15 Potentially Awesome Films Undermined By Their Terrible Endings

Frank is an interesting black comedy-drama that was acclaimed, but many reviewers criticised the overly downbeat final act and rightly so.

In Frank, protagonist Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) joins a band led by Frank, an eccentric musical genius who wears a papier mache head the entire time. Jon posts footage of the band's recording sessions online and they gain a small following, leading to them being invited to an American music festival.

As soon as they arrive, it turns out the band aren't as well-known as they thought, so band-member Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal) urges them to leave and go back to their obscure status, but Jon refuses and encourages the experimental band to sell out by doing accessible versions of their songs.

Eventually, Clara stabs Jon and is arrested, the other two band-mates leave and Frank has a mental breakdown on stage because of how bad the music is. After this, Jon tries to remove Frank's papier mache head and Frank disappears, although Jon eventually tracks him down and reunites him with the rest of the band before leaving.

This entire final act didn't work. Frank became un-enjoyable because of how depressing it became, while the previously-likeable Jon suddenly being the band-ruining antagonist of the film was a jarring change of direction. Furthermore, this ending doesn't provide a satisfying pay-off for any of its characters.