What is the most downbeat or nihilistic ending to a film you've seen?

[Verisimilitude1984]

I'm not normally one who gravitates towards such films but it got me thinking - particularly after watching a documentary on 1970s movies, which is where many were noted for this. I've also been watching some noir and neo-noir.

I'd have to say David Mamet's 1991 film 'Homicide' as the darkest ending I can recall. The protagonist Bobby Gold by the end of the film

[Show spoiler]discovers that he has been played by those who he felt the deepest connection too in the Jewish community, spurning his desire to reconnect spiritually when he is effectively outed as a racist. By his actions, he loses his partner, very nearly his life, his faith, his job and relationships with his peers. He effectively doesn't have any hope in humanity as the film ends.

If that takes number one spot, honourable mentions are Serpico, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), The Empire Strikes Back, The French Connection, The Godfather Part III, Double Indemnity, Body Heat.

[mwynn]

Pet Sematary
Infinity War
The Thing
Alien 3

[JoeKryten]

There's The Mist...

...and then there's all the rest.

edit: Although I hear many Lars Van Trier films have nihilistic endings, but I've never seen any.

[DR Herbert West]

Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Henry
Dead Ringers
Night of the Living Dead

[mwynn]

Requiem for a Dream
Se7en

[BerC]

The Fire Within (1963)

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Ex Machina

[spider-neil]

Ex Machina.
Even now I have a hard time watching the movie to the end.

[L.J.]

8MM
Apocalypse Now
The Godfather 2
Vanishing Point

[PipesDonatello]

The ending to Brian De Palma's "Blow Out" is pretty damn grim.

[Benoit Blanc]

Easy Rider's up there.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Would you call Funny Games' ending downbeat? I think with how the film's tone begins to present itself, one could even call it upbeat. I love the ending, but I'm torn on defining it as nihilistic in any way.

And I brought it up in another thread, but Buried. Note that I'm okay with how these films ended as a whole, but that doesn't mean they aren't against the grain.

I gotta put my vote in for Ex Machina though for sure.

[Warwick]

I’ll go with Megan is Missing. That sucker was bleak and still sticks with me.

[8traxrule]

Last American Virgin

[moviebuffed]

The Road. 2009. Vitto Mortensen. I can't, I just can't.

[Benoit Blanc]

Originally Posted by moviebuffed

The Road. 2009. Vitto Mortensen. I can't, I just can't.

Viggo.

[Cardboard_killer]

Sophie's Choice

I've always thought The Verdict was pretty terrible, but probably because it just wasn't the Hollywood ending I was expecting.

McCabe and Mrs. Miller

Once Upon a Time in America

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness; chilling and unfathomable. For me, the most ominous of JC's Apocalypse Trilogy of films.


..

[RCRochester]

[TheNarnHomeworld]

Originally Posted by Benoit Blanc

Viggo.

Vikko