Shubhabrata Dutta
Have you ever seen a movie that makes you go, “What on earth did just happen?” Surprise is not an easy-to-achieve effect in the human psyche, and Freud says it’s because of the Thanatos or the death drive. Since death is the final destination (and we’re keeping ‘Final Destination‘ out of the list), the surprise feels mundane in the next moment. However, some movies defy the stance and still pack enough mind-bending twists to keep you bewildered for a day or an eternity. The following films on HBO Max are some of the best movies that will leave you confounded.
9. The Skin I Live In (2011)
Directed by Pedro Almodóvar, ‘The Skin I Live In’ is a Spanish drama with a singularly intriguing plot and many twists. It centers on Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) and a young guy named Vicente (Jan Cornet), who becomes the test subject for Robert’s latest experiment. Robert lost his wife, Gal (Elena Anaya), who killed herself after being unable to cope with her burnt appearance that resulted from a tragic car accident. This tragedy led Robert to create a synthetic skin that can endure any damage, and he intends to use it on Vicente, but there’s a lot more he has in mind. There’s also his daughter Norma (Blanca Suárez) and his criminal psychotic brother Zeca (Roberto Álamo), both of whom play crucial roles in the narrative. You can watch ‘The Skin I Live In’ here.
8. Diabolique (1955)
A classic French psychological thriller, ‘Les Diaboliques,’ aka ‘Diabolique,’ is directed by Henri-Georges Clouzo, based on the 1952 novel ‘She Who Was No More’ (‘Celle qui n’était plus’) by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. In it, two ladies conspire to kill cruel boarding school headmaster Michel Delassalle (Paul Meurisse). One is Michel’s ailing wife, Christina (Véra Clouzot), and the other is his mistress, Nicole (Simone Signoret), who both teach at Michel’s school. However, things get complicated and scary when Michel’s body disappears from the swimming pool where the ladies had dumped it. Christina also starts to see her husband’s ghost wandering around the school and following her. Nicole is afraid because she doesn’t want what she did to come out in any way. Does it mean that Michel is alive? Or is Christine hallucinating? If yes, then where did Michel’s body go? A film that keeps introducing twists and offers a bonus twist at the very end, ‘Diabolique’ is the one to inspire Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho.’ You can watch it here.
7. Midsommar (2019)
Perhaps one of the best folk horror movies ever made, ‘Midsommar’ follows Christian and Dani, who are in a relationship, as they arrive at a nine-day midsummer festival organized by an ancestral commune in rural Hälsingland, Sweden. They soon find themselves subjected to bizarre rituals as the commune is revealed to be a pagan cult. Christian and Dani are affected in their own ways, and the twist at the end serves as an overwhelming expression of what the two people deserve, albeit it is the result of a conscious choice made by one person. Directed by Ari Aster, ‘Midsommar’ stars Florence Pugh as Dani and Jack Reynor as Christian. You can watch it here.
6. Under the Skin (2014)
‘Under the Skin,’ directed by Jonathan Glazer, is a masterpiece of cinematic storytelling with a remarkable plot twist. Starring Scarlett Johansson, the film initially appears seductive, enigmatic narrative about an otherworldly woman who lures unsuspecting men. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the real twist lies in her own transformation, exploring themes of identity and humanity. Johansson’s stunning performance and Glazer’s hauntingly atmospheric direction keep you captivated. When the twist unravels, it’s a profound revelation that challenges your perceptions and leaves you with an unforgettable cinematic experience. Feel free to check out the movie here.
5. A Most Violent Year (2014)
In the enthralling drama ‘A Most Violent Year,’ director J.C. Chandor crafts a tale of unexpected turns and moral ambiguity. Oscar Isaac shines as Abel Morales, an ambitious immigrant striving to expand his heating oil business in 1981 New York City. The film meticulously builds the tension, portraying Abel’s struggle against corruption and violence while maintaining his integrity. However, as the plot thickens, unexpected betrayals and shifting alliances among the characters, brilliantly portrayed by Jessica Chastain and an outstanding supporting cast, challenge the audience’s assumptions. Chandor skillfully subverts traditional narrative expectations, delivering a plot twist that redefines the characters’ motives and leaves viewers questioning the thin line between right and wrong in a world filled with moral gray areas. You may watch the film here.
4. Ex Machina (2015)
In the realm of mind-bending cinema, ‘Ex Machina,’ a creation of director Alex Garland, shines brightly due to its compelling plot twist. Domhnall Gleeson plays Caleb, a talented programmer who finds himself in the secretive world of his employer, the brilliant but eccentric Nathan (Oscar Isaac). He aims to administer a Turing test on a sophisticated AI, Ava (Alicia Vikander). At first glance, the film appears to be a conventional AI examination, but it transcends expectations. As the layers of deception and revelation unfold, the narrative is subverted, leaving viewers astounded by Ava’s true intentions, the complexities of her character, and the morally intricate maze she navigates. The impeccable cast, led by Vikander’s stunning performance, propels ‘Ex Machina‘ into a league of its own, where the gripping plot twist explores humanity, AI consciousness, and the blurred lines between them. You can watch the movie here.
3. The Witch (2015)
This Robert Eggers directorial is a horror flick starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie and Sarah Stephens. Set in New England in the first half of the 17th century, it tells the story of a Puritan family wherein the parents lose their youngest son, baby Samuel, who mysteriously disappears while his sister Thomasin was playing with him. This sets off a chain of events that leads the family members to turn against each other, and there seems to be an external force at play. To find out who or what led to the disappearance of the baby, you can check out the movie here.
2. Carnival of Souls (1962)
Directed by Herk Harvey, this psychological horror film is considered by many as a classic art film. Starring Candace Hilligoss, Herk Harvey, Frances Feist, and Sidney Berger, it follows a woman named Mary Henry (Hilligoss) who miraculously survives a car accident in Kansas, after which she moves to Utah and is hired as a church organist. However, her visions of a ghoulish pale-faced man (“The Man”; played by Harvey) and others like him keep getting more frequent. Is she having a nightmare? Or are the ghouls real? A body recovered from the car crash after the accident carries the truth. To learn more about it, you can stream the film here.
1. The Sixth Sense (1999)
This cult favorite psychological thriller has one of cinema’s most baffling twist endings. Bruce Willis’ Malcolm, a child psychologist happily married to his wife Anna (Olivia Williams), is shot by one of his patients. Later, we see him meet another patient, a young boy named Cole, who tells him he can see dead people. As Malcolm tries to get Cole to talk and make him feel more comfortable with his condition, director M. Night Shyamalan slowly prepares us for a mind-blowing twist, which is also why Anna has stopped talking to him. With three People’s Choice Awards, 6 Oscar nominations, 4 BAFTA nominations, and 2 Golden Globe nominations, among many other accolades, ‘The Sixth Sense’ is a true recipient of the top spot on our list. You can watch it here.
Read More: Best Twist Ending Movies on Netflix
