10 Terrible Twists In Recent Movies That Pissed Us Off
6. Ruth Is Actually Pretty Forgivable - The Unforgivable
The Unforgivable revolves around a deeply troubled ex-con called Ruth Slater. After she was convicted for murdering the sheriff who tried to evict her and her five-year-old sister, Katie, Ruth was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Ruth hopes to reconnect with her estranged daughter upon her release, but has difficulty adjusting to life on the outside, since the townsfolk refuse to accept her.
With so many people out for Ruth's blood, we wonder if they will ever forgive her. More importantly, we wonder if Ruth will be able to forgive herself.
But near the end, we learn it was Kate who shot the sheriff, not Ruth. To ensure Kate had the chance to live a normal life, Ruth pretended she was the one who pulled the trigger.
Naturally, this revelation should make viewers feel all happy and gooey inside. But by turning Ruth into a martyr in the third act, it dilutes the story's emotional centre. Instead of allowing The Unforgivable be a thought-provoking character study, it plays it safe by letting Ruth off the hook. Though this is meant to be a happy ending, it completely undermines the movie's message.