10 Horror Movies That Are Way Better When You Already Know The Twist
Knowing what's really going on makes these films scarier...
Because horror is designed to shock viewers and keep them on edge, it's no surprise the genre is rampant with bold twists that leave jaws firmly on the floor. Even though Saw and The Mist are solid films in their own right, it's those mind-shattering bombshells in the climax that we remember best.
But there's just one problem. Knowing the plot twist can dilute a movie's impact on repeated viewings. A whodunnit loses its tension once you know who did it. When you're aware of the killer's identity, the mystery and suspense is gone.
Luckily, there are some horrors that benefit after viewers learn every deep, dark secret. Sometimes, you're urged to revisit a film to see if you can spot all the breadcrumbs that spell out the big twist. (Let's be honest - who didn't rewatch The Sixth Sense IMMEDIATELY after the credits rolled?)
If you have only watched these slashers, supernatural flicks, and sci-fi gorefests one time, you should give them another shot. You'll be pleasantly surprised to learn these horror films are way better when you already know the twist.
10. Scream
Thanks to Wes Craven's creative take on slashers, Scream is directly responsible for reinvigorating the hack-and-slash sub-genre. It had the perfect level of self-aware social commentary and a firm balance of hilarious dialogue, genuine scares, and brutal violence.
Scream is also remembered for having a twist NO ONE saw coming. Even though there were many suspects, viewers were certain the killer couldn't be Stu or Billy, since they were predisposed when Ghostface was in the midst of a murder spree.
Little did we realise that Stu and Billy were BOTH Ghostface, taking turns in the mask, while the other had a clear alibi.
Not only is this a clever twist, it gives you a reason to watch Scream again. When you re-explore the film, you can figure out which killer dons the mask in each scene. Because Stu was with his girlfriend during the first murder, Billy must've been Ghostface in the opening. Since Billy was pretending to be dead at the party, Stu was the one chasing Sidney around the house.
Considering the killers were obsessed with quizzing their victims on horror trivia, they'd probably appreciate the fact that watching Scream a second time becomes a two-hour guessing game.