10 Most Disturbing Plot Twists In Non-Horror Movies

"Legal drama starring Richard Gere" doesn't sound like the most gripping movie on offer, but make no mistake that Primal Fear is one of the most intriguing and darkly intelligent thrillers of the 90s.

Gere stars as defense attorney Martin Vail, who loves to twist the system in order to get his clients off on ingenious technicalities. His latest client is accused murderer Aaron Stampler (a rarely-better Ed Norton in his movie debut), who's been arrested for killing an archbishop.

Though the stuttering Aaron seems innocent, Vail soon learns that he may be suffering from dissociative personality disorder after he "transforms" into a vicious sociopath called Roy. Armed with this new information, Vail is able get Aaron off by reason of insanity.

Then comes the kicker, as Vail notices some inconsistencies in his client's story and Aaron coldly reveals that Roy is his real personality, and "Aaron" is the one he made up.

With that, Vail leaves dejected, realising he's just saved a genuine psychopath from a lofty prison sentence. Ouch.