It’s not the most confusing movie, but “The Lobster” ends on a big cliffhanger. The bizarre film has Colin Farrell as David and Rachel Weisz as “The Short-Sighted Woman” escaping to the big city from the confines of “The Hotel,” a dystopian place where you either find your true love or turn into an animal of your choice.
The Short-Sighted Woman blinds herself before the movie ends, and the film ends before Dave makes – or doesn’t make – the choice to follow in her footsteps. Is it worth it for Dave?
Brazil
There are few dystopian films that are stranger than “Brazil,” directed by Terry Gilliam and released in 1985. It's Orwellian, bleak, bizarre, and yet strangely beautiful. There are two versions of the film that you might have seen.
The shorter and friendlier version is the “Love Conquers All” version, where main characters Sam and Jill escape to a farmhouse, though there is still bleakness there. The longer – and Gilliam's preferred – version shows us Sam strapped to a chair, having retreated to his fantasies to escape the madness of life. Gilliam still thinks it's a happy and optimistic ending.
Moon
Directed by Duncan Jones – David Bowie's son – “Moon” starts out simple and then begins to drift. Astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is on a space station alone and discovers another astronaut up there with him that looks just like him. Existences are questioned, truths are revealed, and the film barrels toward a sad ending that the viewer could easily misinterpret.
It's a great sci-fi flick that presents an incredible story with few sets and a small budget. Rockwell acts manic, excited, heartbroken, and every other emotion under the sun as he discovers the truth.
The World's End
The films in Edgar Wright's “Three Flavours Cornetto” trilogy get better with every watch. For instance, “The World's End” is full of tiny hints and clues as to what is going to happen. Next time you watch, take a look at the names of the pubs the main characters visit.
The legendary story of the lads' last trip, before moving off to college, is also basically a road map for how the plot is going to go. The plot itself isn't hard to figure out, but this is still a film that deserves a few more viewings, just like “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.”
Bird Box
Based on Josh Malerman's novel of the same name, “Bird Box” inspired social fads and lots of washing. Sandra Bullock is determined to protect her children from whatever is out there – we never really find out – and at the end of the film, her family reaches a school for the blind. What does this mean for the characters?
The evil or supernatural entities won't affect people who can't see them, and the scene is one of weakness turned to strength. Bullock's character Mallory also has faith that she can save her children no matter what.