Mysterieshave always stupefied viewers and readers, whether they’re told on screen or just through the written word. In film, though, these stories become more realistic through adding visual and auditory components into the script of a story. The ’90s offered its own impression onto the mystery genre, which created a collection of unbelievable films that are still remembered to this day. The best part of a mystery movie is often trying to figure out the twist ahead of time, or at least trying to collect clues as things become more confusing. You probably never saw these 1990s mystery movie endings coming:
10The Good Son (1993)
The Good Sonstars Macauley Culkin andElijah Woodin two of their youngest and most overlooked roles, pitting them against each other. Mark, Elijah Wood’s character, meets Henry, his estranged cousin who has a knack for creating horrific instances among everyday people. Henry’s slick nature of hiding what he’s responsible for invoking leads Mark to desperately try to shed light on what’s happening. The ending of this film is surprising, for sure, emphasizing the impact that onetroubled young personcan have on multiple others.
9Popcorn (1991)
Popcornis full of flavor. The premise follows the planning of an extended film screening at a movie theater, which soon becomes more realistic than intended. A murderer begins to descend upon the showing and the students in charge, and a mysterious additional movie from main character Maggie’s subconscious shows up in real life, which winds up determining the story’s startling conclusion.Bloody Disgustingnoted its obvious connections to the Scream series and the ’80s vibe it created, despite its release at the beginning of the ’90s.
8White Sands (1992)
Despite its breezy name,White Sandsis an unexpectedly hopeless thriller. Sheriff Ray Dolezal (Willem Defoe) sees a skeleton in the New Mexico desert. He decides to pretend to be Bob Spencer, the deceased, also taking the suitcase next to his body that allegedly holds $500,000.This progression lands Dolezal in a complex journey with the FBI. When the suitcase is finally cracked open, the truth of the matter is either really shocking or an ultimately anticipated ending.
7Courage Under Fire (1996)
Courage Under Fireis a Gulf War-era story about military secrets that blend together to create a complex mystery. Army Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling is overshadowed by a deadly happening from his combat experience, but he’s given the chance to look into the eligibility of a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient. When he delves in to Captain Karen Walden’s (Meg Ryan) fate, he is led to make an impactful decision, which ultimately connects the two of them in a jaw-dropping finish to the film.
6The Crying Game (1992)
Firstcentering around the connection between Fergus, an Irish Republican Army soldier, and his prisoner, the British Jody,The Crying Gameaddressed a topic that appeared taboo during its release decade. Fergus eventually meets Jody’s girlfriend, Dil, who invites him into the reality she experiences and shares her true self with him. Their story continues through violent circumstances in a painful yet important ending. An article fromThe Sundaeargues that “at its centre is a character whose identity is shifting: not Dil, but Fergus.”
5Primal Fear (1996)
The thrillerPrimal Fearfollows a tumultuous case taken by haughty attorney Martin Vail. Aaron (Edward Norton), a 19-year-old, is suspected of murder after the Archbishop of Chicago is killed. Aaron’s roots as an altar boy and his history with the Archbishop both become more convoluted as Vail throws himself into his job and learns the darkness behind what they are facing. After viewers believe they’ve cracked the code behind the story, the film throws you for another chilling loop.
4Felidae (1994)
Felidaeis an animated film intended for adult audiences, given its gory nature despite its four-legged protagonists. As the entry in this list that stands out the most from the others, the movie originates in Germany and pushes against preconceived expectations. Francis, the protagonist, is a cat who ends up in dangerous territory following his owner’s move into a new home. Francis becomes invested in the truth behind the violent deaths of several cats in the area, teaming up with a seasoned old tomcat named Claudandus, who is in it deeper than Francis first believes.
Related:10 Adult Animated TV Shows that Got Their Own Feature Length Film
3Lone Star (1996)
Lone Starbrings some fresh information to Frontera, Texas, after Sheriff Sam Deeds discovers the skeletal remains that hold the keys to the untimely death of Sheriff Charlie Wade 40 years ago. Sam’s own history in the town connects him with the murder, helping him to unravel what really happened. His lover, Pilar, gets involved as well, culminating in more than one jarring secret being revealed by the time the film ends.
2The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
InThe Talented Mr. Ripley, an American named Tom Ripley searches for a wealthy young man called Dickie Greenleaf in Italy during the 1950s. Furthering his frantic success so far as a fabricator, Tom follows the man he doesn’t actually know in order to achieve the life of his dreams. Two decadesafter it was released, it still remains an important thriller with appalling and complicated occurrences before the story finally ends.Roger Ebert’s reviewof the film reads, “[Tom is] a monster, but we want him to get away with it.”
1Se7en (1995)
Se7enhas been said toput a fresh spinon the genre of murder mystery. Many viewers will recognize that the film proceeds through criminal acts proceeding through the Seven Deadly Sins, which become increasingly more repulsive, frightening, and hard to watch. The film’s ending adds a final shocking progression of moments after viewers think the darkest parts are over, in which detectives Somerset and Mills become the final unwilling cogs in the machine that wraps up the central storyline.
