1. The Mist (2007)
For what may well be the greatest horror plot twist of all time, it’s probably no surprise that this is a Stephen King entry. Based on the novella of the same name by the master of horror himself, The Mist stars Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, Marcia Gray Harden, and Andre Braugher at the head of a large ensemble cast of characters trapped inside a supermarket when a strange mist envelops their town. Just to heighten the stakes, the mist just happens to contain huge Lovecraftian monsters, and the survivors begin fighting amongst themselves for the best course of action.
After facing the monsters in the mist and losing many of their fellow survivors, David (Jane), his son Billy (Nathan Gamble), and a handful of others find themselves in the relative safety of a vehicle. After running out of fuel and low on bullets, the survivors opt to end their lives rather than meet a grisly end at the hands of the monsters. After killing the others (including his son) with his final bullets, David steps out into the mist to allow the monsters to take him. However, his doom never comes, and he instead is met by soldiers in the process of securing the area, driving back the monsters and rescuing survivors. Realizing he has killed his son and friends for nothing, David screams with despair as the credits roll.
Not only is it an exceptionally executed plot twist, but it was entirely unexpected. Director Frank Darabont opted to change the ending of King’s original story in order to maximize the film’s impact, and it worked remarkably well. Though it may not be the smartest or best-conceived horror movie plot twist, it’s so deliciously devastating that it’s impossible to ever forget, and that’s what makes The Mist‘s final revelation the genre’s best.
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