10 Horror Movie Plot Twists That Everyone Saw Coming

Warning: there are SPOILERS for every movie mentioned in this articleThe horror genre is alive and well, thanks to the wonderfully sadistic Art the Clown in his latest sequel Terrifier 3, plus other great franchise movies such as the surprisingly humorous Smile 2. One of the best elements of the horror genre is not just the actual frights and scares that audiences get from the kills and suspense, it’s also when there’s a plot twist that no one saw coming.

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Sometimes, these surprises work extremely well. For example, when John Kramer rises from the dead in 2004’s Saw, or when the hag-like creature appears in Barbarian from 2022. They were great plot twists that we never saw coming. However, despite the best intentions of all involved, there are many horror movies with a plot twist that’s so obvious, that when it happens it’s a let-down rather than a horrific shock.

10 Army Of The Dead (2021)

Directed By Zack Snyder

Army of the Dead Poster

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ScreenRant logo 4/10 6/10 Army of the Dead R

From director Zach Snyder, Army of the Dead combines the zombie apocalypse and heist genres in an exciting twist on the classic action film. Approached to retrieve $200 million dollars from a casino vault in the now zombie-ridden Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries embarks on the mission, unaware of what dangers await them inside the quarantined city limits. 

Director Zack Snyder Release Date May 21, 2021 Writers Zack Snyder , Shay Hatten , Joby Harold Cast Ana de la Reguera , Samantha Win , Tig Notaro , Matthias Schweighöfer , Huma Qureshi , Omari Hardwick , Michael Cassidy , Theo Rossi , Ella Purnell , Raul Castillo , Hiroyuki Sanada , Garret Dillahunt , Richard Cetrone , Dave Bautista , Nora Arnezeder Runtime 139 minutes Expand

Director Zack Snyder has great form for re-imagining the zombie movie, with his excellent Dawn of the Dead remake from 2004. The plot of his 2021 return to the world of zombies, with the divisive Army of the Dead, is great. Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries takes the ultimate gamble, and ventures into the quarantine zone to pull off a daring heist.

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The Robot from Rebel Moon in Front of Zombies from Army of the Dead Related Zack Snyder Confirms Which Rebel Moon Character Connects To Army Of The Dead Franchise

Zack Snyder clarifies how his Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon franchises are connected, explaining which character is the conduit between them.

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Despite Snyder’s Army of the Dead franchise being scrapped by Netflix, the movie is a lot of fun, but does have quite a few gaping holes in the plot. Also, one of the plot twists where Kate is forced to kill her newly zombified father was telegraphed from her animosity towards him from the start. Plus, it was obvious the plot would not be entirely about harnessing the zombies, as soon as the mission’s benefactor sent his own man along.

9 What Lies Beneath (2000)

Directed By Robert Zemeckis

What Lies Beneath - Poster - Harrison Ford & Michelle Pfeiffer

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What Lies Beneath PG-13

What Lies Beneath is a supernatural thriller exploring Claire Spencer’s unsettling experiences with ghostly phenomena. As Claire attempts to discern the truth behind these eerie occurrences, she begins to suspect her husband might be concealing secrets, leading her to a chilling discovery.

Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date July 21, 2000 Cast Harrison Ford , Michelle Pfeiffer , Diana Scarwid , James Remar , Miranda Otto , Ray Baker , Wendy Crewson , Amber Valletta , Katharine Towne , Victoria Bidewell , Joe Morton , Micole Mercurio , Sloane Shelton , Rachel Singer , Daniel Zelman , Jennifer Tung , J.C. Brandy , Dennison Samaroo , Eliott Goretsky , Tom Dahlgren Runtime 130 Minutes Expand

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Visionary filmmaker Robert Zemeckis made a name for himself by creating movies with mass appeal, which also pushed the boundaries of what was possible with visual effects. He also had a knack for getting the best out of his actors. However, in the case of the spooky What Lies Beneath, which is one of the best horror movies from 2000, this backfired on him. The film may be an effective thrill ride, but the plot twist was telegraphed early on.

The film’s marketing campaign did its best to suggest the ghost isn’t the neighbor’s wife, and that Ford’s Norman has a big secret.

The plot follows Harrison Ford’s research scientist, and his wife, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, who starts to believe that their lakeside is haunted, or that she is slowly losing her mind. However, when she’s haunted by the ghost of Ford’s former student, who he admits he slept with, the motive for the movie’s killer is made obvious. Also, the film’s marketing campaign did its best to suggest the ghost isn’t the neighbor’s wife, and that Ford’s Norman has a big secret.

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8 Last Night In Soho (2021)

Directed By Edgar Wright

Last Night in Soho Movie Poster

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ScreenRant logo 8/10 7.5/10 Last Night in Soho R

In the acclaimed director  Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Last Night in Soho, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. However, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

Director Edgar Wright Release Date October 29, 2021 Cast Anya Taylor-Joy , Lisa McGrillis , Michael Ajao , Matt Smith , Margaret Nolan , Synnove Karlsen , Diana Rigg , Oliver Phelps , Thomasin McKenzie , Jessie Mei Li , Terence Stamp , Rita Tushingham , James Phelps Runtime 116 minutes

Soho in London had been such a large part of Edgar Wright’s life, that he was compelled to make a horror movie based around the once seedy streets of the area. His 2021, time-twisting movie, Last Night In Soho, is hugely enjoyable, but the big plot twist that’s revealed at the end of the movie is obvious if you pay attention to the clues littered throughout the film.

The main character, Ellie, played by Thomasin McKenzie, lives in a bedsit owned by Diana Rigg’s elderly Ms. Collins, who turns out to be a killer in a not-so-surprising reveal. Ms. Collins also mentions her “no men” rule in the apartment, hinting about her troubled past. She also warns Ellie about covering up the smell in the apartment, meaning the dead bodies that have been rotting away for 50 years. Ms Collins also says she’d kill John when Ellie breaks the “no men” rule.

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7 Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Directed By Tim Burton

Sleepy Hollow 1999 Movie Poster

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ScreenRant logo 7/10 Sleepy Hollow TV-14

Sleepy Hollow is a supernatural horror thriller by director Tim Burton and Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Based on the original tale by Washington Irving, Sleepy Hollow follows constable Ichabod Crane as he is sent to the titular northern New York town to investigate a series of beheadings. However, the scholarly Crane’s foe is a supernatural being that cannot be explained – The Headless Horseman.

Director Tim Burton Release Date November 19, 1999 Cast Johnny Depp , Christina Ricci , Miranda Richardson , Michael Gambon , Casper Van Dien , Jeffrey Jones Runtime 106 Minutes

Tim Burton is one of the most visionary directors of all time, and he was the perfect choice to bring this creepy New England folktale to life.Sleepy Hollow from 1999 is a fun, and often macabre, re-imagining of the story, but it also has a major plot twist that is not only too obvious, it also takes away from the impact of the movie.

The Headless Horseman is a very cool villain, but the reveal that he’s being controlled by Miranda Richardson’s witch was far too predictable.

Richardson’s name is prominently shown in the opening credits, but has hardly any screentime until the major plot twist is revealed later on. It’s one of the worst horror film plot twists, and brings very little to an otherwise very decent horror movie, with some great kills and strong performances.

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6 Saw 3D (2010)

Directed By Kevin Greutert

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ScreenRant logo 4/10 5.5/10 Saw 3D

Saw 3D is a 3D-directed horror film that is the sequel to Saw VI, which follows a man who has gained popularity as he supposedly survived one of Jigsaw’s traps but is captured and put into an actual game where he must play along to save his wife. With the “games” becoming more gruesome and public, Internal Affairs begins to investigate a former survivor and detective, Mark Hoffman, as the potential new culprit. 

Director Kevin Greutert Release Date October 29, 2010 Distributor(s) Lionsgate Writers Patrick Melton , Marcus Dunstan Runtime 90 Minutes

The Saw franchise has made a name for itself by providing many shocking plot twists and revelations, along with its super gory death traps. The first movie from 2004 had the biggest rug pull in the series when John Kramer rises from the dead at the end. However, it’s 2010’s Saw 3D, that had a more predictable plot twist.

The blood in Saw 3D may have been an odd color, but it’s not as shocking as how obvious the movie’s major reveal is. Cary Elwes returns to the franchise, after being tortured in the first movie, and his brief early scene was a hint that he was another piece in the jigsaw puzzle. This makes no sense considering the events of the first movie. Plus, there was no way he would have been brought back if there wasn’t a nefarious plan for the character.

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5 Urban Legend (1998)

Directed By Jamie Blanks

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7/10 Urban Legend R

Urban Legend is a 1998 horror film directed by Jamie Blanks. Centered on a series of gruesome murders at a New England university, the film follows a group of students as they unravel the connection between the killings and various urban legends. The ensemble cast includes Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, and Rebecca Gayheart, weaving suspense and fear through its exploration of modern folklore.

Director Jamie Blanks Release Date September 25, 1998 Cast Jared Leto , Alicia Witt , Rebecca Gayheart , Michael Rosenbaum , Loretta Devine , Joshua Jackson , Tara Reid , John Neville Runtime 99 Minutes

1998’s Urban Legend is a decent horror movie, but the plot twist that arrives with more of a whimper, than a bang, is far too predictable to be effective. The plot follows a group of students who begin to suspect that a series of grizzly deaths are linked to certain urban legends. It features a cool, young cast, but unfortunately, the reveal of the villain is far too obvious.

Throughout the movie, almost all the main characters are chased by the killer at some point, except for Brenda, played by Rebecca Gayheart. The major reveal takes place when Alicia Witt’s Natalie finds Brenda surrounded by the corpses of their dead friends, only to suddenly stand up and attack Natalie. The revelation is telegraphed throughout the movie, and Brenda’s motives, based upon Natalie and Michelle killing her fiancé, are questionable.

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4 Happy Death Day 2U (2019)

Directed By Christopher Landon

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ScreenRant logo 7/10 7.3/10 Happy Death Day 2U PG-13

Happy Death Day 2U is the sequel to the sci-fi comedy/slasher film released in 2017, with Jessica Rothe returning to star as protagonist Tree Gelbman. Having believed she had escaped her hellish groundhog day of dying repeatedly, Tree wakes up to find herself stuck in yet another loop – with her friend being the target this time. Working together with her friends, the group learns that a high-school project is the cause of the chaos, but elements of the new reality prove to be tempting for Tree to keep things the way they are.

Director Christopher Landon Release Date February 13, 2019 Cast Suraj Sharma , Israel Broussard , Jessica Rothe , Rachel Matthews , Sarah Yarkin , Ruby Modine Runtime 100 minutes

When Happy Death Day was released in 2017, it had a cool premise, in which a college student relives the same day over, and over, until she figures out who murdered her. It also holds an above average rating of 6.6/10 on IMDb. A sequel was inevitable, but Happy Death Day 2U’s underperformance at the box-office, may have been due to a very predictable plot twist.

The fact that both Tree, and Lori had a relationship with Butler in the first movie makes the plot twist in the sequel even more obvious.

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The sequel sends Jessica Rothe’s Tree to a separate timeline where the first movie’s killer, Lori, is the victim this time around. Therefore, the only character who had a direct motive for being the killer was Dr. Butler, because he was having an affair with Lori. The fact that both Tree, and Lori had a relationship with Butler in the first movie makes the plot twist in the sequel even more obvious.

3 Alien: Covenant (2017)

Directed By Ridley Scott

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ScreenRant logo 7/10 12 9/10 Alien: Covenant

Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott, follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover an uncharted planet. Initially seeming like a paradise, the planet soon reveals dark secrets. Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, and Billy Crudup lead the cast in this science fiction horror film, which serves as a direct sequel to Prometheus and continues to explore the origins of the Alien species.

Director Ridley Scott Release Date May 19, 2017 Studio(s) 20th Century Cast Michael Fassbender , Katherine Waterston , Billy Crudup , Danny McBride , Demián Bichir , Carmen Ejogo , Jussie Smollett , Callie Hernandez , Amy Seimetz , Nathaniel Dean , Alexander England , Benjamin Rigby , Uli Latukefu , Tess Haubrich , Lorelei King , Goran D. Kleut , Andrew Crawford , Tom O’Sullivan , James Franco , Guy Pearce , Noomi Rapace Sequel(s) Alien: Awakening , Alien 3 , Alien Resurrection , Prometheus prequel(s) Aliens Expand

Alien Romulus is a return to form for the Alien franchise, and while it still divides opinion, that is due to the huge expectation that comes with hugely popular franchise movies. When Ridley Scott followed up the divisive Prometheus from 2012, with Alien: Covenant in 2017, it was bogged down by similar issues, and also featured a plot twist that could be seen from a galaxy away.

Neomorph from Alien Covenant and the derelict from Alien Related Alien Covenant: The Prequel Movies Create a Major Plot Hole

In revealing the origins of the xenomorph in Alien: Covenant, Ridley Scott’s created a big plot hole – or set up a major retcon of the 1979 original.

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Alien: Covenant features the return of David, played by Michael Fassbender. However, this time around, he’s revealed to be the movie’s villain and wants to kill the main characters. The fact that he looks identical to Walter, the crew’s android, means he could easily infiltrate them. Plus, the main character not catching on to his murderous intentions is idiotic, in a movie that has its merits, but is let down by its characters’ dumb decisions.

2 Secret Window (2004)

Directed By David Koepp

Secret Window - Poster - Johnny Depp

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Secret Window PG-13ThrillerDramaMystery

Secret Window is a psychological thriller directed by David Koepp, starring Johnny Depp as Mort Rainey, a writer facing a turbulent divorce and accused of plagiarism by a mysterious figure named John Shooter, portrayed by John Turturro. As Mort delves deeper into the accusations, he grapples with his own sanity while trying to uncover the truth. The film is an adaptation of Stephen King’s novella Secret Window, Secret Garden.

Director David Koepp Release Date March 12, 2004 Cast Johnny Depp , John Turturro , Maria Bello , Timothy Hutton , Charles S. Dutton , Len Cariou , Joan Heney , John Dunn-Hill

In 1999, Fight Club proved that it was possible to keep the identity of an imagined character secret, and provide a hard-hitting reveal later in the narrative. Unfortunately, 2004’s Secret Window attempts something similar, but its major plot twist is so obviously telegraphed from the start of the movie, it loses all impact when it’s finally revealed.

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Secret Window’s killer is hidden in plain sight. The Johnny Depp-starring psychological thriller has a great cast, and an interesting premise, but ultimately it’s frustrating to sit through as you know what the big reveal is long before it happens. You’ll guess that Depp’s stalker is a hallucination so quickly, that it leaves the rest of the movie a tedious experience. The fact that the stalker only interacts with Depp’s character is a massive clue to his true identity, or lack thereof.

1 Midsommar (2019)

Directed By Ari Aster

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ScreenRant logo 6/10 13 6.4/10 Midsommar R

Ari Aster’s Midsommar follows a group of American college students who travel to a friend’s isolated rural hometown in Sweden to experience their renowned midsummer festival. What starts out as idyllic quickly becomes a disconcertingly violent pagan ritual, with the friends engaged in a ruthless competition that will test more than just their friendship. Florence Pugh stars alongside Jack Reynor, Will Poulter, and William Jackson Harper.

Director Ari Aster Release Date July 3, 2019 Cast Julia Ragnarsson , Rebecka Johnston , Henrik Norlén , William Jackson Harper , Gunnel Fred , Anna Åström , Will Poulter , Archie Madekwe , Louise Peterhoff , Björn Andrésen , Isabelle Grill , Jack Reynor , Florence Pugh , Liv Mjönes Runtime 147 minutes Expand

Ari Aster is one of the best, and relatively new, horror directors currently on the circuit. His 2018 horror movie, Hereditary, was an expertly crafted movie, with one of the most shocking decapitations in movie history. His follow-up, Midsommar, from 2019, has many merits, but is let down by its predictable reveal that the villagers are part of a cult.

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There are some shocking deaths in Midsommar, but the major plot development involving the cult is so obvious that you wonder why the characters don’t cotton on to the many clues towards the start of the movie. The villagers perform a bizarre ritual, all wearing the same white robes, and the isolated setting is such a direct hint to the superior The Wicker Man, from 1973, you have to question the intelligence of the protagonists. Especially when they’re given a strange tea to drink, and people start falling off cliffs.

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