10 Movie Moments Where You Had No Idea What Was Going To Happen Next

7. Amanda Is Found - Gone Baby Gone

Uncut Gems Adam Sandler
Miramax

Ben Affleck's stunning directorial debut revolves around the disappearance of four-year-old Amanda McCready, and the efforts of private investigators Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) to track her down.

In fairness, the entirety of the movie is an uneasy exercise in suspense where Amanda's fate could certainly go one of many different ways.

But few could've predicted the late-stage reveal that Amanda is not only alive and well but has been living nearby with police Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman), who arranged the kidnapping to get Amanda away from her neglectful mother Helene (Amy Ryan) and raise Amanda with his wife.

It's a totally flabbergasting WTF moment, at which point Kenzie is faced with one of the most agonising cinematic dilemmas of the last 20 years - let Amanda stay with Doyle where she'll likely have a responsible upbringing, or call the cops and have her returned to her actual mother.

To heighten the tension, Angie threatens to break off both their business and romantic relationships if he notifies the police, and so viewers are left on tenterhooks as Kenzie mulls over his decision.

Ultimately Kenzie decides to notify the police, though the film's chilling ending confirms that Helene continues to be neglectful of Amanda, leaving audiences to ponder what the "right" thing truly was.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.