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I've always been a huge fan of bizarre plots, complex turns and (usually) unexpected twists. These aren't all, or maybe not even the best such films out there, but these are the ones I have personally enjoyed the most.
1. Dark City (1998)
A man wakes with no memories and finds himself accused of a string of serial murders. His efforts to recover his past soon reveal his situation is nothing so simple as a frame-job.
Director: Alex Proyas
Stars: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt
My Comments: A movie I may or may not have watched way too many times to have maintained all of my sanity. If you haven't seen this film yet, I highly recommend watching it with the opening intro removed, or the dialogue muted until the scene where the protagonists awakes, since the monologue was something the writer/director was forced to add, unnecessarily, and it takes away a lot of the mystery and impact of the final reveal.
2. Angel Heart (1987)
Private Investigator Harry Angel is hired to find a man called Johnny Favourite. His search leads him on a descent into dark magic and madness.
Director: Alan Parker
Stars: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, Charlotte Rampling
My Comments: Must disclaim this because there is some very icky, possibly triggery subject matter. Unfortunately it can't be disclaimed properly without giving things away. :/
3. Memento (2000)
After his wife is killed in an attack that leaves him with short-term memory loss, a man leaves himself clues to guide him in his hunt for the man responsible.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Anne Moss, Mark Boone Junior
My Comments: If Joey Pants isn't enough reason for you to see this movie, hearken to the fact that the entire film is told in reverse.
4. The Prestige (2006)
Tragedy turns two magicians, once friends, into bitter enemies. Things spiral out of control into a bizarre cycle of revenge and retaliation, culminating in the ultimate disappearing act.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
My Comments: To quote the popular meme, when you see it you'll shit bricks...also David Bowie plays Nikola fucking Tesla.
5. Fight Club (1999)
The story of a seemingly normal man's brutal reinvention of himself through violence and anarchy.
Director: David Fincher
Stars: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf
My Comments: Probably the film you're most likely to have seen if you've seen any of these, so you might already know the ending. Most people don't believe me when I say I figured out the twist halfway through. I don't care. *raspberries*
6. Frailty (2001)
A man recounts his family's bizarre history of religious murder to an FBI agent after the investigation of a string of slayings ends with the death of his brother.
Director: Bill Paxton
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Bill Paxton, Matt O'Leary
My Comments: Probably will appeal to fans of Supernatural, since the protagonist's childhood is almost identical...only its less optimistic.
7. The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
When a computer scientist is murdered, his colleague enters the program they created--a realistic simulation of the 1930s--searching for answers.
Director: Josef Rusnak
Stars: Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Vincent D'Onofrio
My Comments: This came out at almost exactly the same time as The Matrix. The other film's popularity all but buried it, but personally I think this is the better film. It is short on special effects by comparison, but I feel it has a deeper story, and a much stronger atmosphere by far.
8. Bruiser (2000)
A mild-mannered man, tired of being stepped on by his wife and co-workers, wakes up to find his face has been replaced by a blank mask.
Director: George A. Romero
Stars: Jason Flemyng, Peter Stormare, Leslie Hope, Nina Garbiras
My Comments: It's like Kafka, only with more murder. A departure from what people usually associate with Romero. Notably, a starring role for one of my very favorite underexposed actors, Jason Flemyng. Also, The Misfits make an appearance.
9. Subject Two (2006)
A man takes a job as a research assistent to an eccentric scientist and winds up a test subject. The experiment? A resurrection formula, which the scientist tests by killing him over and over and over again.
Director: Philip Chidel
Stars: Christian Oliver, Dean Stapleton, Courtney Mace, Jürgen Jones
My Comments: Be warned, this is something of a gruesome and tragic shaggy dog story.
10. The Invitation (2003)
A writer invites six guests to a dinner party and poisons them. He offers them the antidote, but for a price: They have one night to confront the lies their lives are built on, or die.
Director: Pat Bermel
Stars: Lance Henriksen, Christopher Shyer, Stellina Rusich, Stefanie von Pfetten
My Comments: I honestly can't bring myself to consider this a horror movie. I can't say much without giving away the ending, but the note it does end on was a refreshing surprise.
So, yeah... Readers of my fic should now have no problem understanding how something like Black Edelweiss happened.
1. Dark City (1998)
A man wakes with no memories and finds himself accused of a string of serial murders. His efforts to recover his past soon reveal his situation is nothing so simple as a frame-job.
Director: Alex Proyas
Stars: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt
My Comments: A movie I may or may not have watched way too many times to have maintained all of my sanity. If you haven't seen this film yet, I highly recommend watching it with the opening intro removed, or the dialogue muted until the scene where the protagonists awakes, since the monologue was something the writer/director was forced to add, unnecessarily, and it takes away a lot of the mystery and impact of the final reveal.
2. Angel Heart (1987)
Private Investigator Harry Angel is hired to find a man called Johnny Favourite. His search leads him on a descent into dark magic and madness.
Director: Alan Parker
Stars: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, Charlotte Rampling
My Comments: Must disclaim this because there is some very icky, possibly triggery subject matter. Unfortunately it can't be disclaimed properly without giving things away. :/
3. Memento (2000)
After his wife is killed in an attack that leaves him with short-term memory loss, a man leaves himself clues to guide him in his hunt for the man responsible.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Anne Moss, Mark Boone Junior
My Comments: If Joey Pants isn't enough reason for you to see this movie, hearken to the fact that the entire film is told in reverse.
4. The Prestige (2006)
Tragedy turns two magicians, once friends, into bitter enemies. Things spiral out of control into a bizarre cycle of revenge and retaliation, culminating in the ultimate disappearing act.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
My Comments: To quote the popular meme, when you see it you'll shit bricks...also David Bowie plays Nikola fucking Tesla.
5. Fight Club (1999)
The story of a seemingly normal man's brutal reinvention of himself through violence and anarchy.
Director: David Fincher
Stars: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf
My Comments: Probably the film you're most likely to have seen if you've seen any of these, so you might already know the ending. Most people don't believe me when I say I figured out the twist halfway through. I don't care. *raspberries*
6. Frailty (2001)
A man recounts his family's bizarre history of religious murder to an FBI agent after the investigation of a string of slayings ends with the death of his brother.
Director: Bill Paxton
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Bill Paxton, Matt O'Leary
My Comments: Probably will appeal to fans of Supernatural, since the protagonist's childhood is almost identical...only its less optimistic.
7. The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
When a computer scientist is murdered, his colleague enters the program they created--a realistic simulation of the 1930s--searching for answers.
Director: Josef Rusnak
Stars: Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Vincent D'Onofrio
My Comments: This came out at almost exactly the same time as The Matrix. The other film's popularity all but buried it, but personally I think this is the better film. It is short on special effects by comparison, but I feel it has a deeper story, and a much stronger atmosphere by far.
8. Bruiser (2000)
A mild-mannered man, tired of being stepped on by his wife and co-workers, wakes up to find his face has been replaced by a blank mask.
Director: George A. Romero
Stars: Jason Flemyng, Peter Stormare, Leslie Hope, Nina Garbiras
My Comments: It's like Kafka, only with more murder. A departure from what people usually associate with Romero. Notably, a starring role for one of my very favorite underexposed actors, Jason Flemyng. Also, The Misfits make an appearance.
9. Subject Two (2006)
A man takes a job as a research assistent to an eccentric scientist and winds up a test subject. The experiment? A resurrection formula, which the scientist tests by killing him over and over and over again.
Director: Philip Chidel
Stars: Christian Oliver, Dean Stapleton, Courtney Mace, Jürgen Jones
My Comments: Be warned, this is something of a gruesome and tragic shaggy dog story.
10. The Invitation (2003)
A writer invites six guests to a dinner party and poisons them. He offers them the antidote, but for a price: They have one night to confront the lies their lives are built on, or die.
Director: Pat Bermel
Stars: Lance Henriksen, Christopher Shyer, Stellina Rusich, Stefanie von Pfetten
My Comments: I honestly can't bring myself to consider this a horror movie. I can't say much without giving away the ending, but the note it does end on was a refreshing surprise.
So, yeah... Readers of my fic should now have no problem understanding how something like Black Edelweiss happened.
