20 Recent Movies With INSANE Twists

11. Jessie ISN'T Mason's Daughter - Shelter

Shelter Jason Statham
Black Bear Pictures

Sometimes the biggest twist is when there isn't one at all, as is the case with the latest Jason Statham action flick Shelter.

The Stath's ex-assassin Michael Mason spends the film fending off agents sent to kill him, all while protecting Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), a young girl who resides on the same remote island.

After Jessie's uncle drowns in a storm, Michael's all she has, and before long, more than a few seeds are sewn suggesting that Michael might actually be Jessie's father.

It's basically Genre Film Storytelling 101 at this level, and yet by the time the end credits roll, there's no reveal of any kind that Michael and Jessie are actually father and daughter - it's just a guy protecting a young girl from harm.

While some audience members believe the pair were father and daughter without it being explicitly stated, there's simply no way that a film this lacking in subtlety otherwise would bury the lede so aggressively, especially when it could result in a stirring emotional climax.

 
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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.