The '90s ended with a mainstream horror genre revival brought on by M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense. Released in 1999, the film's terrifying surprise ending stirred up so much chatter among fans that Shyamalan would go on to replicate this twist plot device in his other films — for better or worse.
While he wasn't the first to incorporate the shocking and unexpected turn into horror features, Shyamalan definitely ramped it up a few notches for contemporary audiences. That being said, there are many other scary films, ranging from dark sci-fi to taut thriller, from the '90s with show-stopping twists. Some are more subtle than others, and they don't always arrive at the end of the film.
Jacob's Ladder (1990)
This Lovecraftian horror film stars Tim Robbins as a Vietnam veteran haunted by his experiences at war. Robbins' character, Jacob Singer, lives in New York City after fighting in the Mekong Delta, but his attempts at a normal life are undercut by hallucinations and supernatural occurrences.
It all comes to a head in a creepy, surreal, and unexpected way at the very end of the movie. The terrifying imagery in Jacob's Ladder inspired video games like Silent Hill, and the film was remade in 2019.
Dark City (1998)
Alex Proyas' neo-noir thriller is a dark and creepy sci-fi tale full of horrific scenes. Rufus Sewell stars in this film about an amnesiac man who is suspected of murder by police.
The twist in Dark City happens when the plot jumps into supernatural territory, delving further and further into bizarre worlds and circumstances. Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, and William Hurt co-star.
Se7en (1995)
David Fincher's Se7en is a warped morality tale about two LAPD officers investigating a serial killer obsessed with the Bible's seven deadly sins. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt play the officers, the former on the eve of his retirement and the latter just getting started in his career.
Se7en is known for its dark narrative style, horrendous crime scenes, and especially for its insane ending, a shocker later mimicked by films like Saw. Instead of making the identity of the killer the upsetting plot development, the twist comes in what the killer does for their final act.
Audition (1999)
The disturbing and gruesome Audition takes body horror to the next level. Directed by Takashi Miike, this infamous Japanese feature is about a man who seeks a new female companion after his wife dies.
When Shigeharu Aoyama meets Asami Yamazaki, he feels the younger woman has potential. As they begin to date, Asami's dark nature is slowly revealed, until it all comes to a head in a horrific, unexpected way.
Scream (1996)
The grand killer reveal in Wes Craven's post-modern slasher masterpiece is what affords Scream a place on among these twisty horrors. This ensemble teen movie stars Neve Campbell as the contemporary horror movie final girl Sidney Prescott, a high schooler who is being stalked by a crazed assailant in a ghost costume.
Scream is a film that doesn't take itself too seriously, but it still packs in plenty of scares. The true identity of the now-iconic Ghostface also manages to come off as a surprise, one replicated over and over again in each subsequent film.
The Faculty (1998)
Another '90s teen horror movie, The Faculty is every high schooler's worst nightmare. After their teachers and fellow students start acting really strangely, a disparate group of youths band together to figure out what's happening.
It turns out their school has been invaded by a parasitic alien creature taking control of everyone's body. This Robert Rodriguez film stars everyone from Salma Hayek to Josh Hartnett to Usher, and it contains an unforeseen dramatic twist ending.
Malice (1993)
Equal parts suspenseful and frightening, Malice is a psychological thriller about a newly married couple whose lives are forever changed when they open up part of their home to a new renter. Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman play the couple, while Bill Pullman co-stars as the tenant, a surgeon by trade.
Nothing is what it seems between these three characters, and their true motivations (and identities) are revealed in stunning ways. Malice is the perfect film for horror fans who prefer human monsters over supernatural ones.
Funny Games (1997)
What's so shocking about this German horror film from Michael Haneke is how its deranged killers break the fourth wall, engaging directly with the audience and even rewinding the movie. What appears to be a straightforward home invasion film about two young men who decide to murder a vacationing family turns into something else entirely.
While not a Shyamalan twist, it's also shocking that the killers lack any concrete motivation for their crimes. Funny Games was later remade by Haneke frame-by-frame in English with Tim Roth and Naomi Watts, and both versions are two of the more unique additions to the genre to date.
12 Monkeys (1995)
Part sci-fi, part horror, 12 Monkeys is a Terry Gilliam gem starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. Before he stunned audiences with his portrayal of Malcolm Crowe in The Sixth Sense, Willis startled moviegoers with his portrayal of the time-traveling convict James Cole in this feature.
Cole is sent back in time to discover the origin of a deadly virus responsible for killing most of humanity, but he ends up in the wrong year. One twist and turn after another culminates with a mind-bending finale that obliterates all sense of linear time.
Fight Club (1999)
Another Brad Pitt and David Fincher team-up, Fight Club defies genres, but there's no denying it is influenced by the psychological horror features that came before it. In this tale about two men who start their own underground fighting group, the distinction between reality and fantasy is completed shattered by the film's maniacal and unforeseen last chapter.
Edward Norton stars alongside Pitt, and the two give career-defining performances as a car insurance auditor and a soap salesman who spark a worldwide movement. Fincher's film is adapted from the Chuck Palahniuk book of the same name.
