10 Movie Plot Twists That Will TRAUMATIZE You
4. Chinatown - The Crimes Of Noah Cross
In Chinatown, Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is investigating a series of murders all linked to Los Angeles' water supply, with the help of Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway). Initially, it seems like Evelyn might be responsible for the killings, especially when Gittes finds her hiding Katherine (Belinda Palmer), a young woman she claims is her sister. The truth is much, much worse.
It emerges that Evelyn's father, wealthy businessman Noah Cross (film director John Huston is one of his acting roles), is in fact responsible for the murders, which he's committing as part of his plan to get control of the city's water supply. Furthermore, Katherine is both Evelyn's sister and her daughter. Evelyn was raped by her own father when she was only 15.
As if all of this wasn't disturbing enough, Chinatown's ending is immeasurably bleak. Evelyn gets killed, Noah takes custody of Katherine and gets away with absolutely everything. A distraught Gittes is led away, while one of his associates tells him, "Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Without question, this is one of cinema's greatest downer endings, and this is made even worse by how scarily believable it is. An evil man getting away with many insidious crimes because of his wealth and power isn't exactly far-fetched.