10 Recent Movie Plot Twists Nobody Saw Coming
3. Turner Takes Elwood's Identity - Nickel Boys
The Best Picture-nominated Nickel Boys uses its impeccable first-person point-of-view to ingeniously conceal a devastating final sting in its tail.
The searing drama focuses on two Black boys, Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), who are sent to a hellish reform school in 1960s Florida, prompting them to eventually stage an escape in the film's third act.
Nickel Boys contains a number of flashforwards featuring an older Elwood, seemingly confirming that he made it to safety, while Turner's fate is initially left hauntingly ambiguous.
Tellingly, though, we're never shown Elwood's face during the flashbacks - we only see him from behind.
And this is ultimately important, as the film's ending unfurls a jaw-dropper of a twist - during the final escape from Nickel Academy, Elwood is shot and killed, while Turner manages to escape.
After this, it's revealed that Turner took on Elwood's name in his fallen friend's honour.
It would've been easy for such a staggering reveal to come off hokey or emotionally manipulative, but the resonance of the twist ultimately lands with thunderous impact.