‘Don’t Look Now’: This Horror Movie’s Ending is Among The Scariest in Horror History

Not only do the best horror movies frighten you throughout their entire duration, but they also leave you with a memorable conclusion that stays with you long after the credits have rolled. A disturbing last shot in 2024’s ‘Smile 2’ is one recent example, but few films can rival the emotional destruction of 1973’s ‘Don’t Look Now’. One of the most eerie and depressing endings in horror history can be found in this Nicolas Roeg-directed movie, which stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie.

In the film ‘Don’t Look Now’, Sutherland and Christie play John and Laura Baxter, who are grieving the loss of their little daughter Christine (Sharon Williams) to drowning. They relocate to Venice in an attempt to get away from their suffering, and it is there that John starts to see unsettling visions. He keeps seeing an enigmatic person in a red coat that is exactly like Christine’s, which makes him wonder if she has made a comeback. These eerie meetings culminate in a startling and unforgettable finale as the Baxters struggle with their loss.

Image Courtesy: Collider

When John faces the elusive red-cloaked figure, the climax occurs. Instead of the revelation he was expecting about his daughter, he discovers an elderly, mute woman with dwarfism (Adelina Poerio). Before she suddenly draws a knife and murders John, there is a terrifying moment created by her strange smile and gradual head shaking. The film’s mystery is transformed into visceral terror by the scene’s violent finality, leaving spectators in a state of shock.

The ending’s grimness extends beyond the shock value to its more profound ramifications. It turns out that John’s visions, which at first glance appeared to be cryptic warnings, were foreshadowings of his demise. His fate was predetermined from the start. His efforts to deal with his loss and discover purpose in life were eventually in vain. The theme of ‘Don’t Look Now’ is quite unsettling: despite our best efforts, certain tragedies cannot be avoided. The film’s ending is among the most horrific in movie history because of this heartbreaking inevitability.

–Farheen Ali 

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