Everybody has got their favorite feature when watching a DVD. Some enjoy the commentaries, others enjoy the deleted scenes, I, myself particularly enjoy watching the alternate ending feature. Although, most times I am extremely disappointed from what I see.
In most cases, I rush to buy a DVD with the words “SHOCKING ALTERNATE ENDING” plastered over the cover, only to discover there’s nothing shocking or different about the new ending. (*Cough Scream 3 and Wicker Man remake cough*) The ending just usually involves alternate takes and extended shots that weren’t used in the theatrical version. (LAME!)
But, in very few cases, some DVDS will have an ending so different from the theatrical version, that it completely changes the tone and outcome of the film. Here is my list of alternate endings to look out for on DVD. They may not all be superior to the original film, but they are all entertaining to watch.
1. Joyride
This road horror flick had not one, but FOUR alternate endings. Never have I seen a DVD with a half-hour alternate ending that completely changes the whole film.. It’s obvious that the test screening didn’t go too well, yet, I really didn’t mind this ending at all. If you haven’t already done so, go rent this underrated horror film and watch its many entertaining endings.
2. Halloween 6 Prod. Cut
If you are a genuine fan of the Halloween series, you know that one should only watch Halloween 6 if they have the Producer’s cut, because the theatrical cut is a god damn mess! Unlike the theatrical ending that left me flabbergasted and confused, (what was with the f*cking fetuses on the hospital floor?) the alternate ending in the Producer’s cut further explained Michael’s past, the druids, and it focused more on Dr. Loomis. (The late and great Donald Pleasence) If you don’t want to buy the film on Ebay, you can now watch the ending on youtube.
3. Army of Darkness
I can always tell who a true Sam Raimi fan is. Most consider the alternate ending to be the true ending for Army of Darkness. In the finale, Ash ends up drinking one too many drops of the sleeping potion he was given, and wakes up 100 years in the future. I always preferred this ending because it left more room for a fourth installment than the original ending with Ash battling a deadite in S-mart did.
4. Butterfly Effect
When I had first watched this underrated thriller a couple of years back, I watched the Director’s cut, thinking it couldn’t have been much more different than the theatrical version. I didn’t realize how much different it was until I tried to discuss with my mother (who had seen the theatrical version) how sad the ending was. She looked at me like I had two heads and asked me what the hell I was talking about. I had watched the much darker ending where Ashton Kutcher’s character goes back in time to strangle himself with his umbilical cord in his mother’s womb. The new ending completely changed the movie. There is also a happy alternate ending where Ashton gets the girl (Amy Smart) at the end. I happened to like this particular cheesy ending, yet that’s just the “girly girl” in me.
5. The Descent
My friends and I still debate about which was the better ending for this film. I happen to prefer the U.K ending. I like it, because it’s open to interpretation. Did the creatures end up killing Sarah? Or did she in fact kill all her friends and the creatures were merely only one of many hallucinations she suffered from? Where’s Neil Marshall when you need him?
6. Jaws 4
Don’t ask me why, but when I was little I LOVED watching this movie. Although, I would HATE watching the scene when the mighty fine Mario Van Peebles gets eaten by the shark near the end of the film. It upset me almost as much as seeing Johnny 5 get his ass kicked in Short Circuit 2. (Anyone who knows me, KNOWS how traumatized I was after that.) I used to wish the ending to Jaws 4 was different every time I watched it. Imagine my surprise when one day I watched the movie and Mario actually gets back on the boat safely. It blew my mind! Being six years old at the time, that was a total mind f*ck! I actually thought I could change the endings of movies with my mind for a while.
7. 28 Days Later
I love the original ending for this film, but it just didn’t feel right to me that Jim (Cillian Murphy) lived. I always preferred the alternate ending of Jim dying because it worked better cinematically. I liked the fact that Jim’s story started and ended in a hospital bed. I also liked the fact that Jim started out only caring to save his own ass, but ended up sacrificing his life to save his friends. The original ending just seemed way too happy for such a dark and bleak film.
8. They
Despite the fact this is not a very memorable film, I do remember liking the alternate ending much better than the dreary and weird theatrical ending. In the theatrical ending, Julia (Laura “ I die in every horror film I’m in” Regan) gets taken away by the night terrors in her hospital room. In the alternate ending, it suggests that she imagined everything in her head, and she was going crazy. Sure, it’s a predictable “twist” ending, but that ending filled in a lot of plot holes that the theatrical version didn’t.
9. Final Destination
The original ending for this film was actually quite depressing. Alex ends up dying to save a pregnant Clear, who then has Alex’s baby, (a subplot that was ignored in the theatrical version) thus breaking Death’s plan. When I had first watched this alternate ending, I was very happy the studio stuck to the fun and flashier ending seen in theatres. Although, after watching FD2 and seeing Alex’s character bumped off so effortlessly, I changed my mind. I’d rather see this character go out in a blaze of glory, instead of getting knocked off by a falling brick off screen.
10. Terminator 2
This amazing film is on my personal top ten list of all time favorite films. Even though the ending was dark, I wouldn’t have changed it, because it felt right for the tone of the film. It left viewers thinking there was a better hope for the future. Unfortunately, it also left the door open to make the disappointing and inferior T3, which I still wish I could erase from my memory. I recently saw a tagged on ending for T2 that had Sarah Connor and John Connor in the future living a normal and happy life. Sure, it’s cheesy. But, if they kept that ending, there would never have been an inferior second sequel.
