10 Most Ridiculous Horror Movie Plot Twists

10. The Secret Window (2004) - Shooter's Real Meaning

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Columbia Pictures

What do you get when you add Johnny Depp and an early 00’s horror/mystery together? One heck of a ham-fisted ending.

2004’s The Secret Window isn’t a strong movie at any other particular point, but the reveal at the climax of this film butchers what was at one time a promising plot. The Secret Window begins with the protagonist, mystery writer Mort Rainey (Depp), isolating himself in his cabin in upstate New York after catching his wife having an affair.

After several months of writer’s block, Rainey is approached by a man, John Shooter, who claims that Rainey’s stories are plagiarized from his own. The plot thickens as Shooter harasses Rainey, killing his dog, and eventually murdering two people, demanding proof that Rainey’s story isn’t plagiarism.

But here’s the kicker: Shooter isn’t real. The film shows us that Rainey suffers from dissociative identity disorder, and the persona of Shooter was one that he had manifested. The real icing on-top of the cake comes with the arrival of Rainey’s wife to his cabin, where she finds the word “Shooter” written all over the walls and realizes it represents her ex’s wish to... “Shoot her.” Yes, that is actually in the movie.

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Dan is a writer and actor originally from South Australia who now lives in a constant state of anxiety... and Los Angeles. Whether writing about movies, watching movies, or binging the Great British Bake-off, Dan approaches any endeavour with a steely resolve which is rivalled only by his ability to lie about his strengths. For professional inquiries, call Melissa Cropley - Dan's mum; she wishes he would call more often and you'd really be doing him a favour.