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.
WARNING – SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.