No one ever said making a film is easy, but almost everyone involved in a production would agree that one of the most difficult aspects is figuring out an appropriate ending. For some moviegoers, the ending is the deciding factor of how they feel about a film overall. A weak ending can dampen the impression of an otherwise fine film, but on the flip side, a strong ending can sway your decision on a film that you might’ve had mixed feels on throughout.
The latest video essay from Now You See It explores different kinds of movie endings, starting with the comparison of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and Gus Van Sant’s 1998 remake. The narrator makes the case for the original’s final shot of the car getting pulled out of the swamp leaving you with an icky feeling over the trunk’s contents, whereas the 1998 version cuts from the car to landscape shots that soften the blow. He also talks about the “riding into the sunset” ending, the “closing the door” ending, and the mirroring of opening and closing scenes.
You can check out the How to End a Movie video essay above, which is essential viewing for all kinds of film fanatics, especially all you aspiring screenwriters out there.