What is the best "bad" ending you've seen/read? [Spoilers abound]

[rurbonas]

Ever so slightly OT:

The multiple endings for Planescape: Torment and Deus Ex, two of my favorite games. Both have several endings that all make sense based on the characters and stories involved, but none of them are really "happy endings."

 

[Starman]

Ever so slightly OT:

The multiple endings for Planescape: Torment and Deus Ex, two of my favorite games. Both have several endings that all make sense based on the characters and stories involved, but none of them are really "happy endings."

Not OT, at all. Endings of all sorts apply. I haven't played Deus Ex, but I definitely agree on Torment. I would like to see more games that could potentially end badly, but I think most players would throw their controller/keyboard through their TV/moniter.

Starman

 

[John Crichton]

OOoo. If we are doing videogames as well, Phantasy Star II is way up there. After being the final 2 bosses we find out about the Earthlings and their plans. Final cut to all the characters giving a rah rah then fade to credits. Classic.

 

[Maxwell's Demon]

S.M. Stirling's Draka series of books. The good guys end up booted off the Earth and the slavers have taken over the entire world.

 

[RichCsigs]

Hannibal, the book. I thought the ending in the book was much better than the movie.

 

[Ferret]

I come bearing aweful news.

Mummy. Now, don't be fooled. This isn't The Mummy, no. The ending has them chase down the Mummy, but it charms the professer and he kills them all. The film ends with the mummy in close up disguised as a person. Aweful. I was fooled into thinking it was The Mummy (a much better film) and was very disappointed.

The Wendigo ends oddly. The hero and the villian fight (both having fed on human flesh, and powered up) but the hero wrestles the bad guy into a bear trap and films ends with the eternal last words "That was sneaky". :\

The Thing is great bad ending, so has quite a few that have been mentioned.

 

[Jedidiah]

Glad to see someone finally mentioned Planet of the Apes (the original, not the horrid, wimpy remake - and while we're on that, how can a movie made now have worse special effects than a movie made in the 70's?)

For great 'bad' endings I would have to go with "The Mission." No movie has ever made me want to go out and kick someones butt like that - fortunately no Portuguese exploreres were handy.

And for something more recent how about "Mystic River" with Sean Penn. Great movie, great character, great ending.

 

[Tetsubo]

S.M. Stirling's Draka series of books. The good guys end up booted off the Earth and the slavers have taken over the entire world.

This gets my vote. I loved that series. The Draka rocked.

 

[Pants]

Ever so slightly OT:

The multiple endings for Planescape: Torment and Deus Ex, two of my favorite games. Both have several endings that all make sense based on the characters and stories involved, but none of them are really "happy endings."

Mentioning games...
StarCraft: Brood War and WarCraft: Frozen Throne (to a lesser extent...)

I'd also like to nominate 12 Monkeys as well. That movie f**ked my brain

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I'd also like to nominate 12 Monkeys as well. That movie f**ked my brain

You sure aren't the only one. But man, I never knew that kind of a brain screw could feel good. I suddenly want to watch it again...