Unhappy Endings

[AndyC]

The discussion of alternate endings for Army of Darkness made me think of this topic. Relatively few movies stray from the norm of having the good guys come out on top in the end, or at least ending on a hopeful note. I wouldn't want too many movies to have unhappy endings, but they can make messages stronger and plots less predictable.

The question is, when did you first realize that the good guys don't always win?

In my case, it was many years ago, watching Colossus: The Forbin Project with my family. I don't remember exactly how old I was. Anyway, after all the efforts to deactivate Colossus failed, the big computer told humanity that it was in charge, and they would do what it told them or else. Roll credits.

How about you guys?

[Heather]

I can't remember the very first one but Lars Von Trier's "Breaking the Waves" and  the second Planet of the Apes movie comes immediately to mind.

-Heather

[Chadzilla]

It was either after seeing John Carpenter's Halloween or Kaufman's remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (which completely creeped me out as an 11 or 12 year old)

[Gerry]

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

[Drezzy]

Creepshow 2 immediately comes to mind, because I was only 9 or so when I saw it for the first time. Each story had the "hero" failing and dying.

[J.R.]

In all seriousness,  Mrs. Doubtfire. I'd seen lots of films with unhappy or ambiguous endings but when Robin Williams and Sally Field didn't get back together I was really confused. I was 13. Kind of pathetic.

[chris]

Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers at the Drive-In.  Still one of the scariest endings of all time.  I wouldn't sleep voluntarily for weeks.

[Vermin Boy]

It was either Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the original for me) or the Simpsons in general ("Marge, I'm confused-- Is this a happy ending or a sad ending?")

[Lee]

The Black Hole.  That movie still freaks me out!

[Offthewall]

I can't believe no one said "Planet of the Apes" or "Beneth the Planet Apes" both with a negitive ending, kinda like Sci-fi.

Also on their the movie Campfire tales and to a certain extent Alien 3 I guess because Riply "died". Forrest Gump had a pretty unhappy ending everyone he loved and or loved him died in the end and the whole movie people make fun of him and he doesn't even realize it (I personally know what that's like)

I'll think of more

[Heather]

Uhm, I mentioned the second Planet of the Apes (the titles get a little fuzzy after the first one ;)

[Flangepart]

Forbin project, for sure, and the end of...ah...the Peter Cushing one with the bone sucking mutant turtle thingys on the island. The stinger at the end made me ask mom for a nightlite!

[raj]

Forbin is right up there, but I remember seeing Willard along with Krakatoa, East of Java-- as a drive-in double feature when they came out.  Not really a happy ending to either of those movies.

[Vincent Price]

John Carpenter's The Thing

and maybe even this show called Are You Afraid of the Dark. It's kinda like a creepy version of Goosebumps. Some of those episodes scared the crap out of me.

[Akira Tubo]

Darn, Vincent Price beat me to it -- from beyond the grave!

John Carpenter's The Thing.