MovieChat Forums > Reasonable Doubt (2014) Discussion > The ending ruined it for me (spoilers)

The ending ruined it for me (spoilers)

posted 10 years ago by smokiman
12 replies | jump to latest

I didn't find this thriller that bad, despite some obvious plot holes. It was pretty entertaining.

The DA wasn't the stereotypical good guy saving the day, quite the opposite actually. The DUI was bad, the hit and run absolutely inexcusable. He couldn't care less about Jimmy, until he needed him. He let him follow SLJ's character, who he knew was a serial killer. As if that wasn't enough, Jimmy matched the killer's victim profile perfectly. And he wasn't worried about his bro one bit.

I was OK with all that, because I was hoping that this would be resolved in the end. There would have been so many ways to do it. But they chose the really cheesy way and let him get away with everything. Complete with Jimmy holding his cute little nephew. I was actually waiting for the DA to say something like "Promise me to look after them while I'm in prison" or something like that. But nope, they lived happily ever after. Probably had a nice hot cup of tea in front of that fancy fireplace, joking about those unfortunate events.

[–] repo136 10 years ago

The whole ending seemed like a complete cop-out where they couldn't think of a decent conclusion.
I especially enjoyed the last 5 minutes when Dt. Kanon told the officers to get down to Mitch's house quickly then miraculously she appears first on the scene herself with the rest of the squad's sirens sounding far behind. By herself.
She'd obviously driven there in a Porshe.

"Two for flinching!"

[–] DarkRealityX 10 years ago

I'm not sure we watched the same movie. The baby was obviously a girl (pink all the things), never once was there an indication that the baby was a boy or that the gender was meant to be confusing.

Assuming that was a typo, otherwise I agree.

However, it is the DA's discretion whether or not to prosecute a case. Consider:

Mitch admitted to a DUI in jail. That was stupid.

Mitch hit a guy who was mostly dead and wasn't responsible for his death as he was killed by Davis anyway. The original charge of murder on Davis was valid, even though he got off. If anything, the cop who went to pull him over and changed his mind (as opposed to just passing him) had a hand in the hit. It was an accident, the guy was a child rapist, and he was ultimately killed by Davis anyway. They're not worried about the hit.

Mitch broke into Davis's home. Also assaulted an officer.

Despite all that, everything he did brought down a serial killer. They really don't need to charge him with anything. Maybe the original DUI.

But the lack of actually saying so was kind of a let down. It was good that Mitch accepted his brother into his life and all that, but I think, for what I thought was going to be a legal thriller, we needed some closure on the legal aspects.

- Dark Reality

[–] egv_ny 10 years ago

It is established by the forensics that the DUI victim Ackerman died of multiple hammer blows to his head, not because of the car hit, after the car hit, SLJ character just finished him off. Now being SLJ a serial killer, fact proven at the end, there is no way that Mitch would face any kind of indictment, maybe a ticket, but no jail time, I suspect he could still keep his DA job.

When Charlton Heston raised his arms and the sea opened , Liam said..release the Kraken... !!!

[–] movie80 9 years ago

When Charlton Heston raised his arms and the sea opened , Liam said..release the Kraken... !!!


[–] blanche-2 9 years ago

Hello Mitch committed a very large crime in Illinois - he left the scene of an accident, which is a felony - and I quote:

Leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death is a felony offense. Personal injury is defined as any injury that requires immediate medical care. It is a Class 4 felony offense (1-3 years prison) to leave the scene without providing information and assistance to the injured driver(s). See 625 ILCS 5/11-401. If you leave the scene and fail to report the accident within 30 minutes to the nearest police station, the offense is a Class 2 felony (3-7 years prison).

The police have a right to request a chemical test of your blood, breath, or urine to determine whether you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs for at least 12 hours after the time of the accident. Failure to submit to such a test will result in a summary suspension of your driver’s license.

Conviction for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury or death will cause the Secretary of State to revoke your driver’s license.

So whether or not the accident was the cause of the victim's death, no one could know that at the time or that it would result in death. You cannot leave the scene of an accident. Of course they couldn't prove the DUI - he left.

[–] the_la_baker 9 years ago

I'm not sure we watched the same movie. The baby was obviously a girl (pink all the things), never once was there an indication that the baby was a boy or that the gender was meant to be confusing.

Assuming that was a typo, otherwise I agree.

However, it is the DA's discretion whether or not to prosecute a case. Consider:

Mitch admitted to a DUI in jail. That was stupid.

Mitch hit a guy who was mostly dead and wasn't responsible for his death as he was killed by Davis anyway. The original charge of murder on Davis was valid, even though he got off. If anything, the cop who went to pull him over and changed his mind (as opposed to just passing him) had a hand in the hit. It was an accident, the guy was a child rapist, and he was ultimately killed by Davis anyway. They're not worried about the hit.

Mitch broke into Davis's home. Also assaulted an officer.

Despite all that, everything he did brought down a serial killer. They really don't need to charge him with anything. Maybe the original DUI.

But the lack of actually saying so was kind of a let down. It was good that Mitch accepted his brother into his life and all that, but I think, for what I thought was going to be a legal thriller, we needed some closure on the legal aspects.

- Dark Reality

Agree except one point. The DUI would be extremely hard to charge. There was no physical evidence he was over the legal limit.

[–] jsmiley-770-82269 10 years ago

...and you decide to accept your step brother into the family and let the guy beat and tourtured take a cab to your house.

[–] p_milli_427 10 years ago

DUI would be the only one to stick.. most of the "crimes" were to save his and his family's life.. don't forget he was with DA's practice and he helped solve and catch a serial killer.. it would be the cops and DA's disgression on all the charges.. considering the lead detective arrived on scene with Davis about to kill the guys wife and child I'm sure it was all taken under consideration.. prison time would be unlikely but never said he wasn't on probation or community service.. his property, his family and himself were in a lot of danger, I think every one would understand his actions and like stated they solved a huge case

[–] Steve131 10 years ago

The ending was left too open ended for me. His brother Jimmy is OK and out of hospital. But he did purger himself in court lying about being the phone caller/witness to the hit and run. That in the least should have put him back in Jail. As for Mitch, I would have liked more closure. Was all forgiven? Technically we see it as a hit and run, but the original charge was hit and run/murder. The victim died from the killer's inflicted wounds, not from being hit from the car. For all we know the car hit was a mere tap. In fact I'm sure it was, since there was no damage to Mitch's car. Considering that, and all the trauma he suffered afterwards, coupled with the fact that he caught the real killer and that he works DA might have gotten all charges dropped and some probation. But we only see Mitch home recuperating. If the charges were dropped did he keep his job? We are told nothing in the end.

[–] drivenkick43 9 years ago

Would the DUI stick? The only evidence they had was the driver saying "I had been drinking." I don't think that would present much of a problem to any halfway decent lawyer. They have no idea what his BAC was at the time he was driving. I don't see how they could retroactively charge him with DUI based on his own say so.

[–] benman46 9 years ago

The whole fcking film ruined it for me.

[–] xthe_shiznitx 9 years ago

completely agree, was brilliant in the first half but turned to loaded bullsh!t in the second half... was really disappointing actually, could have been a masterpiece about morality, crime & punishment, redemption and complex thinking, but instead took a huge crap all over the original premise and turned the film into a serial killer themed thriller with quirks of commonalities in human brains.

lame, could have been so much better but someone tanked this movie bad. i hope samuel jackson serial murders whoever ruined this movie from giving him a possible movie award.