Ending?? *Spoilers*...I guess.

there used to be a thread on here, but I'll be damned if i can find it now. it was basically saying that the bay itself was the real killer, using the different people as it's means to destroy the people who want to harm/change the bay. basically, the murder of the countess was the only murder not committed by the bay. the rest was the bay defending itself from the business world. like, the teens arrive at the bay with their drugs, their sex, littering, poluting and vandalizing, so the bay (using simon) killed them. Ventura saw the whole place as a business opportunity, so the bay killed him too. his girlfriend helped get the countess murdered, and, since the countess was the only one protecting the bay, the bay killed here too. this is also suggested by some of the titles. Bay of Blood? Chain Reaction?

so, using this logic, the bay used the kids to murder the only two left. the parents were left the bay as inheritance and, seeing how greedy they were, would most likely use it as a business opportunity. The kids, a reflection of innocence, killed the parents and saved the bay. you notice how they go off to frolic in the bay afterwards? also, you'll notice that after this, for the first time in the movie, we hear happy music.

like i said, these aren't my ideas, but i can't find the original post.

"Bad luck isn't brought by broken mirrors, but by broken minds"- Suspiria

I always thought it was because the kids had seen their parents killing one or all of their victims (I seem to remember them watching out of a window as their parents go out one night), thought they were playing a game and decided to join in.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it?? Either way it was an amusing ending and totally unexpected!!

We watched this film recently in a film class at college and the general consensus was that it was a sociological dimension.

To briefly summarize, the movie's characters represent various social classes/genders/age groups, and it shows that NO ONE is innocent of violence and that everyone is effected by it.

The children were left alone in the trailer, saw their parents committing violence and decided to follow their lead. They unthinkingly "played" violent games not knowing that there's consequences. This shows that even children are affected by violence and that they too will become violent if their environment enables them to do so.

If I were more focused I could write a longer essay but it was an interesting interpretation/discussion. Too bad I thought the movie was a load of crap.

"The best of them won't come for money - they'll come for ME!" - Lawrence of Arabia

Great film! A little slow in the beginning but once the plot starts to unfold, it definitely keeps you interested. It is quite easy to see the influence it had on the slasher genre and more present day film directors like Tarantino (such as the coercing, two-faced characters all against each other for their own gain and the unpredictability of the plot).

As for the ending, I agree that the children thought they were playing a game. The "vengeful bay" theory exceeds Bava's original intent. Simply put, "Twitch..." is a practice of senseless death, more so a director on the quest to completely shock his audience employing the most ridiculous techniques possible. "Twitch.." was Bava's most controversial film - being the first to truly stray from his original gothic and suspenseful style. I think the film concludes with the children murdering the parents simply because Bava was putting some social commentary on there. The film unfolds as a sadistic look into the power and helplessness of greed. I think his purpose with the bodycount was to desensitize the audience with such shocking violence that their criminality and life would be deemed pointless. The grandiose ending solidifies this theory of Bava trying to simply shock and disgust by showing the senselessness of such over the top, unwarranted violence. In a way, it seems Bava was having a hearty laugh at the ridiculousness of his own bloody plot. Looking too much into the plot is probably what Bava hoped to achieve - simply, the audience trying to find a justifiable and validated reason why society is so fascinated and enamored by gruesome killings.

I wondered what is going to happen to the two children? Are they just going to play at the bay and never wonder why their parents are not getting up? What about the authorities? When will they figure out people are missing and go investigate? What will happen? Who will own the bay property, the kids?

I love the ending!! As Marginal says, every bad person gets exactly what they deserve!! Love the idea of the bay being the silent killer as well - very surreal and metaphorical. Not a bad film.

"Hey! Ladies! That was fun!"

"Gee they're good at playing dead aren't they"?
I just watched it, I feel the kids thought all the killings were a game.

Obviously, murder runs in the family. -_^