MovieChat Forums > Lost Souls (2000) Discussion > You're all insane :P

You're all insane :P

posted 17 years ago by sinclair11919
21 replies | jump to latest

Just decided to check out the forums for this film, even though it's been several years since I saw it the first time.

All you naysayers are insane. Lost Souls ranks in my top 3 for favorite endings. The countdown... the pause... the shallow breathing... the sign flashing the mark of the beast... their eyes meeting... that VERY EERIE SMILE on Ben Chaplin's face and the quick decision to kill him right then before it was too late.

My God, what's wrong with some of you? That smile alone is worth seeing the film for. Why? Because Ben Chaplin pulled it off SO perfectly. The time was upon them finally, and Peter looked himself over and gasped and tried to tell Maya that it was still him, that nothing happened. BUT THEN...

...this is the moment of cinematic magic -- that pause as they're regarding each other. Maya is just studying him, waiting for some indication that the transformation had actually occurred. And the devil cracked! The clock flashed 6:66 and his expression of "It's still me, it's Peter" totally cracked. It was a staring match between Maya and the devil, and Maya won.

Amazing. Love it, love it, love it.

[–] Super8er 17 years ago

I agree with you AND the 'naysayers.'

I think overall this movie was terrible. It didn't function well as a horror film on any level. It wasn't scary. It didn't illicit that religious or supernatural 'dread' other films have done better. The story was weak. The script was weak. Wynona Ryder wasn't very good. The concept was tired and trite.

Thank goodness Janusz Kaminski went back to doing what he is brilliant at: cinematography.

On the other hand, I agree with you regarding the final scene. The timing was immaculate, all the beats were pitch perfect and yeah, Ben's 'change' gave me chills. I still get the hairs on my neck thinking about it. I made my wife watch this turd JUST to see the last scene. That scene is movie magic; why couldn't there be more scenes like that in the film?

[–] Shroudx 17 years ago

If I may be allowed to join the chorus here.... I agree as well. I don't remember a great deal about this movie, but I do remember enough. The ending I definately remember. It has stayed with me all these years and I don't see it leaving anytime soon. Ben Chaplin's smile spoke volumes and I can still see it now. BTW ..great description of the final scene Sinclair! The ending did make the movie worth sitting through, besides it was a very grey dark dreary winter afternoon when I saw it and I had nothiing better to do at the time. I don't mind a slow paced movie. In fact sometimes I welcome them. Lost Souls was by no means a great movie, maybe not even a good movie. But I , and probably millions, have seen alot worse....ALOT worse.

[–] sue-202 14 years ago

I agree with Shroudx about the ending staying with me. I actually don't remember much about the film, having seen it when it first came out, but I clearly remember Ben Chaplin's face and the feeling it elicited in me. I recorded it off Film 4 last month and am planning on watching it tonight, and was just thinking about this scene and wondered if it anyone else shared my thoughts on it. Glad to see most of you do.

[–] peter-260 12 years ago

The reason the ending stayed with me is that it wasn't what it appeared to be, or what most people assumed it was.

Maya did not win. By shooting Peter, she became Satan. Now the director could have made that a lot more obvious, but I think he intentionally set it up so that most people would not realise it - because that is exactly how Satan would do it - he is the prince of lies after all!

I really urge people who watch this film to re-evaluate it with the realisation that Maya becomes Satan, that the whole film is set up to tell us that this could happen, and that we don't see it because a) we have been conditioned to believe that Satan will be a man, b) we expect Good to win.

No one wants to see the truth, that the devil is setting up the ending so that he/she wins either way. If Maya didn't shoot Peter, he becomes Satan. If she shoots him she becomes Satan. Checkmate.

The clues are all there. Maya's visions (like Peter's). Her indeterminate parentage and date of birth (I read a theory that states that Peter and Maya are twins separated at birth). She takes a human life at the end. Even look at the meaning of her name: Maya meaning "Illusion".

The world as we know it just ended and people didn't even notice. I can't think of a more appropriate way for the world's most insidious villian to make an entrance.

[–] linda_lee110282 12 years ago

There is no indication she became Satan or that she and Peter are twins, not even the smallest clue. Only the anti-climax feeling when she left the car. Now, if Maya smiled, even if a little, at the end, I would believe that. "Anti-Christ "as female is an old theory, nothing new, put forward by St. Augustin, a notorious misogynist. However, I believe Peter didn't die and Satan is him.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] denise1234 10 years ago

I have to disagree with the 'Maya became Satan' theory.

There is really no evidence that she was prepared to become the anti-Christ.

The 'visions' were attempts to scare her away from interfering with the transformation, and that almost worked.

She also was not devoid of faith (as Kelson was).

Given the storyline, it just doesn't work that she became Satan.

If all it would take would be to shoot someone, then there are thousands of folks every day who could 'become Satan' in that manner and with a lot less trouble.

Kelson was chosen and prepared for this from the day he was born (actually before he was born).

Also, the name 'Maya' means other things including 'love', 'honorable matriarch', and 'spring'.

"I will not go gently onto a shelf, degutted, to become a non-book." ~ Bradbury

[–] foshoo 17 years ago

I didn't care for the movie, however I think the ending was okay. A happy sunny ending would kinda suck, and so would a destruction to mankind ending. What bothered me about the ending scene was when he's waiting for the shot, the face he makes. He looks like he's taking a huge dump right in the seat, and it just goes on forever. I was like "WTF dude, you're spending your last moment pooping? That's classy."

[–] m-board 16 years ago

Amen, I thought the ending was fantastic and you've pretty much encapsulated why right here.

[–] trashface 16 years ago

I thought it was a good movie. it was not a horror movie, it was dark religious suspense and it did it pretty well. The fact that all the significant people in his life were always preparing him to become the vessel of satan and he never knew it was creepy. The smile at the end was indeed very creepy. This movie was about plot and atmosphere, not jump out cheap scare tactics. For another movie of this type, check out the better Session 9.

[–] Beetlehands 16 years ago

the only thing i didnt like about the ending was that the transformation was to happen at 4:55 in the afternoon right? why was is dark outside?

[–] MeanerWithTheScenery 15 years ago

It was the dead of winter?

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[–] hellomoto666 14 years ago

I'm fairly sure that he did know. He smiled cause he realized that even though she was gonna kill him, it didn't matter because it was her and not him.

[–] linda_lee110282 12 years ago

It wasn't her, The theory the anti-christ will reborn with a wound in the head and Peter is alive is even more believable than that. It is a theory some Christians believe. He is the anti-christ, not her. She isn't 33, she is baptised, she wasn't "recognized" by satanic peers and protected by then since she was a child. Nothing holds that theory.

Just because the film doesn't show her life in minimal detail doesn't mean she is a complete mistery.

[–] MeanerWithTheScenery 15 years ago

I think this movie looked great and was well directed, but the script was pretty terrible and there was no saving it. Even so, it's hardly the worst movie ever made. Ryder and Chaplin at least made for engaging characters, although their story was hardly original and rarely scary (save for the final moments in the car).I gave this movie 5/10, the same rating I gave mega blockbuster Transformers.

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[–] dulaney0330 15 years ago

I totally agree!!! I love the ending of this movie and I was shocked to see this movie got such a low rating. Ben chaplin's smile was creepy and this is one of my favorite movie endings.

[–] denise1234 15 years ago

Sinclair11919 -- Well Said!

"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

[–] Edren 14 years ago

I agree I thought this was much better than the imdb rating suggests, shame.

Life is just one damned thing after another - Elbert Hubbard

[–] nocturnal_art 14 years ago

I am surprised at the low rating; I found the film rather remarkable. Albeit it was not Winona's best movie, it was a good one nonetheless. I prefer these lessor known films than the hundred-million dollar Hollywood movies. For all those that like good indie horror films I highly suggest The Haunting, it one of the best recently released horror films I have seen in a long time.

http://www.fangoriafrightfest.com/?p=28