7 Horror Movie Twists That Are Obvious From the Start, Including 2025’s 93% RT Hit and a Classic Called “Sublimely Creepy”

Horror movies have always loved surprising audiences, and it started way back in 1925 with the shocking reveal in *The Phantom of the Opera*. That first twist set the stage for decades of filmmakers trying to outdo each other. Alfred Hitchcock’s *Psycho* in 1960 really changed the game, and George A. Romero’s *Night of the Living Dead* eight years later kept audiences on the edge of their seats. Each decade in horror is remembered not just for the scary movies themselves, but for the unexpected twists they deliver.

While some horror movie twists are obvious from the beginning, they can actually make the rest of the film less impactful. For every movie like *The Sixth Sense*, where the twist is clear but still works, there are many more that fail because the entire story relies too heavily on a single reveal. Be warned: the following discussion contains spoilers.

1) Scream (2025)

All *Scream* movies center around a core mystery: who is behind the Ghostface mask? Viewers also usually wonder how many killers there are – most films feature more than one, with only one exception. However, the 2022 *Scream* revival revealed one of its biggest surprises much too early.

By the time the new *Scream* movie reached its climax and revealed Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid) and Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison) as Ghostface, most viewers weren’t shocked. While Quaid’s casting might have been unexpected, many recognized Madison from Quentin Tarantino’s *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*, where she played a member of the Manson Family cult. Her previous role as a killer made playing another one in *Scream* feel natural, especially considering her character meets a similar end in both films.

2) Malignant

James Wan’s 2021 horror film is enjoyable and entertaining, but its major plot twist is revealed very early on. The movie starts in a disturbing hospital setting where a doctor explains the immense power of a being named “Gabriel,” but other doctors immediately refer to him as a “cancer” that needed to be eliminated.

It quickly becomes apparent that Gabriel is being influenced by a particular person or entity, and subtle hints throughout the story will make sense once the deaths begin. Therefore, the revelation that Gabriel has been controlling Madison Mitchell all along – as her twin who was absorbed during development – isn’t entirely surprising. While the full story behind the twist might not be immediately obvious, the opening sequence provides a revealing and fairly straightforward setup.

3) Spiral: From the Book of Saw

Viewers go to a new *Saw* film anticipating a surprising twist, and this movie delivers, even though it’s presented as a standalone story within the existing series. Right from the start, it establishes itself as a classic *Saw* film – victims are subjected to horrifying traps and physical injuries. The movie quickly reveals that the killer is specifically targeting police officers. Soon after, we meet a new, inexperienced detective, William Schenk (played by Max Minghella), who becomes Chris Rock’s partner.

The film really hammers home that Schenk is the killer, and a scene where he’s on the phone takes it even further. We hear a baby crying in the background, suggesting that everything about his character is a facade. One twist in *Spiral* is somewhat predictable, but easily missed: the final trap turns Samuel L. Jackson’s character into a puppet controlled like a gun, which ties into the film’s repeated use of pig-themed puppets.

4) Goodnight Mommy

The 2014 horror film, directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, immediately reveals its central mystery. The story begins with a mother returning home after surgery, her head completely covered in bandages. However, the film’s true focus is on her two sons, who believe the bandaged woman isn’t actually their mother.

Right away, it’s noticeable that the supposed mother only ever interacts with one of her sons, which is a big clue, especially for viewers familiar with plot twists where a character is revealed to be deceased. This makes the reveal obvious and unfortunately eliminates most of the suspense from the rest of the film.

5) Carnival of Souls

Herk Harvey’s 1962 film, similar to another we mentioned, immediately establishes a strong mood. While the overall atmosphere and occasional surprises still make it enjoyable-it’s genuinely unsettling-the central twist feels quite predictable. It’s revealed that Candace Hilligoss’ character, Mary Henry, was actually deceased for most of the film, trapped in a sort of ghostly in-between place. The fact that she’s involved in a severe car accident and can’t recall how she survived are strong hints that things aren’t as they seem.

6) Companion

While the movie’s biggest surprise isn’t exactly hidden – the marketing gave a lot away, and there are other twists too – the opening scenes pretty much confirm that Iris, played by Sophie Thatcher, is a robot. The nickname “beep boop” is a pretty big hint! Despite this, audiences still loved the film, as evidenced by its 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

7) The Visit

It’s almost too easy to point out the twist in an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but this one, which helped revive his career, might be the most predictable of all – and that’s saying something considering films like *The Village*. From the moment two children go to meet their grandparents for the first time, it’s pretty clear something isn’t right with these seemingly sweet old folks. While you might not guess the grandparents’ actual bodies are hidden in the basement, it’s obvious they aren’t who they claim to be.

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2025-09-18 17:45