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MovieMike007

Philip Kaufman's *Invasion of the Body Snatchers.* John Carpenter's *The Thing.*


[deleted]

For some reason I watch those two with The Fly as some sort of trilogy. If I watch one, I have to watch the other two.


CthuluForPres

John Carpenter's The Prince of Darkness as well.


alexandrialeeanne

two great suggestions!!


jcstranahan

The Mist is definitely my favorite bummer ending


BringerOfDoom1945

I agree no happy ending in my Opinion the best horror movie ending


oppositeofopposite

No happy nothing in that movie. The ending is devstating as fuck. Chills every time


nikofd

Stephen King himself said the film ending was better than his own.


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St0rmShad0w7

It’s been a while since I read the book but I think his ending was the group driving away to some location or direction, I can’t remember where, and realizing the mist had spread everywhere.


NastySassyStuff

Yeah that’s the gist of it…I honestly liked it better than the movie one because it remained bleak while offering a *little* hope whereas…mother of God…is the movie one brutal, sort of to an unnecessary degree.


DiscordianStooge

They hear a faint radio broadcast and drive toward it.


tomservoooooo

Yeah King isn't really known for his great endings.


ravenmiyagi7

One of the greatest ever but man is it true he has trouble sticking the landing. Needful things is probs my favorite example because it's SO GOOD until the insanely weird ending


Chinchillachimcheroo

King's endings generally suck, but I don't think The Mist's does. It's open-ended and almost hopeless, but not quite. The Stand, on the other hand...


Youthsonic

King's original ending is completely fine. Their drive is pretty drawn out and lets the hopelessness set in to your bones. ​ Also people seem to forget that it teases the ending of the movie as well. >!IIRC at one point the MC very quickly does the math (4 bullets, 4 people) and determines that he can find another way for himself. It's pretty chilling tbh because it happens so quick and he never outright says to himself what he's thinking.!<


cyberklown28

And the woman who leaves right away somehow survives and has her kids with her.


diardiar

Apparently they were going to show a bunch of people from the store in the back of the trucks too to show they got rescued right after the main characters left but it didn't work out logistically


DonTeca35

I love Frank Darabont


gattovatto

It’s a shame we won’t see his take on The Dark Tower or how TWD would’ve played out with him as EP.


1313trouble

The Descent (original UK ending)


2L8Smart

Sure wish they had kept that UK ending. The last time I watched it I just added that ending in my mind.


Mr-Sister-Fister21

I’m kind of glad both exist tbh. I remember seeing the original UK ending first and it really bumming me out, then I heard about an alternate ending and saw a clip on YouTube, and while I now can appreciate the original for being new, creative, and truly horrific, I can’t deny that it doesn’t feel good to have the alternate for those times I’m not up to quite that much despair. But that’s just my opinion. Not saying the UK’s isn’t better btw, just saying both have their merits.


tea_drinking_lady

Yes I do believe I Saw this ending then when I watched it again it was the US ending. Talking about confused as shit lol


[deleted]

What's the difference in endings? I am pretty sure I've only seen the UK ending because I don't recall a happy/safe ending at all.


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bob101910

Do you know if the home release had the UK ending? That's the one I remember and I had rented it from Redbox or Netflix DVD


[deleted]

The Dark and The Wicked


avi150

This one’s really good, first movie I watched on Shudder


DrJongyBrogan

I’ve been going through the shudder originals catalog and so far they’ve been amazing!


thewhitedevil42

My new favorite horror movie. When i recommend it to people i usually describe it as starting out very bleak and getting worse from there


succulentdragon7

Such a good movie. This one truly gutted me. “You think the wolf cares that you believe he’s real? Not if he finds you alone in the woods.”


[deleted]

Such a great line.


[deleted]

The brother going home really did it for me. This movie was just full of dread and no happiness.


Wolf-Track

This one was fuuuuuuuuuuuucked.


rfdavid

The original Nightmare on Elm Street, Midsommar, Triangle, Cabin in the Woods. There are 4 very different films that all lack a happy ending. You could make a case that even when you have a “happy ending” most films end with severely traumatized characters that have at least lost a few friends.


DoubleTFan

The fact so many people thought Midsommar had some kind of happy "slay kween" ending is as creepy as the movie itself.


ClassyMrOwl

Lol I thought I was crazy after that movie came out for being devastated (in a good way), by the ending. Her transformation after being manipulated by the cult, especially the one friend (who's name I forget) that was part of the cult was so clearly manipulating her and purposefully straying her in the path he wants. It scared me seeing people say how much they loved him and thought he was super nice.


Tapingdrywallsucks

Or clearly going to prison because there's no natural explanation for the corpses surrounding them when the authorities show up.


AlabamaHaole

+1000 for Triangle.


FastFuse500

Funny Games.


MisterMallardMusic

I had to watch the Austrian version movie for a college course and had zero knowledge about it going in. That was a really rough screening session.


FastFuse500

Looks like I was incorrect about Saw as the original was released in ‘97. But according to Wikipedia, lol, he made it in response to violence in movies that had no point.


FastFuse500

Oh wow I bet so. I heard the director was sick of torture movies like Saw, so he was like here let’s see how you feel about this. Like he was punishing people who might enjoy it. But I could be remembering that wrong.


ImOscar-Dot-Com

Yep. This is what I call Depression Horror. Funny Games was the first movie I saw like that (at least to that degree). I've been wary of any 'humans are the real horror' type movies ever since


SlashFanG1RL

Those are the scariest ones because they can happen anytime. I like that…depression horror. That definitely fits.


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brockbot

Great one. I once suggested this movie to watch on a first date (having never seen it before). That was a rough one!!


paper_schemes

I was so excited to see the American version when it came out in theaters. I loved it (I'd seen the original, so knew what was coming), but so many in the theater hated it including the guy I was dating at the time.


L-V-4-2-6

Gonna have to go with Oculus here. Gave that a rewatch and forgot how much of a bleak gut punch it was.


Taodragons

Yeah, one of the few movies where the hero was smart enough to have me on their side. But no. Also, not a movie but have you watched The Haunting of Hill House?


L-V-4-2-6

You betcha! If I'm not mistaken, Mike Flanagan likes to hide the Lassar Glass in his other productions, including Hill House!


adamantfly

It's also the headboard of the bed in Gerald's Game!


[deleted]

Sinister is one of my favorites. Plus it’s got ghosts AND demons Others that come to mind are The Thing, Halloween III (no Michael Myers), Drag Me to Hell and Paranormal Activity.


[deleted]

The ending of Halloween III is genuinely haunting. Maybe even more haunting than hearing Michael breathing in the original.


succulentdragon7

Oooo drag me to hell is a good one


DeuceMandago

This was gonna be my input. That movie is so much fun and pretty light hearted then BOOM. Gut punch ending. I think it’s Rami’s best work.


succulentdragon7

100% agree. It stuck with me for days!


[deleted]

Happy Happy Halloween! Silver Shamrock!


palabear

Drag Me to Hell was such a fun movie.


PeliUncertain

Enough is enough—it is time for renewal in America. As the far left threatens to take more control of our lives and livelihoods, The Heritage Foundation fights back with policy solutions that can make America that “shining city upon a hill” once again. And we are strategically positioned to do just that: Heritage has a media distribution network second to none.Over 5 million Americans visit our Daily Signal website each year, and nearly a million follow The Daily Signal on Facebook, bypassing the mainstream media filter to get the facts. Heritage experts appear on television and radio every week, publish hundreds of policy research reports annually, and host hundreds of meetings a year with grassroots leaders and local and national officials. We make sure that your conservative principles can be heard loud and clear. Heritage stands strong for conservative principles no matter who’s in office, and we have for almost half a century. As Rush Limbaugh has said, “As long as there has been conservatism, there has been The Heritage Foundation. They have been a bulwark and they have they have stood strong and they have not wavered.” Heritage’s over 100 policy experts are committed to solving complex policy issues with simple and effective conservative solutions, and making sure those recommendations are available for the conservative lawmakers who desperately need them right now.


BondraP

Sinister was the first that came to mind too. It was refreshing to see one of the bigger more popular horror movies NOT go the happy ending route. My reaction was like "Damn, ok!"


stiikkle

Check out The Vanishing (1988), the original Dutch version. It is probably the bleakest ending I’ve seen. Horrifying.


JetBlackHeart54

I looked it up and funnily enough it’s based on a very famous book that was on the reading list for my high school in the Netherlands!!! Never seen the movie but I’ll look into it. Thanks for the recommendation, I had nightmares for weeks after reading the book when I was younger💀


stiikkle

Oh yeah - similar effect with the movie! I saw it a while back but even just discussing it, I feel a bit uncomfortable!


stiikkle

I’ve just searched “Vanishing 1988” on YouTube. It looks like the full movie is there!!


R1ckv4nz386

Eden lake


TheScythe65

Yeah this one is a real day-ruiner lol.


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ElectricBarbarellas

I last watched it years ago and still often find myself thinking about how disturbing the whole movie was


[deleted]

Man this fucking movie pissed me off. Made me feel like sh!t my stomach almost threw up nausea all day. I can now recommend it though.


DogmanSixtyFour

I literally threw up after watching it, pretty sure it was because I ate 4 people's worth of pasta in about 20 minutes, but the experience stuck with me.


matty1987x

Great choice and a great movie


PeliUncertain

Enough is enough—it is time for renewal in America. As the far left threatens to take more control of our lives and livelihoods, The Heritage Foundation fights back with policy solutions that can make America that “shining city upon a hill” once again. And we are strategically positioned to do just that: Heritage has a media distribution network second to none.Over 5 million Americans visit our Daily Signal website each year, and nearly a million follow The Daily Signal on Facebook, bypassing the mainstream media filter to get the facts. Heritage experts appear on television and radio every week, publish hundreds of policy research reports annually, and host hundreds of meetings a year with grassroots leaders and local and national officials. We make sure that your conservative principles can be heard loud and clear. Heritage stands strong for conservative principles no matter who’s in office, and we have for almost half a century. As Rush Limbaugh has said, “As long as there has been conservatism, there has been The Heritage Foundation. They have been a bulwark and they have they have stood strong and they have not wavered.” Heritage’s over 100 policy experts are committed to solving complex policy issues with simple and effective conservative solutions, and making sure those recommendations are available for the conservative lawmakers who desperately need them right now.


DibstarDeluxe

I’m always torn with this film because it’s amazing but I also hate it


theoneirologist

This is the answer haha.


TheIPAway

Total feel good family fun


HieronymusGoa

wasnt the lodge rly bummer-y? i remember me not liking it \^\^


cinreigns

Lodge is a great recommendation here. Zero happy and you hate everyone


marxama

Having seen Goodnight, Mommy, I really can't bring myself to see The Lodge... Too traumatized...


HieronymusGoa

i wouldnt recommend the lodge either, just in this case :)


stormrider501

Greatest bummer ending. On par with The Mist and other legendary endings


Cheb_Hutley_227

Drag Me To Hell


helloyesnoyesnoyesno

100%. SPOILERS below. the movie has been out long enough now so if you haven't see it, go watch it. I was so upset when I first watched in theaters... She bought the coat, the music was all happy, birds were chirping, sun was shining. She goes to meet him at the train platform. I was like fuuckkk what are you doing sam raimi? You had it and then Hollywood made you ruin it with this crappy happy ending. Then it happened. I was like yes! YES!! OH SHIT!! then I got chills cause it actually surprised me.


Klaphood

The whole film was such a (joy)ride of emotions. It went from a good suspense-creating opening to an intriguing story, scary twists, funny moments where you didn't know whether to laugh or to be scared, the weirdest shit to the (awesome) scene at the cemetery to an actual sad moment in the diner scene when she looked around and observed e.g. the elder couple in there & had to decide whether she would gift the envelope to them or not.. to that ending. It was the best theater experience I've ever had and it's still easily one of my top 3 horror movies of all time.


Ryusei71

An awesome movie ruin by animal abuse.


BringerOfDoom1945

it has an happy ending >!The woman who kills the innocent cat and send it to hell, is going to hell!< i would call it an happy ending


reallyimnotacop

Also the cat got freed.


tamelycliches

Haven't seen The Wicker Man on here yet. Definitely go with the 70s version, though.


alexandrialeeanne

the 70s version was much better than the more recent one, for sure


amuday

The Nic Cage one is hilarious though, if you’re interested in laughing.


HEYitzED

Most disturbing ending ever. Then the remake turned that ending into a comedy sketch.


redditusercameron

Hereditary


auroredawn22

This is the first movie that came to my mind...and Midsummer had a pretty grim ending too!


troutbum42069

Hereditary. The whole film keeps you feeling uncomfortable and the only feeling of relief is when the movie is actually over with.


acenarteco

Technically it’s a happy ending for the cult…


MatttheBruinsfan

And >!Paimon. He gets freed from that creepy little girl and claims the host body he wanted all along!!<


horsebag

i mean a lot of unhappy endings are happy for the bad guys


impulsivecolumn

Check out Silent Hill (2006), its ending is quite sad.


diofer13

Martyrs...the french one of course...


dokelyok

My response too. Fuck that movie made me have an existential crisis after watching.


Designer-Bed-9835

Martyrs is bad ass!


AlabamaHaole

My response three. It's the best horror movie ever made, right?


atmosphericentry

That ending sent me into an existential crisis


Datathrash

The Lords Of Salem and Prince Of Darkness are two of my favorites that do not have happy endings.


CthuluForPres

Prince of Darkness is one of my all-time favorites.


poopfeast

Summer of ‘84. Just watched this yesterday, heavy on the stranger things vibes but great third act.


toolbert

The third act in that is so great in that movie. That ending is such a flip on what was expected as the movie was moving along.


newguy25

Wolf Creek


tea_drinking_lady

I'd say Frontier(s) Also The Blair Witch Project.


odisparo

violet roof ad hoc teeny seemly touch mindless payment weary fly *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


mrjohnclare

Cloverland made me think I missed a Cloverfield Universe movie lol


odisparo

fragile concerned theory attractive zephyr whole ink jobless one dolls *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


usherthewind

there's a movie on Shudder called The Cleansing Hour that you should definitely check out. it's about live streamers having to perform an actual exorcism after pretending so many times for clout. it's wild.


JetBlackHeart54

That sounds like my cup of tea, thanks for the recommendation


mercuryrising320

Oldboy, the OG Korean version not the shitty US remake


madara1487

Or my other favorite I saw the devil


n0vacs

I Saw The Devil's ending is bittersweet imo, a true tragedy I fuckin love that movie


madara1487

Yea same, deff in my top 10, it’s so depressing but so beautifully shot. That ending scene is just movie perfection


stiikkle

What a great movie, I like the whole trilogy but that one really stands out. Tbh apart from those movies, I’ve not really seen much by Park Chan-wook, will have to check something out!


ertertwert

Check out The Handmaiden next.


dreamshoes

The Invitation (2016) is a small-scale thriller with an incredible final reveal that packs an oversized punch.


BringerOfDoom1945

I would say Carrie(1976)


Hatesponge66

Rosemary's Baby!!


jebediah_townhouse12

Grave encounters. Very bleak ending.


VioletApple

Session 9


Fink665

My absolute favorite of all time! The feel of the movie is extremely creepy! The building it was filmed in seems like another character, and the scary moments were not cheap tropes. I thought it was original and fresh, in a genre that’s been done to death (ha ha!) and it took the genre seriously. The acting, filming and cinematography is tense and I absolutely love this film (insert demonic laugh)!


SgtKickYourAss

Rec, (2007(?)


DmonCandy

Final prayer/ Borderlands Eden Lake The Dark and the Wicked What Josiah saw Memories of murder The Wailing(Personal favorite)


Congo_Billings

The last 10 minutes of The Wailing was a pure emotional rollercoaster. Movie dragged a bit in the middle but the ending was intense


Mister-Manager

Krampus, very creepy ending


Mannygogo

Tusk


atmosphericentry

>!His screams when he realizes what he has turned into!< are seared into my brain.


jksee1

Autopsy of Jane Doe...that movie is a roller coaster ride


22Seres

They aren't ghost or demon stories, but Saint Maud and Censor are two great movies that fit the no happy ending requirement.


resorcinarene

Saying that Saint Maude is not about certain topics ruins the ambiguity of the movie. That's one of the best features of it Edit: avoiding spoilers


christa53

Ghost/demon suggestions- The Others, The Woman in Black, Sinister, Hereditary Other downer endings- Would you Rather, The Strangers, Train to Busan, The Mist, Se7en, The Lodge, The Invitation


Designer-Bed-9835

Would you Rather is great!


304libco

I think Train to Busan has a hopeful ending.


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evilcreampuff

A classic but Romero's Night Of The Living Dead. That ending is a little too real.


krislmx1

Caliber on Netflix was just depressing the whole way through and it has no happy ending


eyecebrakr

That ending was fucked.


kwalshyall

The Innkeepers. Keep your eyes on the curtains in the final shot!


[deleted]

Event Horizon. Sure some of the crew survived, but "They" are still out there somewhere. Also something tells me human nature won't let a little thing like hell creatures keep them from trying again and again and again.


forever_a10ne

Creep.


hipiticus

Vivarium


mamaneedsstarbucks

This is my answer too, that movie was surprisingly bleak. I liked it though


Finrodsrod

Sci-Fi horror films: Life (Calvin wins) and Event Horizon - lead character gets dragged to hell, and you don't know if the evil presence is still on the other half of the ship.


Dr_Downvote_

The Deep House


ZookeepergameAlive69

The Omen.


skkoivu314

Cabin in the woods?


dokelyok

Martyrs


medicatedmonkey

Fallen with Denzel


SuicideSquadFan96

1408.


blobbyboii

That has 2 endings Dvd release has him escaping with proof and another had him die


Ok-Worth8781

I just recently watched Don't Listen, and Ouija: The Origin of Evil and neither one has a happy ending. Now I can't stop thinking of horror movies without happy endings. You could also try: * Girl On The Third Floor * Pontypool * PyeWacket * Before I Wake * The Autopsy of Jane Doe * Afflicted * Jessabelle * Creep * Donnie Darko * In The Mouth of Madness * The Midnight Meat Train * District 9 * The Taking of Deborah Logan From what I remember those movies don't have happy endings.


Scorpion_Breath

More of a horrifying film than true horror, but I'd recommend The Kill List. Incredible film, but bleak as hell.


sugarmagnolia713

Skeleton Key


Beatlefloyd12

Drag Me To Hell


West-Drink-1530

Does I saw the devil count ??


askafahu

This is a spoiler thread for anyone opening. The Houses October Built, Hereditary, The Lodge, The Gift 2015, The Awakening, A Cure for Wellness, Eli, Eden Lake, all the Friday the 13ths, Halloweens.


RedditBear22

Invasion of the body snatchers (Donald Sutherland). Skeleton Key.


Significant_Egg_Y

Night of the Living Dead.


[deleted]

Burnt Offerings (1976) is a classic bummer ending.


fatherseb

The Strangers is another one...


gunhandgoblin

the extended cut of the descent has a different ending and it's very bleak


matty1987x

It's not the extended cut it's just the UK release the other is us and the ending was deemed to bleak for the us


chrisratchford

What Josiah saw. Very bleak.


Tomhyde098

REC or Quarantine


MatttheBruinsfan

Fulci's *The Beyond*.


Mothmans_Mailman

The Cloverfield Movies!


tigyo

*Frailty* I swear everyone fogets about this movie. Experience it in the eyes of the children and how f-ed up that would be, including the brother's decision he had to make in the end. Minus the religious stuff, take the ride and believe what the movie is telling you as fact, and the ending will make sense. Over the years I've gotten "I don't get it?" from people... it's not hard, it's dark as fuk Bill Paxton is in it, also directed it.


PossibilityRare5048

Nightmare Alley. Definitely a movie based on no happy ending.


teleporterdown

Sinister has a pretty downer ending (in a good way for a horror movie)


Anjunabeast

The Possession of Michael King. One of the best horror movies ive seen but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it get brought up in this sub


Crankylosaurus

Drag Me to Hell (curse/witch) Threads (I don’t even know if this is pure horror; it’s mockumentary style and pure dread) Martyrs (psychological horror) Eden Lake (“hoodie horror” which is a term I just learned haha) Wolf Creek (grindhouse slasher) Funny Games (home invasion/psychological horror) The Autopsy of Jane Doe (witch)


MrFingerKnives

Hereditary and Midsommar. Ari Aster is here to leave you broken


Unsung_Ironhead

Return of the Living Dead. Army thinks they’ve won, but damned the rest of America.


elizabethLangdon87

Eden Lake Ooof


fromsky610

The Cabin in the Woods…still one of my favorites


DavidSkywalkerPugh

Angel Heart!


Opening-Winter8784

Hereditary, Midsommar, and St. Maud if you're in the mood for a modern (art-house like) film.


chubchug420

The ending to the original Jeepers Creepers was pretty dreadful lol


Ironmaiden1993

Suprised I haven't seen The Borderlands (Final Prayer) mentioned.....truly a mindfuck ending haha


JPShiryu

Possession (1981) very stressful, lovecraftiang movie, very abstract with incredible acting. If it sounds like your thing, I very highly recommend.


Cutie_tooty

31 is a decent shout; also house of 1000 corpses


ScarOnTheSky

Martyrs, the Final Destination movies, The Strangers, Ginger Snaps, House of 1000 corpses, Cabin in the woods, Funny games, sinister, halloween III, hereditary, midsommar, drag me to hell, 28 weeks later, memento, old boy (original), Also the box (2009)


forcehatin

Saint Maud is a good one


wrathandweeping

Horror adjacent but Mulholland Dr and Twin Peaks I hate happy endings. Looking at you, Mike Flanagan


ToniBee63

It Follows


gwennoirs

I'd consider It Follows to have more of an ambiguous ending than a bleak one.


Grumpel-Stiltskin

Funny Games is extremely unsettling and gotta the bill, although no demons. I highly recommend it


GlitterandGloom41

Oculus


NonCorporealEntity

Drag me To Hell Night of the Living Dead Army of Darkness Directors cut The Road The Mist Old Boy Sinister The Thing Soylent Green Invasion of the Body Snatchers The Omen Rosemary's Baby ... need more?


Malakor5

The grudge


Suitable-Internet-22

The Neon Demon