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?

[–] konflikt_causer 12 years ago

Yeah me too, as soon as the multiple personalty Aaron/Roy started showing, especially when Norton and Gere had that intense questioning room scene, I was already saying to the people I was watching it with "I put my money on it he's playing them". It might have been a big twist in the 90's but it was nothing new if you're watching it for the first time today.

[–] NotAnUndercoverCop 12 years ago

I guess 18 years of almost every movie trying to out do each other with "shocking" twist endings kind leaves you always guessing. Were movie watchers really that gullible in 1996?

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 10 years ago

It's not about being gullible, twist endings were not that prominent back then.

How old are you, by your statement it seems like you weren't alive in the 90s? Do you're parents know you visit IMDB?

[–] jaykidd13 10 years ago

Because if he was 12 he would need parental permission to visit...IMDb? Why?

[–] Takeshi-K 7 years ago

This movie was pretty much a rip off of The Usual Suspects, a very prominent Oscar winning film, released just before this generic piece of crap.

[–] williamtodd-36124 7 years ago

It's not about people being 'gullible', many people would rather just watch and enjoy the film unfold rather than sit and try to figure out how it ends after 5 minutes (Always fun!). Anyway, I suppose the revelation he had multiple personalities could have been considered the 'twist' with the rest of the film the resolution of the case, with a a nice feel good(ish)ending. I actually thought it was pretty clever to throw another curve ball with the reveal he was playing him the whole time.

tl:dr...enjoy the film without trying to second guess how everything is going to end, you may enjoy more films.

[–] Uvtha 11 years ago

Yeah, I was like... so hes just playing the lawyer then...

There were lots of kind of artless hints at it that more made you think well clearly there is going to be some kind of twist in this film, and the first obvious potential twist was that he was faking the whole shebang.

[–] thornsthorns 11 years ago

you have to remember edward norton was not a big name actor back then. While rcihard gere was. So everyone was thinking along the lines of a richard gere, being the hotshot lawyer and star of the film, winning the court case by finding out something that only his brilliance can do. Whilst edward nortons character is merely meant to be a foil for his great lead acting and brilliance. A bit like a few good man ending.

but nowadays everyone knows norton, so they kind of see it coming. If someone isn't familar with norton but is with richard gere, they most likely will fall for the twist.

I guess edward nortons success has kind fo ruined this film for future genterations. Maybe in another 20 years time, when he becomes a nobody again, people will appreciate the film.

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 10 years ago

Also at that time courtroom films were all the rage, it was almost generic.

[–] daughterofolaf 11 years ago

Congrats, you are a genius.

"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

[–] brady-vallbacka 11 years ago

I have honestly predicted some movie endings before such as The Sixth Sense (no joke) and Secret Window amongst others but i can honestly say I did not see this one coming. LOL had me completely shocked and I thought that since it shocked me I enjoyed it more than I would've had i known or predicted the ending.

[–] There_will_be_cake 11 years ago

With movies like Fight Club, Usual Suspects, it makes it a lot easier to guess the twists nowadays cause they can't pull originality anymore. Anyways, he was in the choir, so therefore he could sing and not stutter, therefore he wasn't Aaron, he was Roy.

[–] ZeEarGoggles 11 years ago

Lots of people with stutters don't stutter when they sing. They actually use singing in therapy to help people with stutters.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Yeah, that really wasn´t what one would call an unpredictable ending, exactly. What options were there besides a) it´s a court drama centering around an idiotic conceit of some split personality mumbo-jumbo, and staying that way or b) the guy was faking it. Which is also too bad, cuz it makes it essentially a one trick movie with another one of those tiresomely oh-so-clever, self satisfied "twists" in the end.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] mikekaraoke23 11 years ago

@ there will be your cake-i've known people with stutters that when they did sing it went that is fact

[–] manofsteel4455 10 years ago

I think people are lying their asses off when they claim to already know these plot twists.

You want to play the game, you'd better know the rules, love.
-Harry Callahan

[–] mikekaraoke23 10 years ago

manofsteel4455 exactly I can understand maybe some twists but not all of them

[–] Lester_Burnham_Risen 10 years ago

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.

---

so why are you being sooooo american and CALLING it a twist?

it was just part of the movie surely

and if that was your only point then why did you watch the movie

I got a TRUCKLOAD of points

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

[–] mikekaraoke23 10 years ago

Lester_Burnham_Risen if your talking to me then think you have read it wrong,I have heard people from UK calling them twists or Surprise Endings.I did like the movie I was pointing out to another poster as he was moaning he knew what the twist was before half way of the film which then I agreed with manofsteel4455 that the person wouldn't figure out all films that had twists but maybe some of them as he implied he could-I didn't personally feel it was obvious in this film so you have took what I have said the wrong way

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 10 years ago

You know what film I found incredibly boring and predictable? Inception. Do you know why? Because I have seen every single Star Trek episode before I saw the film and they had done that concept to death.