An Ignored Denzel Washington Nineties Thriller Has An Unbelievably Darkish Ending I Nonetheless Cannot Consider Occurred

Denzel Washington’s 1998 thriller Fallen may need been neglected, however it comprises one of many darkest endings of any Nineties film. Washington had cemented himself as a Hollywood star and an acclaimed status actor by the ’90s, along with his films of the last decade reflecting each points of his repute.

Denzel Washington’s Nineties films vary from critically acclaimed works, like Philadelphia and Satan in a Blue Gown, to blockbuster hits, like Crimson Tide and The Pelican Temporary. Some films from that decade are hardly remembered amongst Washington’s finest titles, however nonetheless deserve extra consideration all these years later.

Washington additionally turned down some notable initiatives within the ’90s, together with Brad Pitt’s position in Se7en. Nevertheless, whereas Se7en‘s ending cemented it as an awesome film of the period, one among Washington’s most neglected thrillers of the last decade is simply as grim in its ultimate moments.

Fallen’s Ending Is A Darkish Twist The place The Villain Wins

Denzel Washington’s Hero Makes A Noble Sacrifice That Is All In Useless

Fallen is a thriller starring Denzel Washington as John Hobbes, a detective who witnesses the execution of a serial killer he helped put away. Nevertheless, quickly, obvious copycat killings are going down, just for Hobbes to understand he’s coping with one thing supernatural and even biblical.

The murders are literally being dedicated by a fallen angel generally known as Azazel, who can inhabit the our bodies of whomever it likes. When the host physique is killed, it merely appears to be like for a brand new host to hold out its evil deeds. Nevertheless, Hobbes discovers that Azazel can solely survive exterior a number for a number of moments and can perish if it can’t discover a new one.

Hobbes lures Azazel, within the physique of Hobbes’ accomplice Jonesy (John Goodman), out into the center of nowhere. Hobbes then ingests poison and shoots Jonesy, leaving Azazel with solely the choice of taking Hobbes’ physique, operating by way of the empty wildness looking for a brand new host earlier than the poison kills him.

As Hobbes’ physique collapses to the bottom, it appears as if the hero has defeated the fallen angel. Nevertheless, a cat shortly emerges from the close by cabin with Azazel’s voice-over narration mocking the viewers for considering he was defeated, making it a uncommon film the place the villain wins.

Fallen Is An Underrated Denzel Washington Thriller

Fallen’s Twist Ending Completely Suits The Darkish Tone

Aside from being the supply of that well-known Denzel Washington meme, Fallen is essentially ignored when it comes to the actor’s filmography. Whereas it won’t be on the identical stage as his really nice films, like Coaching Day or Malcolm X, it’s total an underrated thriller that deserves extra consideration.

The premise is thrilling, a mixture of gritty police procedural and supernatural horror films. The villain is a risk that appears inconceivable to defeat, as it may be whomever it needs to be. The scene wherein Azazel repeatedly modifications our bodies whereas mocking Hobbes is a good sequence that exhibits the detective what he is up towards.

Washington performs the heroic protagonist splendidly, and is joined by a stellar supporting solid, together with John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, and James Gandolfini. Nevertheless, it’s the ending that seals the film as an neglected gem. It’s devastating to be taught that Hobbes’ heroic sacrifice was for nothing and that this immense evil will proceed to lurk round in plain sight.

A part of the explanation the ending is so impactful is how the film units it up. It begins with the picture of Hobbes staggering by way of the wilderness because the narration from Washington tells us: “I wanna let you know concerning the time I nearly died.”

The narration initially appears awkward and misplaced, however it’s only on the twist ending of Fallen that we notice it was Azazel talking by way of Hobbes. His line is one other mocking occasion of this fallen angel letting the viewers know that he’s going to win.