MovieChat Forums > Primal Fear (1996) Discussion > I figured out the ending almost instantl...

I figured out the ending almost instantly

posted 12 years ago by NotAnUndercoverCop
44 replies | jump to latest

Was I alone on this? The whole point of this movie was supposed to be the shocking twist ending. But, I knew what was going to happen the entire time. No, I didn't have the ending spoiled. No, I didn't google it before watching. I knew absolutely nothing about this movie what so ever. I watched it because it was suggested as good Edward Norton film. I had other people say they were so shocked and dismayed by the ending. How is this possible? It was so obvious. I knew he was faking it 5 minutes into the first scene. Was it this extremely obvious to everyone else?

[–] ElMaruecan82 11 years ago

It's a reverse kind of twist ending, the guy everything indicates that he's guilty is in fact guilty. If you didn't know the movie had a surprising ending (which is already a spoiler by itself), then I salute you.

Not that I didn't see it coming, I knew when the lawyer played by Gere got exactly what he wanted in the trial, that he got too easy, there had to be something, even his character's arc had to close in an emotionally satisfying way, he used his ex-girlfriend to win, he had to be used.

But sincerely, it's only when 'Aaron' asked about her neck that I slapped my forehand. Too late, I guess. I didn't think the film would end in such a cynical move, the bad guy gets aways and reveals to be a very, very bad guy.

In retrospect, it was the perfect conclusion, the film started with a cocky lawyer bragging about the uselessness of high concepts such as 'justice', when it's all about winning. At the end, he sees the devastating extents of his cynical theories.

PS: Norton should have won the Oscar.

"Darth Vader is scary and I The Godfather"

[–] mikekaraoke23 11 years ago

ElMaruecan82 thanks for understanding me than that other person,+ yea exactly I agree with your points what other films with twist/surprised ending do you like?

[–] ElMaruecan82 11 years ago

Well, apart from the 'classic' identity-revealed ones ("Sixth Sense", "Usual Suspects", "Psycho", "Fight Club"...) I love the shocking unexpected endings, with a last-minute jaw-dropping effect : "Vertigo", "Night of the Living Dead" and "Chinatown" immediately comes to mind

"Darth Vader is scary and I The Godfather"

[–] Lester_Burnham_Risen 11 years ago

At the end, he sees the devastating extents of his cynical theories.

---

but that is not why he left by the back door

that was because he realised just how dumb he had been from the very start and that it was Roy himself who won the case.

he was SO dumb even when Roy explained it to him he still said "so there was no Roy" and Roy had to explain like to a 2 year old no there was no Aaron.

lawyer is devastated at own stupidity

http://www.kindleflippages.com/ablog/

[–] mikekaraoke23 11 years ago

ElMaruecan82 some other films with twists would be the 80's films
Angel Heart, ‘No Way Out’,‘The Empire Strikes Back’,Cutter's Way Return of the Jedi Friday the 13th,,The Telephone,Sleep away Camp,Video drome, The Quiet Earth,to 90's ‘Se7en’,‘Open Your Eyes’,‘Twelve Monkeys’,Shattered, ‘Fallen’,‘The Crying Game’,‘The Usual Suspects’ to 2000's- ‘Memento’ ‘The Others’,
‘Lucky Number Slevin’,‘The Machinist’,The Prestige, ‘Orphan’,‘Saw’+some of sequels,‘The Village’
some good 60's+70's ones ‘Rosemary’s Baby’,Psycho,‘The Wicker Man,‘Planet of the Apes’ , ‘Chinatown’,
Stalker ,
2001: A Space Odyssey ETC :]

[–] Moderatism 11 years ago

You figure out the end instantly because of have one advantage, the timeliness of your viewing. We all know you watched this movie after knowing who Edward Norton was, because this movie was made before Google, so you already knew of his character. If you would have watched it at the time it entered the Theatres you would not know Edward Norton, and could have not guessed it, because there was no scene that gave any kind of suggestion that he had multiple personalities until the middle of the movie.

If you was sitting in the theatre in 1996, you would not have said OOOOOHHHHH He is faking it, simply because it was Ed's first role ever...

[–] mikekaraoke23 11 years ago

Moderatism Exactly,Not all twists/surprise endings are obvious or people get-some times I get them-sometimes I don't, but this one I didn't see it coming

[–] scotty999 11 years ago

If I watched it a week ago as well then yeah..maybe, as others have said. However I watched it not long after it was released and I didn't see it coming at all. Fantastic twist to a fantastic film.

[–] mjd_subs2 11 years ago

I was not terribly shocked by the ending, but I'm usually not. The same thing happened in The Sixth Sense, Signs and other movies that are supposed to leave the audience in complete shock. I have absolutely no explanation for how/why it happens, but it almost always does. I've just learned to enjoy the moment, company and laughs (if any).

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 11 years ago

So you clearly knew there was a shocking twist at the end and now you're proud that you figured out the twist?

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Osova 10 years ago

I did too. After I was sure, the film just became tedious... but I still enjoyed it.

[–] baran_erik 9 years ago

Well aren't you special. Did you hurt your arm patting yourself on the back?