MovieChat Forums > 388 Arletta Avenue (2012) Discussion > I hate these movies... (spoilers for sur...

I hate these movies... (spoilers for sure)

posted 10 years ago by corky-27
4 replies | jump to latest

I spent the better part of 90 minutes getting drawn into a fairly well executed stalker mystery only to have a denouement where all hope is dashed, and misery and nihilism prevails. If that's your cup of tea, eat it up, guys. 3/10 (instead of a 1) only because it was fairly well executed, but haven't we seen enough of these by now...? Call me old-fashioned, but where is that one shimmering glimpse of hope that even the most morose of tragic tales rewards the viewer with? Not here, I'm sad to say...

Right. Well, I have to-- I have to go now, Duane, because I, I'm due back on the planet Earth.

[–] checkerouterofthings 10 years ago

I get what you're saying, but I think movies like this where the bad guy wins without even your proverbial glimmer of hope kind of keep us on our toes and provide contrast for the ones that do end better.

I understand that some might not care for the main premise and how it was carried out, but at the end of the day it's well written/acted and complete with real life nuance for those who appreciate a more 3D portrayal of characters and how they interact than what you might get in most movies. Great mood/pacing too imo. All in all vastly underrated. 7/10.

[–] MovieGuy92 9 years ago

You bring up some good points. I personally prefer movies where the good guy wins, but films like this where evil prevails do serve to make things more interesting. In your standard action movies, superhero movies, and so forth, you can say with reasonable certainty that the hero will win. However in horror or thriller films, you really can't, so that way you get really wound up in the story and are kept guessing what will happen. Movies like this also serve to help you better appreciate the ones that DO end happily. So while grim, dismal flicks like this aren't necessarily everyone's cup if tea, they do serve their purpose.

[–] HumanTheONLyRace 10 years ago

Basically your saying that there aren't hundreds of thousands of movies out there that leave the, misguided, fairytale living audience with a glimmer of hope or the bad guy going down? Get real or go swatch another movie.

This is good b/c be happens to innocent ppl everyday, and finding a clever way to show the world how *beep* up life can be may be the shocking to some.

[–] AceRoccola 8 years ago

I'm not entirely opposed to downbeat endings on principle, but I am when they're completely ridiculous, idiotic, and unbelievable and they rely on a prior 90 minutes of improbable coincidences.

This movie, especially with the overblown ending, is just too ridiculous to take seriously - which prevents it from being effective or "chilling" in any way.