Inserting a massive twist into a narrative carries an interesting risk. If the story is building up to a whale of a final reveal, anyone who knows what’s hiding just beyond the third act might have their experience ruined. Conversely, if the twist is the big payoff, it may be all anyone talks about. Most people these days hear a reference to the big reveal near the end of Fight Club before they hear anything else about it. These science fiction films used that same device to make jaws drop and knock socks off viewers. Spoilers ahead for every film mentioned.
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Anyone who has caught more than a few minutes of the modern trilogy or theoretical upcoming sequels has had the big reveal of the 1968 original spoiled for them. When it came out, however, it was a groundbreaking final shot that completely changed the direction of the film, and completely blew audiences’ minds.
The original Planet of the Apes tells the tale of a trio of astronauts who crash-land on an unknown planet, only to find it occupied by hyper-intelligent apes. The ape society features a strict class system and an underclass of primitive human beings. The astronauts slowly learn of a once-great human civilization buried beneath the planet’s new masters. Though they are desperate to find answers, the kind and wise Dr. Zaius advises against venturing out too far. The astronauts do so anyway and discover what they had always quietly feared: the planet was Earth all along. This final shot is still chilling, and the series has never quite recaptured the impact of the first film’s conclusion.
Unlike many plot twists, the big reveal of the Wachowskis’ original sci-fi blockbuster comes fairly early in the first film. The simple, domestic early scenes give way to one of the most shocking surprises in history to that point.
Everyone knows this one, whether they’ve seen a minute of the franchise or not. Tom Anderson is approached by strange leather-clad characters and begins to notice weird happenings in his otherwise normal life. He sits down with Morpheus in one of the most ominous moments of his life and is offered a choice between two pills. He takes the red one and, surprise, his entire life to that point was a complex computer simulation. The shock of Neo awakening in the pods and experiencing reality for the first time is felt by the audience alongside the protagonist.
One of the most influential and powerful sci-fi horror films of the modern era also features a chilling final few moments. John Carpenter’s take on John W. Campbell Jr.’s iconic novella is nothing but twists and turns, contributing to its oppressive atmosphere. The tale of a group of scientists trapped in an Antarctic research facility with a shape-shifting alien creature is an unquestioned classic.
The entire film is spent wondering exactly which person is the eponymous threat in disguise, but the final moment is the most moving. After blasting the facility to ashes, Kurt Russell’s MacReady resigns himself to the slow death of hypothermia, only to be greeted by a peer. Keith David’s Childs appears as if from nowhere, having disappeared mysteriously in the chaos. The twist is that he’s back, but the film leaves his and MacReady’s fate ambiguous. The most powerful aspect of this moment is that both men swiftly determine that it doesn’t matter whether either of them is the Thing. So they wait there for a little while and see what happens.
The master of horror novels Stephen King and the master of adaptation Frank Darabont come together for one of the most underrated horror films ever made. As any fan knows, the ending of this gripping cosmic horror experience is one of the most mean-spirited twists in sci-fi history.
The film’s protagonist David fills the role of the last sane man, operating on pure logic as he does his best to keep everyone alive. In the film’s final moments, he makes one last decision. Faced with the reality of the nightmares in the mist and without any hope in sight, the main characters resign themselves to a painless death. Four bullets and five survivors remain, so David decides to set out on foot towards his demise. Tragically, rescue appears suddenly, rendering the ultimate sacrifice made by the remaining survivors and David’s young son a cruel cosmic joke before salvation appears.
Duncan Jones’ directorial debut is a quiet and powerful examination of humanity and our place in an uncaring galaxy. Sam Rockwell stars in one of the most poignant performances in modern sci-fi cinema.
Moon was a critical darling, but, despite making back its modest budget, not nearly enough people have seen this film. Suffice to say, the final moments of Moon force the audience to question every moment of the film, but also every moment of their own life as the meaning of life comes into curious focus.
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