MovieChat Forums > Nightmare Alley (2021) Discussion > Was the ending supposed to be shocking?

Was the ending supposed to be shocking?

posted 2 years ago by Alocirp (680)
17 replies | jump to latest

I generally avoid even attempting to guess how a film is going to end, preferring to just let them play out and enjoy the ride. However, I couldn't help but seeing the ending of this one coming from a mile away. (For the record, I'm completely unfamiliar with the source novel and earlier film.)

1.) The first scene with the original geek, I thought: "Hm, whoever that actor is playing the geek, he almost looks like a bearded, homeless version of Bradley Cooper. Wonder if there's anything to that.."

2.) A bit later, there's a full scene with Willem Dafoe explaining to Cooper how the circus "acquires" a geek--hooking desperate drunks, then slowly and deviously manipulating them into becoming full-time geeks. I'm thinking, "Okay, interesting scene, but there must be some significance to it. Why is he explaining the process in such detail? Why specifically to Cooper? It was a rather immoral, disturbing (and even illegal) process to be freely explaining (and admitting involvement in) to someone you've only recently met and are yet to fully trust.

3.) After being staunchly against alcohol the whole film, Cooper finally takes his first drink with Blanchett, toasting to their "success" (or something similar). At this point, I actually said aloud: "Oh, he's going to end up as one of those circus geeks from the beginning."

I didn't feel like I was making any bold prediction; it just seemed obvious.

However, since viewing the film, I've spoken to a few people who were apparently shocked by the ending. So I'm not trying to boast or claiming to be smarter than anyone else--I'm really just wondering whether or not del Toro actually intended this to be a "twist" or "surprise ending".

Does anyone know? Or share my own sentiments regarding the ending? Surely there are others who saw it coming as well.

[–] bistritapcv (1661) 2 years ago

The whole movie was depressing

[–] mikethemartian (6126) 2 years ago

I anticipated the ending because I had caught the tail end of the Tyrone Powers movie a couple of years ago and had heard that the original movie tried to end on a more hopeful note than the book which I have never read. I assumed the newer movie would probably have the less hopeful ending. TCM Noir Alley played the original again a few weeks ago so I got to see the whole film. One of the differences in the old and new film I noticed was that they spent more time talking about the geek in the new film. The original film seemed to spend less time talking about the geek so I assume it would have been more of a surprising ending for someone watching it. Also the character played by Tyrone Power, albeit a con man, didn’t appear nearly as ruthless as the character portrayed by Bradley Cooper.

[–] Alocirp (680) 2 years ago

Interesting, thanks for the info. Judging from a few of the differences between versions that you (along with one or two other posters) have brought to my attention, it seems I would prefer the original over the remake. As alluded to in my OP, that scene with Dafoe explaining to Cooper how they reel in the geeks via alcohol-related manipulation was too heavy on the foreshadowing, and likely diminished the impact of the ending for me. I'll have to check out the original.

[–] kwestmo (4150) 2 years ago

The movie is about rise and fall, so the ending should be required, but not obvious. In a better made film the ending would not have been telegraphed like it is in this version of NA. AS pointed out by mikethemartian

[–] Alocirp (680) 2 years ago

Right. I was basically aware going in that the story would involve Stanton's downfall; I just wasn't expecting the exact outcome to be so obvious.

[–] kwestmo (4150) 2 years ago

If you haven't seen the original, I suggest you do. The tagged on happy ending is bad, but I always stop the DVD before that happens.

The "I was made for it" line is used in the beginning, but the ending isn't telegraphed. One of my favorite films.

[–] Alocirp (680) 2 years ago

Haven't seen the original, though I definitely plan on doing so after the discussions here. Thanks for the suggestion.

[–] [email protected] (1640) 2 years ago

I think if you saw the original, you would not have guessed the ending.

[–] Alocirp (680) 2 years ago

That's strange. Someone else suggested the opposite, which would seem more logical. I actually avoided the original before watching this so as to not spoil the story. In retrospect, not sure why I did that, as remakes are usually worse. But in this case, I wasn't even aware of the original before reading about this one, and apparently I was expecting something more special from it.

[–] [email protected] (1640) 2 years ago

Really? Someone here suggested that the original is more nuanced so the ending is more of a surprise compared to this one that's more on the nose. I watched the original because I was on a Tyrone power binge but it took me by surprise.

[–] Alocirp (680) 2 years ago

Oh, I misinterpreted you. I thought you were suggesting I wouldn’t have guessed the ending to this one had I previously seen the original.

I see what you’re saying now.

[–] Information-Police (4144) 2 years ago

I thought the foreshadowing of his imminent geekdom was brought into full focus when Stan was hiding on the train behind the chicken cages.

[–] TandyMan (10417) 2 years ago

The movie was full of suggestive scenes and symbolism and I spent most the movie trying to guess what the twist was going to be. What was real or unreal for I was fairly certain that the entire time, he was already a geek and we were seeing the delusional world they live in. But in the end the twist was there was no twist and it was just a big long story about how somebody ends up becoming a geek. Which I didn't find very interesting. Movie like this is made or broken by its ending, and this film limped out the door for me. Another gorgeous del Toro dud. I also thought for a while they were setting up a re-imagined Freaks type movie where the girl's bad end would lead to him being turned into a side show attraction by a vengeful family of carnies. And I also thought he was maybe going to get the upper-scale version of being geeked by Blanchett. Or just about anything, really, that would have delivered the payoff the atmosphere of the film promised. It really felt the whole point of the movie was to be an endless series of red herrings. Perhaps reflecting the nature of mystic con jobs the movie was about. IDK.

[–] OldG (628) 2 years ago

I don't think it was meant to be shocking... and as you say it pretty obvious where the story was going... It was a story about the rise and fall of the main character... so what is interesting how does he end up there and why would he ever accept such a fate... He is a completely broken man at the end so to me it is just a fitting end to the story instead of the usually hollywood happy ending...

[–] Alocirp (680) 2 years ago

Yeah, it’s just odd because I’ve spoken with multiple people who were completely shocked by the ending.

Not only that, but I’m almost certain one of the TV spots for the film even advertised it as having “the most surprising twist ending in years”. (Or something along those lines anyway.)

Perhaps just a bit of overzealous marketing. Wouldn’t be the first time. 🤷

[–] imjustasking (139) 2 years ago

The director didn't show the new "geek" in a cage at the end(and knew that ahead of time) so he laid the concept on heavy through Willem Dafoe so people would get it when he cut to black at the very end.If anyone missed that Dafoe/Cooper scene they wouldn't have gotten the ending. I think it would have been better if he just showed Bradley Cooper in a cage,with a chicken, right after he interviewed with the Amberson Carnival boss. Surprise! Then he could've cut out the geek acquisition dialogue.

[–] Tricklebrook (309) 2 years ago

I didn't find the ending to be shocking, instead I found it creepy. For me, the scene with Dafoe fully explaining how a geek is acquired made the ending scene where the carnival boss offers Cooper the job, using the same strategy, quite chilling. You know Cooper's character recognizes what's happening but is helpless to resist. Even though I knew it was coming, it still creeped me out.