dark magic at work at the end of The Wicker Man. This folk horror classic features slow-burning suspense and a rising tension over the course of its plot, which follows an English policeman Howie, played by Edward Woodward, investigating the disappearance of a young girl on a remote island populated by pagan worshipers. Their rituals rankle the devout Christian sergeant, and there’s an immediate unease that sets in, particularly when he meets their leader, played by horror icon Christopher Lee. It isn’t long before he determines that the missing girl is intended to be a sacrifice as part of their May Day celebration.

When the film does reach its May Day climax, Howie makes the horrifying discovery that the missing girl was never meant to be their sacrifice; he was. It pulls the rug out from under him just as it does the viewer, and leaves them nothing to do except watch in horror as Howie is placed in the titular statue, which is then set ablaze. The influence on films like Midsommar is obvious, but more than that, the ending is one of the most effective twists in horror history. The sounds of Howie saying a prayer as he burns, and the cultists sing a folk song will be burned forever into the brain of anyone who watches The Wicker Man.

5

‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

When it comes to twist endings, no filmmaker has inspired more acclaim or vitriol than M. Night Shymalan. The writer-director’s penchant for third act plot revelations has retroactively ruined films like Signs or The Village for many of his fans, but when these twists work, they can pull his movies together like a magic trick. It worked in his best film, Unbreakable, and it worked in his modern horror classic The Sixth Sense. That was the twist that had audiences everywhere talking in 1999, and its success had many of them returning for repeat viewings, which made the film a bona fide blockbuster.

By now, everyone, even those who haven’t seen a single frame of the film, knows the twist that Bruce Willis’ character Dr. Malcolm Crowe has been dead for the entire movie. His interactions with the young Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, are only possible because the young boy can see dead people. It’s a twist that has presented itself in plain sight, but one which almost no one saw coming, and anyone who says they did was likely lying. It’s a perfect resolution to the film, and it’s one of the reasons why audiences kept coming back to every Shymalan movie for years to get the rug pulled out from under them again and again.

4

‘The Birds’ (1963)

Image via Universal Pictures

Not all endings need to have a twist to be successful. Some of them can even end with simple, eerie silence, like Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. It might seem like cinematic sacrilege to not put Hitchcock’s horror masterpiece Psycho here, but while that film does have one of the greatest final moments in horror history with Anthony Perkins staring down the barrel of the camera right into the audience’s soul, it’s immediately proceeded by a lengthy unnecessary scene of exposition that somewhat deflates its effect. It’s the one major flaw in that otherwise perfect horror film, whereas the unsettling ending of Hitchcock’s follow-up film is one of the best parts of the movie.

Set in the sleepy seaside town of Bodega Bay, where Tippi Hedren’s socialite Melanie has come to socialize with Rod Taylor’s lawyer Mitch, the movie takes a turn into the horrific when the titular avians begin to attack with warning or reason. It becomes a fight for survival as the attacks become more aggressive and the lead characters eventually barricade themselves inside a house. With severe injuries and few options left, they decide to try and make a run for it in their car out of town. What follows isn’t some spectacular attack, but a quiet, dread-filled moment where the survivors slowly get into their car and drive away, while hundreds of birds watch them in silence. It’s a perfect ending filled with an ambiguity and uncertainty thats more powerful than any bloodletting could ever be.

3

‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (1974)

Image via Bryanston Distributing Company

Silence is certainly eerie, but how about a cacophony of madness and screaming? It wouldn’t have worked for The Birds, but it feels right at home in Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. This backwoods horror classic is an endurance test, putting its characters through the wringer. It also keeps the audience constantly on edge. From the first moment we meet Gunnar Hansen’s iconic Leatherface, swinging a hammer into an unsuspecting home invader’s face, there isn’t a moment of reprieve from the tension or horror. It’s just a steady, sweaty ride into hell.

As the five Texas teens on a road trip each individually find their way to the decrepit farm house that Leatherface and the rest of the Sawyer clan call home, they endure unimaginable horror, but none more so than final girl Sally, played by Marilyn Burns. After the rest of her friends have been turned into barbecue, Sally is subjected to one of the worst dinners in cinematic history, tied to a chair while the Sawyer’s play murder-house. She escapes, of course, and Leatherface gives chase. They reach the road where a blood-soaked Sally finally escapes in the back of a passing truck, laughing madly as she puts some distance between herself and the dancing Leatherface swinging his chainsaw wildly. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is so unrelenting that it’ll get you laughing in relief right alongside Sally, if you aren’t glued to your seat in abject horror.

2

‘The Thing’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

Master of horror John Carpenter has more than a few perfect endings in his filmography, whether it’s the sounds of Michael Myers breathing in the original Halloween, or Sam Neill laughing hysterically as he loses his mind In the Mouth of Madness. It’s hard to pick just one perfect ending of Carpenter’s, but there’s something particularly perfect with how he ends his greatest film, The Thing. While it was initially met with outright hostility and disgust from critics, The Thing has been reclaimed as one of the greatest horror films ever made, thanks to its combination of gory, practical effects, and perfectly paced plot of paranoia. Based on the novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr. as well as the first film version of it, The Thing from Another World, Carpenter’s version is a vision of hell frozen over.

In Antarctica, an American research team discovers an alien lifeform that can imitate any living organism. It’s already made mincemeat out of a Norwegian camp, and it’s looking for a new place, and people, to hide inside. The men soon realize the apocalyptic scenario that would play out if this alien were to ever make it to civilization, so they systematically destroy its ability to escape and blow their entire research station sky-high. At the end, as everything burns around him, only Kurt Russell’s MacCready is left, until he’s approached by Keith David’s Childs, who had disappeared during the fireworks. Neither man trusts the other, because neither man can be sure the other isn’t a Thing. So they sit, freezing to death in the cold. That’s as bone-chilling as horror movies get.

1

‘The Shining’ (1980)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Cold, remote locations just lend themselves to horror so perfectly. The Shining is just as much in contention for the greatest horror movie ever made as The Thing. While its ending takes some liberties from the novel that upset author Stephen King, there’s no doubting the haunting power of it. Stanley Kubrick isn’t the sentimentalist that King is, and his film doesn’t even rub shoulders with the redemption glimpsed in the novel, which was a more personal story to King. The story of Jack Torrance slowly going mad and attacking his wife and son, while serving as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, reflected King’s own insecurities and struggles with alcoholism and success. It’s only natural he’d want to end that story on a warm redemptive note instead of the cold-blooded one that Kubrick did.

In King’s novel, Jack is momentarily able to overcome the supernatural influence of the Overlook to tell his family to run. The hotel explodes thanks to its neglected boiler. In Kubrick’s movie, Jack, played with absolute malice by Jack Nicholson, never regains his humanity even for a second, and he freezes to death in the hedge maze chasing after his son Danny. There’s a lot of backstory and character details that have been excised in mass from the novel, which makes the film a much colder and nastier piece of work, but it is a masterwork of atmosphere and sustained dread. The final shot shows Jack in a photograph, among the many that hang on the walls of the Overlook, taken decades before he had first stepped foot in the hotel. He’s become a part of it, absorbed into its evil like all of its other victims, doomed to haunt its halls forever. That’s a perfect horror ending.

Advertisement

The Shining

Advertisement

Release Date

June 13, 1980

Runtime

Advertisement

144 minutes

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement