MovieChat Forums > Fatal Attraction (1987) Discussion > Let's talk about the original ending

Let's talk about the original ending

posted 10 years ago by curious_chaos
27 replies | jump to latest

I actually like the originally scripted ending-- the one that got negative reactions from test audiences so they reshot the ending to what we have today. I like it better than the final version we ended up with. It feels like it was the ending that was originally intended to be-- it's not as fun or exciting as the ending with Alex going bat$#*+ crazy, veering into slasher film territory. Rather, it's a more natural, quiet, and truly disturbing ending. SPOILERS: Alex Forrest slices her neck with the knife that Dan wrestles from her right at the end...

That is a much a more ballsy ending than to end it with her going into a violent rage. It makes so much more sense to me, both in the sense of the story and in the film itself. The look that Glenn Close gives Michael Douglas as he backs away after he wrestled the knife away makes complete sense now!! She's looking like she's thinking "I got you now, you bastard". She got his fingerprints on the knife so she can totally frame him. And that makes much more sense to me than her tracking him down and harming his family. Plus, that lingering shot of the knife in his hands as he sets it down actually fits the story then.

I think that its a shame the original ending got a negative reaction. All for the sake of blood and violence to make it more of a shocker type ending with a bang instead of a quiet, honest, and let's just say it, less memorable ending with our main man getting framed for the suicide of a seriously unstable psychotic woman.

I watched Fatal Attraction again the other day and I feel like the original ending is a more appropriate, if less fun, way to end a movie that makes you rethink having an affair. I wish that movies didn't have to face alteration in order to make it more accessible aka more successful. Such a shame. That censorship dilutes the message sometimes. Too bad.

If you haven't seen the original ending, I highly recommend it. It's worth seeing.

[–] Corky666 9 years ago

Agreed

[–] highpriestess32 9 years ago

Glenn Close apparently pleaded for the alternative ending and was very dissatisfied with the ending that they went with for similar objections to yours but they insisted on it and she remained professional, giving a good performance in spite of vehemently disgareeing with every aspect of it.

I liked both endings for differing reasons but can appreciate why the alternative ending may have been a little more impactive and believable. I'm not much of a fan of presumed dead people emerging after a lengthy feigned death to make one last plunge. It's all a bit old hat. Lol.

"Has anyone seen my wife?" - Columbo

[–] transmentalist 9 years ago

I think the theatrical ending felt cheap and tacked on, BUT I've read arguments on this board that Alex wasn't the type to actually commit suicide. She was too self-absorbed, selfish and delusional to resort to killing herself for any reason.

In that light, the theatrical ending makes more sense than the original ending ... the movie is building towards Alex as an inexorable force, not a despairing real-life Madame Butterfly.

[–] highpriestess32 9 years ago

Well Close remarks in the special features that she spoke to a psychiatrist in some depth about how the character would progress in such a scenario and suicide was given as a very likely outcome. I can't recall the exact dialogue but I know that Close made her objections very clear and she fought the decision to the best of her ability.

I think that they wanted to see Beth carry out her threat. I seem to recall that the original ending (suicide), didn't go down too well with the test audience. I think Alex was crazy enough to kill herself in order to frame Dan. They pretty much set the scene with Dan placing the knife she used to slit her throat down on the surface after their fight - a knife now covered with his fingerprints. In spite of her delusions I believe that deep down she knew Dan was no longer remotely interested which is why she stopped the manipulation and instead sought a path of revenge (taking his child, trashing his car, making the tape)...but her ultimate revenge would be to end her life and see Dan both framed and ruined. Kind of "If I can't have you, nobody will", mentality.

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] sc_taylor 9 years ago

How did you get to see the original ending? Was that the version released in Japan? How can I get hold of it?

[–] highpriestess32 9 years ago

It's on my Region 2 DVD (Amazon) in the Special Features and should be on Region 1 too if you are in the States.

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] tpcorless 9 years ago

I still find the original ending somewhat unsatisfying.

Dan is framed but exonerated when Anne Archer finds the tapes. I think it would have been more interesting for him to be stuck in jail and no evidence could be found (maybe a pan to the tapes to suggest, if found, he might get off).

[–] highpriestess32 9 years ago

Interesting points.

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] mkohary 9 years ago

If you haven't already, you can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY_NQK7rJrY

[–] sgtlaugh 9 years ago

Wow the original ending definitely sounds much more intriguing. I didn't realize there was an alternate ending before reading this post.

[–] manram24 9 years ago

They tested the original ending in front of an audience and they hated it so they changed it, the audience apparently loved when Beth answered the phone and threatened to kill Alex so they came to the conclusion that the audience wanted to see Beth kill Alex.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mkohary 9 years ago

For clarity, here is the alternate ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY_NQK7rJrY

I see what you're saying...however, as you note, the alternate (albeit original) ending is "less fun" and frankly, has a lot less impact. In fact, it's a little bit lame, because at the very end Beth finds the cassette tape that will very clearly exonerate her husband, so his framing and arrest basically just ends up being a little scare for them and nothing more.

I do agree with you completely that the alternate ending makes the assault scene just before (in her apartment where he wrestles away the knife) resonate a lot more. But as a climax it leaves a lot to be desired.

What would have been a really good ending would be to have the alternate ending, but Beth doesn't find the tape. Instead, it sits on his desk and maybe the camera slowly zooms in until you notice it sitting there. That would have been dark and ambiguous.

But the ending that's there, though maligned by some, is taut and effective and most of all, very emotionally satisfying, especially since Beth is the one who pulls the trigger. I'm fine with it just the way it is.

[–] ewolfman 9 years ago

What would have been a really good ending would be to have the alternate ending, but Beth doesn't find the tape. Instead, it sits on his desk and maybe the camera slowly zooms in until you notice it sitting there. That would have been dark and ambiguous.

A good idea.

And one more idea: Beth finds the tape, listens to it but decides to throws it away and have her vengeance.

[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

Beth finds the tape, listens to it but decides to throws it away and have her vengeance.

Ha - I was totally thinking that when she took the tape out of the player and stared at it. I was wondering if she would start to pull the tape out of the case and destroy it.

[–] mkohary 8 years ago

That is dark and twisted, both of you. I like your styles. ;)

[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

What would have been a really good ending would be to have the alternate ending, but Beth doesn't find the tape. Instead, it sits on his desk and maybe the camera slowly zooms in until you notice it sitting there. That would have been dark and ambiguous.

That's definitely a much more intriguing ending. As you said, this original just doesn't have the impact and is basically just a little scare for them.

One thing I don't understand about the original ending is why they didn't show her committing suicide before the police showed up to his place ? It really has less impact showing her slice her throat after we already know it only was a scare. If they showed her killing herself beforehand it would have been so much more dramatic. Instead, she effectively dies off-camera and we're told about it by the police. And so the final scene of her killing herself is just like an afterthought.

[–] mkohary 8 years ago

I agree, and I didn't think about that before - I think you're right, and that's one reason the alternate scene didn't seem as high-impact to me. If it had been edited differently, with her suicide first, it might have played better.

[–] DracTarashV 9 years ago

Not knowing a thing about the original ending, I actually expected the movie to end that way after the apartment/knife attack scene. Was I disappointed with the more "Hollywood" ending we got? No, I'm fine with it.

The original ending making more sense is, dare I say, subjective. Someone like Alex wasn't going to stop until she got what she wanted.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] MEhrmantraut 9 years ago

My biggest problem with the reshot ending is that it gave birth to one of the most tiresome cliches in film the last 28 years: the killer coming back to life for one last scare. I'd post examples, but they'd be spoilers.

[–] highpriestess32 9 years ago

Yes, my friend. I can live with that concern too.

All too often they have to have the "dramatic death" scenario. The ambience of restorative calm and then the killer having one last gasping breath and a final stab!

Great post!

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] norman-dostal 8 years ago

Haha. No. That was done many times before this movie. Terminator, all Friday the 13th movies- just a few examples!

[–] transmentalist 9 years ago

It definitely makes more sense what with the close up of him placing the knife down, the tape finally serving a purpose, and her ending it like Madame butterfly. Watching the original ending, you notice little things like that kind of bring everything full circle. Wish it was cut into the film.

Nowadays, you can rip the DVD and cut it into the film yourself

Did the same thing myself with Risky Business - you'd be surprised how well it plays

That said, I have mixed feelings. I HATE the jump-scare ending, and I fully agree that the original ending fit the film's tone, theme, style, etc. etc. ad nauseum

But I still find the theatrical ending more satisfying somehow.

I think having Beth threaten to kill Alex, then actually do it, is the tipping factor for me, as it was for the test audience