10 Movie Plot Twists That Will TRAUMATIZE You

10. Promising Young Woman - Ryan's True Colours

This one is quite arguably the best plot twist of the 2020s so far. 

Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell's masterful debut, is a psychological thriller in which Cassie (Carey Mulligan) exacts a crusade of revenge on those she blames for the suicide of her best friend Nina, who took her own life after being sexually assaulted. 

Around halfway through the film, Nina's mother encourages her to move on and heal, and so she tries to. She also falls in love with Ryan (Bo Burnham), a former medical school colleague, and Fennell does a stellar job at involving viewers in what seems like an adorable love story. It's so nice to see Cassie finally healing and getting past her trauma... but it doesn't last. 

Cassie is given some footage that reveals Ryan witnessed the assault of her best friend and did nothing to help her. When she confronts him, he reveals what kind of person he actually is. He doesn't apologize, he avoids taking any kind-of responsibility and he just focuses on trying to gaslight Cassie into forgiving him. 

The way in which this love story sucked viewers in and then destroyed them was nasty... but also brilliant. This was a chilling reminder that toxic, controlling behaviour can come from anywhere - even from someone like Ryan, who appeared to be a 'nice guy'.