MovieChat Forums > Fatal Attraction (1987) Discussion > Alternate ending question *spoilers*

Alternate ending question spoilers

posted 13 years ago by saint_sophie
18 replies | jump to latest

Do you prefer the alternate ending (Alex comitting suicide/Dan being blamed for her murder) or the proper ending (Alex being shot by Beth). To me the suicide ending seemed a lot more realistic, and would have left much more of a cliffhanger with Dan and his family. The proper ending, while very tense and dramatic, seemed a little... I dunno the word/phrase... BANG! Dead. Baddie finished, etc. Abrupt is probably the word. I did like it though and it did leave a resolution.

Alex committing suicide seemed more true to the character, as some people who suffer with this form psychosis succumb to such an end anyway. It may also have evoked a level of sympathy from the audience towards Alex in spite of everything (even though she was an evil b***h, she was still pretty pitiful) and made it all the more powerful. It would also have been interesting to see Dan's reaction to this. I think I would have preferred the suicide ending.

What does everyone else think?

[–] shrugs 13 years ago

The alternative ending (which I haven't seen) sounds like it makes a lot more sense thematically, but it would probably be less satisfying to watch. Ideally an ending should accomplish both.

What if a squirrel wants a sausage?

[–] OldGrayMare 13 years ago

Audiences would have been annoyed if Alex got away with ruining Dan's life.

It is more realistic for her to kill herself and frame Dan, but I enjoy the more explosive climax where she snaps and goes after Beth. It might be a bit cliche, but the final scare moment when you think she's dead is one of the best ones they've ever done in a movie.

[–] JJdaPK 13 years ago

I feel if Fatal Attraction was a novel, the alternate ending would be a lot better for the reasons stated above (thematic consistancy, foreshadowing)

But as a movie, you need to have a more exciting climax. It's just what people want. I'm pretty sure if they used the alternate ending it would have been more popular with critics and the Oscars, but it probably would have grossed only half of what it made at box office.

[–] fonte-2 13 years ago

"Alex committing suicide seemed more true to the character, as some people who suffer with this form psychosis..."

But she was always very ambivalent about killing herself. She seesawed back and forth - slitting her wrists, but then coming to Dan to save her before it was too late. Stabbing herself with the knife - but not enough to do herself in. She was very masochistic - even throwing herself into a dalliance that she undoubtedly knew (she was, after all, not a dumb woman) would ultimatley hurt her - and keep hurting her. That's precisely what she wanted....That's why she had to keep bothering Ed - the pain (of rejection) was so sweet she couldn't let it go. She was definitely masochistic, but not fatalistic....until the end when she knew it was about to end. JMHO.

[–] OldGrayMare 13 years ago

The slitting her wrists was a sick tactic in an attempt to inspire pity and make him stay with her. I don't believe she ever intended to die from that.

[–] Gypsy12 13 years ago

Agreed. I truly don't get how people thinking Alex suiciding fits her character. Alex was not one to give in. There is NO WAY she would have conceded defeat and killed herself. Absolutely NO way. She was too stubborn, too determined, self-absorbed and single-minded for her to do that. She wanted Dan, and she wanted Beth out of the picture. It makes sense she'd try to kill the wife. The REASON Dan wouldn't be with her. I don't see Alex giving up and killing herself. I do not see that. I do not see that at all.

"I hate cul-de-sacs. There's only one way out, and the people are kind of weird."
The Burbs

[–] OldGrayMare 13 years ago

When you look at all the great lengths she went to try and have Dan in her life it doesn't make any sense does it? She was also adamant that she wanted to raise her baby. I believed her when she said she was 36 years old and it could be her last chance to have a child. There was conviction in her voice. She wasn't just spinning Dan a line about that one.

[–] transmentalist 11 years ago

Definitely agree, Gypsy.

In fact, I think you put your finger on EXACTLY what makes the original ending feel "wrong."

While it "picks up" on various themes throughout the film, it's not true to Alex's character as Close played her.

The theatrical ending, while understandably criticized for its "mad slasher" approach, better matches Alex's never-say-quit attitude.

[–] mr-the-rohan 11 years ago

Read the stats on BPD suicides. It very much fits her character, it's just that women tend to be less successful than men at doing it. The reason she obsessed was because she couldn't bare the pain of rejection; as soon as she realised she couldn't have him, suicide would be a very likely option (to my mind).

[–] melco92 11 years ago

The original may have been more realistic, but I can see why they changed it. It would have felt a bit flat for a movie climax.

Plus, doesn't it turn out that Beth finds the tape recording like two minutes later and is able to clear his name? That situation resolved itself too quickly.

Reportin' live for Black TV: White folks are dead, we gettin' the f*@# outta here!

[–] noway234-1 11 years ago

The ending that we got was very traditional. It felt very much like the ending everyone expects, the good person triumphs over the bad person. It's very much an ending that feels by the books and, while satisfying, also kind of ends the story on a bit of a 'makes it easy' moment because once the film ends, everyone can more or less move on with their lives.

The alternate ending is infinitely better in my opinion. Not only was is shocking and dramatic, it fit the character and is so beautifully done (In the Blu Ray version I watched the image cuts to black as she's falling, it was perfect) that I don't get why they didn't keep it... except, you know, test audiences suck. Test Audiences are why we have this ending and the lame Little Shop ending. If they'd kept the Suicide ending this film would be infinitely better.

[–] mystic-hawk 10 years ago

The original/alternate/suicide ending is unspeakably better and would have made it a better film. :(

He was sweeping, you sons of bitches, he was sweeping.

[–] renatom1 10 years ago

The original ending certainly would have helped people better understand the horror of suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, and perhaps even began a dialogue and movement to better help people suffering from that mental condition.

[–] MarkinTempe 10 years ago

The movie was an intense romantic melodrama with the original ending. By having Alex go all Jason Voorhees, it became a horror/thriller that made it the memorable 80's film that is today. The original ending would have been popular had the film been made in the 90's.

[–] EvolutionVIII 9 years ago

I like the psycho slasher ending much better. Original ending was lame.