Was the fake-out really neccessary?

I completely agree.

I wouldn't be surprised if the writer came up with the ending first.

I thought the fake-out made the movie even more powerful. The slight sense of hope we were given at all was quickly shut down by him waking up.

Well, the only reason I think the ending was relevant, was to tell us Mark White never in fact, did survive. Just showed us another lie, that the Government was telling. First he got fired for fraternizing, while in the box (because of A lie). Then they lied to him about Mark White, so he wouldn't go to the Media.

We did see him slowly realize he was going to die. In fact, he even accepted it, which would have been fine as an ending, had the director rolled credits right there.

But JUST after he had made peace with the fact he was facing his death, the agent called him to say they were zeroing in on his location and racing to rescue him, which filled Paul with a last minute hope that he was going to get out alive. And that's what makes the ending that much worse, not only was it the ultimate false hope, he had to find out that he was lied to about his chances of rescue the whole time by the agent. Like a cruel final double whammy.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unofficial-Ash-vs-Evil-Dead/466308540194451

It is needed for the arch of the conflict.

It was a punch to the face, thus a more moving and poignant ending than if they didn't have it.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.

I also think it made the movie more powerful and exciting for the viewer, kept me guessing. It was very good.

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