April Fools Day (1986)
The Ending: All the murders were actually part of an elaborately-staged prank at the expense of the main character.
And the audience.
Why It’s So Bad: The horror movie equivalent of, “and then I woke up”.
Must try harder.
Boxing Helena (1993)
The Ending: Speaking of dreams… that turns out to be what we’re watching here, as a lunatic appears to have cut off his girlfriend’s limbs to stop her from leaving him, only to realise he’s dreamed the whole thing.
Why It’s So Bad: Seriously, why even bother if you’re just going to go down the whole Dallas route?
Return Of The Jedi (1983)
The Ending: The epic saga is brought to a fitting finale with some dancing Ewoks.
Oh George…
Why It’s So Bad: Dancing Ewoks.
Only a dancing Jar-Jar could be worse.
War Of The Worlds (2005)
The Ending: Despite the utter devastation wreaked by the aliens on planet Earth, hapless teenager Robbie still manages to emerge unscathed in time for a sickly dose of happy families at the film’s conclusion.
Why It’s So Bad: A happy ending at the expense of any semblance of plausibility.
No thanks.
The Number 23 (2007)
The Ending: How does that mysterious book manage to parallel Jim Carrey’s life so perfectly?
Turn out he wrote it himself then forgot about it.
Simple.
Why It’s So Bad: The kind of half-arsed twist designed to wrap things up quickly rather than provide the audience with any real satisfaction.
The Forgotten (2004)
The Ending: Julianne Moore’s missing kid?
He was snatched by aliens.
Yes, aliens.
Why It’s So Bad: It’s the kind of ending you might write during a creative writing exam upon being informed that there were only five minutes left.
Insultingly stupid.
Signs (2002)
The Ending: Those nasty aliens stalking Mel Gibson and his family?
Just chuck a glass of water over them and they’re done for.
Sorted!
Why It’s So Bad: The idea that the film’s primary extra-terrestrial antagonists would invade a planet primarily comprised of the one weapon capable of defeating them… well it’s a bit rubbish isn’t it?
Basic (2003)
The Ending: Everyone you thought had previously been killed is revealed to be alive and well, as part of an elaborately twisty-turny cover-up.
Why It’s So Bad: Instead of coming off as a clever dénouement, this ending invalidates most of what you’ve just been watching, making you feel a bit of a tit for investing in the thing in the first place.
Haute Tension (2003)
The Ending: This effective little horror film loses its way at the last, as the girl who has been stalked by the killer throughout the story is revealed to be the killer herself.
Why It’s So Bad: It doesn’t really hold together at all, leaving gaping narrative holes for the sake of a shocking “twist”.
A shame, since the rest of the film is great!
The Life Of David Gale (2003)
The Ending: David Gale is revealed to have faked a murder in order to get himself executed, as part of a campaign against the death penalty. As you do.
Why It’s So Bad: It paints anti death penalty campaigners as full-on wack-jobs, ready to die for the cause. It’s mental.
