10 More Disturbing Plot Twists In Non-Horror Movies
9. Promising Young Woman - Ryan Was Involved In Nina's Death
Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell's shattering debut as writer-director, is a provocative and chilling meditation on violence against women that tells the story of Cassie's (Carey Mulligan) crusade of vengeance against those responsible for the sexual assault and eventual suicide of her best friend, Nina.
Around halfway through the film, Cassie realizes that her quest for revenge is destroying her life, and so she decides to move on. A heart-warming love story unfolds between her and her former medical school colleague Ryan (Bo Burnham), who comes off as a thoroughly sympathetic character, the antithesis of the various toxic characters throughout the rest of the film.
It's so satisfying to see Cassie healing... until the terrible truth emerges. Cassie receives some footage that shows Ryan witnessed Nina being attacked and allowed it to happen. Upon being shown the footage, Ryan's true colours emerge; he doesn't apologize or take any responsibility, and focuses on trying to gaslight Cassie into loving him again.
The way in which Fennell charmed viewers with what seemed like an adorable love story and then crushed them with this revelation was damn cruel, in the best kind of way. This is probably the most distressing scene in a film that's full of them, and both this and Fennell's follow-up Saltburn have affirmed her as a master of messed-up plot twists.
Put it this way, it might be safer not to expect a straightforward retelling of Wuthering Heights in her upcoming third movie.