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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment magazine in the UK“, we take a look at the top ten most confusing films, and take a stab at deciphering what they actually mean.
Have you ever emerged from a cinema feeling more bewildered than enlightened? We’ve all been there. Certain films revel in their ambiguity, leaving audiences scratching their heads and searching for answers. But beneath the surface of head-scratching narratives and perplexing visuals, there’s often a deeper meaning waiting to be unearthed.
Join us on a journey as we delve into the enigmatic world of the most confusing films ever made as we tackle these cinematic head-scratchers, explore the theories surrounding them, and attempt to decipher their hidden messages. So, grab your metaphorical flashlight, because we’re about to navigate the labyrinthine plots and cryptic symbolism of these thought-provoking films!
To help us out, Joshua George, the founder of ClickSlice, sent over his research into which are the top ten most confusing movies based on Google search volume.
As viewers, we embrace the challenge of deciphering the complexities, finding beauty in the ambiguity and revelling in the lingering mysteries left by these thought-provoking creations.
-Joshua George, the founder of ClickSlice
| Rank | Movie | Monthly Google Search Volume | IMDb Rating |
| 1 | The Menu | 4300 | 7.2 |
| 2 | Talk to Me | 2100 | 7.1 |
| 3 | It Snows In Benidorm | 1700 | 5.3 |
| 4 | Triangle of Sadness | 1400 | 7.3 |
| 5 | Run Rabbit Run | 1200 | 5.1 |
| 6 | Shutter Island | 1200 | 8.2 |
| 7 | The Platform | 1200 | 7 |
| 8 | Bull (2021) | 1100 | 6.5 |
| 9 | Saltburn | 1000 | 7 |
| 10 | The Equaliser 3 | 1000 | 6.8 |
Director: Mark Mylod
Mark Mylod’s The Menu offers a satirical take on the culinary world, following a group of wealthy elites at an exclusive restaurant. However, its intricate plot and shifting perspectives can leave audiences bewildered as they try to unravel the mystery behind the characters’ motivations.
-Joshua George
A young couple, Margot (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), embark on a much-anticipated visit to Hawthorne, a remote island restaurant helmed by the enigmatic Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). However, their dream date night takes a sinister turn as the evening’s meticulously crafted courses become increasingly bizarre and unsettling.
The film is a visual feast, showcasing exquisite dishes that take on a disturbing edge. As the night progresses, a sense of dread builds, blurring the line between performance art and genuine threat. Chef Slowik emerges as a complex and unsettling figure, orchestrating a series of events that leave Margot and the other guests questioning their motives and their very safety.
A Critique of Consumerism: The film might be a scathing commentary on our consumer culture, particularly our obsession with exclusivity and fine dining. The wealthy patrons become mere vessels for Chef Slowik’s artistic vision, highlighting the emptiness of their pursuit of fleeting experiences.
A Class Commentary: The stark contrast between the entitled guests and the overworked staff raises questions about class dynamics and power imbalances. Chef Slowik’s actions could be seen as a twisted form of revenge against the elite who view him and his staff as mere servants.
The Artist’s Desperation: Perhaps Chef Slowik represents the desperate struggle of an artist yearning for recognition. His elaborate and disturbing menu becomes a warped expression of his desire to be seen and appreciated, even if it means shocking and repelling his audience.
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Kasi Lemmons’ biographical drama Talk to Me chronicles the life of radio DJ Petey Greene. However, its nonlinear narrative and unconventional storytelling techniques have left some viewers disoriented as they have to piece together the fragmented story of Greene’s rise to fame.
-Joshua George
Talk To Me delves into the unlikely friendship between Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a captivating but lonely late-night radio host, and Petey Greene (Don Cheadle), a recently paroled ex-convict with a hidden talent for captivating storytelling. Dewey, struggling with low ratings and a growing sense of disconnect, stumbles upon Petey’s electrifying phone calls during his late-night shift. Impressed by Petey’s raw honesty and charisma, Dewey takes a chance and brings Petey on air unannounced.
The film chronicles the unexpected success of their on-air partnership. Petey’s streetwise perspective and unfiltered honesty resonate with listeners, breathing new life into Dewey’s struggling show. As their professional bond strengthens, an unlikely friendship develops. Dewey helps Petey navigate the challenges of reintegration into society, while Petey challenges Dewey’s sheltered world view and ignites his passion for genuine human connection.
The Yearning for Connection: In a world increasingly dominated by technology, the film highlights the power of authentic human interaction. Dewey and Petey, despite their vastly different backgrounds, find solace and understanding in their connection.
The Power of Voice: The film celebrates the power of finding one’s voice and using it to connect with others. Petey, initially hesitant to share his story, discovers the impact his voice can have on a vast audience.
The Importance of Empathy: Despite their differences, Greene and Hughes develop a deep understanding of each other. The film emphasizes the importance of stepping outside your own perspective and connecting with others on a human level.
Director: Isabel Coixet
It Snows In Benidorm intertwines multiple storylines, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. As the characters navigate themes of love, loss, and redemption, the film’s dreamlike sequences and enigmatic ending leave viewers pondering its deeper meaning.
-Joshua George
This Spanish dramedy weaves together fantasy and reality, leaving audiences both charmed and bewildered. The film follows the story of Peter (Timothy Spall), a grumpy British man diagnosed with a terminal illness. He embarks on a final journey to Benidorm, a popular Spanish resort town known for its sunny beaches and lively nightlife, with one unusual request: to see snow.
The film takes a whimsical turn as Peter’s wish is seemingly granted. Benidorm is blanketed in an inexplicable snowfall, disrupting the usual tourist flow and creating a dreamlike atmosphere. As Peter interacts with the quirky townsfolk, including a flamboyant drag queen and a kind-hearted waiter, he begins to confront his mortality and re-evaluate his life choices.
A Metaphor for Facing Mortality: The snow in Benidorm could symbolize the surreal and unpredictable nature of death. Peter’s journey to a place known for sunshine transformed by snow might represent his transition from life to the unknown.
A Second Chance at Life: Perhaps the snow signifies a chance for Peter to rewrite his story. The fantastical elements could be a manifestation of his subconscious desires, allowing him to experience joy and connection before his time is up.
The Power of Hope and Imagination: Even in the face of illness, the film highlights the importance of hope and finding beauty in unexpected places. The snow, a symbol of something out of the ordinary, could represent the power of imagination and the ability to find solace in the face of hardship.
Director: Ruben Östlund
Triangle of Sadness, directed by Ruben Östlund, offers a satirical exploration of the fashion industry and human vanity. The film’s non-linear structure and surrealistic elements contribute to its perplexing nature, leaving viewers pondering the meaning behind its symbolic imagery and disjointed narrative.
-Joshua George
The film follows a young couple, Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), who are seemingly perfect Instagram influencers, vacationing on a luxury yacht with a group of wealthy elites. However, their glamorous facade crumbles when a violent storm throws the hierarchy of the trip into chaos.
As the seas worsen, seasickness and power dynamics come to the forefront. Wealthy passengers, initially confident and arrogant, become helpless and dependent on the lowly cleaning staff, led by the resourceful Abigail (Dolly de Leon). The film delights in skewering the superficiality of the privileged class as they grapple with their new reality.
The Power Shift: “Triangle of Sadness” throws a spotlight on the often-invisible labor of the working class. The storm acts as a catalyst, exposing the hypocrisy and dependence of the rich upon those who serve them. As power dynamics shift, the film invites viewers to question traditional notions of class and hierarchy.
A Critique of Capitalism: The film might be a commentary on the excesses of wealth and consumerism. The characters’ obsession with luxury brands and social media status is mercilessly satirized. Through their struggles, the film highlights the emptiness of materialism and the importance of human connection in times of crisis.
The Absurdity of Gender Roles: Traditional gender roles are also subverted. Carl, initially portrayed as the dominant partner, crumbles under pressure. Meanwhile, Yaya embraces her newfound power and resourcefulness. This shift in dynamics challenges viewers to reconsider societal expectations of masculinity and femininity.
Director: D.K. Goyer
Director D.K. Goyer’s psychological thriller Run Rabbit Run follows a young woman as she navigates a surreal dreamscape filled with hidden dangers. As the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, viewers are left questioning the true nature of the protagonist’s journey, and what exactly she achieved.
-Joshua George
Run Rabbit Run is a psychological horror film that burrows into the dark recesses of motherhood and buried secrets. Sarah (Sarah Snook), a single mother struggling to manage her precocious daughter Mia (Violet McGraw), finds her world turned upside down when Mia begins claiming to be Alice, Sarah’s long-lost sister who vanished as a child.
The film is shrouded in ambiguity, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. As Mia’s behavior intensifies, Sarah is forced to confront her own troubled past and the circumstances surrounding Alice’s disappearance. Haunted by guilt and a fractured memory, Sarah’s grip on reality weakens, leaving the audience questioning what is truly happening.
The Trauma of Loss: Run Rabbit Run could be a haunting exploration of unresolved grief. Sarah’s inability to let go of Alice manifests in the form of Mia’s delusions. The film delves into the psychological impact of loss and the lengths a person might go to in order to fill the void.
A Metaphor for Mental Illness: Mia’s erratic behavior and Sarah’s deteriorating mental state might be symbolic representations of a deeper psychological struggle. The film could be exploring themes of dissociation, psychosis, and the burden of carrying a traumatic past.
The Supernatural Interpretation: While the film primarily relies on psychological horror, a supernatural element remains a possibility. Alice’s possible return as a vengeful spirit or a figment of Sarah’s fracturing mind could be a chilling interpretation of the events.
Director: Martin Scorsese
With its famously confusing ending, Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller Shutter Island has a mind-bending narrative and intricate plot twists that have been confusing viewers for over ten years. Set in an asylum for the criminally insane, the film follows a U.S. Marshal as he investigates the disappearance of a patient. However, as the story unfolds, reality blurs and the audience is left questioning what is real and what is delusion.
-Joshua George
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a haunting performance in the 2010 neo-noir thriller, Shutter Island, a film that plunges viewers into a world of psychological torment and leaves them questioning everything they see.
The film follows US Marshals Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) as they travel to a remote island housing a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane. Their mission: to locate a missing patient. As they delve deeper into the investigation, the island’s unsettling atmosphere and cryptic clues begin to unravel Teddy’s sanity. Memories resurface, blurring the lines between reality and delusion, and leading to a shocking climax that leaves the audience bewildered.
Facing the Past: The island and its patients could represent a manifestation of Teddy’s repressed memories, particularly the horrors he witnessed during World War II. The missing patient symbolizes a truth he desperately wants to forget. The ending, where Teddy chooses a lobotomy, becomes a tragic act of self-preservation, allowing him to escape the unbearable reality of his past.
Conspiracy Theory: The film might be a critique of institutional power and manipulation. Perhaps the asylum is a front for unethical experiments, and the missing patient is a whistleblower exposing the truth. Teddy, unwittingly becomes a pawn in their game, ultimately failing to uncover the sinister truth. The lobotomy then becomes a forced silence, ensuring the island’s secrets remain buried.
Delusional Reality: The entire narrative could be a product of Teddy’s fractured mind. Recurring dreams, inconsistencies in the story, and unreliable characters hint at a fabricated reality. Perhaps Teddy himself is a patient on the island, and the marshals are figments of his delusion. The ending becomes a chilling choice between accepting a peaceful illusion or facing a harsh but true reality.
Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
The Platform takes audiences on a dystopian journey where prisoners in a vertical prison are fed via a descending platform. As the film delves into themes of inequality and human nature, its ambiguous ending and allegorical storytelling leave viewers grappling with its deeper implications.
-Joshua George
The 2019 Spanish film, The Platform, is not for the faint of heart. This dystopian thriller, directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, takes viewers on a horrifying yet thought-provoking journey through a vertical prison with a brutal food distribution system.
The prison consists of hundreds of levels, each stacked on top of the other. Twice a day, a platform laden with a luxurious feast descends from the top level, stopping briefly on each floor. The prisoners on each level are free to take whatever they can before the platform continues its descent. By the time it reaches the lower levels, there’s often nothing left but scraps.
The film follows Goreng (Iván Massagué), a new inmate who awakens on a random level and quickly experiences the horrors of the system. As he descends through the levels, he witnesses acts of desperation, violence, and even cannibalism. He attempts to institute a system of fair distribution, but his efforts are met with resistance and tragedy.
Class System: The film can be seen as a metaphor for the class system, where the wealthy hoard resources at the expense of the less fortunate. As the platform descends, it represents the diminishing opportunities and dwindling resources available to those at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
Consumerism: The film critiques our consumerist society. The initial abundance on the upper levels quickly disappears due to greed and selfishness. It highlights the consequences of a society obsessed with immediate gratification and disregard for those less fortunate.
Human Nature: The Platform forces viewers to confront the dark side of human nature. In the face of starvation, people resort to violence and barbarity. The film questions whether true altruism and cooperation are possible in a system designed to pit people against each other.
Director: Annie Silverstein
Annie Silverstein’s Bull explores the bond between a troubled teen and a retired bull rider. The film’s raw realism and understated narrative style contribute to its ambiguity, leaving viewers free to interpret the characters’ motivations and the film’s ultimate message. As viewers, we embrace the challenge of deciphering the complexities, finding beauty in the ambiguity and revelling in the lingering mysteries left by these thought-provoking creations
-Joshua George
Abe, haunted by the ghosts of rodeo victories and physical decline, struggles to maintain his ranch and navigate a strained relationship with his estranged wife. His days are filled with loneliness and regret, a stark contrast to the thrill-seeking life he once led. Enter Kris, a fierce and troubled teenager grappling with her own demons. Kris, living with her grandmother after her mother’s incarceration, embodies a sense of rebellion and lost direction.
Fate brings these two souls together when Kris, caught breaking into Abe’s house, is offered an alternative punishment: community service at the ranch. Their initial interactions are filled with suspicion and resentment. Abe sees a reflection of his own past mistakes in Kris’s anger, while Kris views him as a grumpy old man stuck in the past. However, as they spend more time together, a tentative respect begins to build.
Healing Through Connection: The film explores the transformative power of human connection. Despite their differences, Abe and Kris find solace and understanding in their unexpected partnership. Abe becomes a mentor figure for Kris, offering guidance and a sense of purpose. Kris, in turn, challenges Abe to confront his emotional baggage and reconnect with his own humanity.
Redefining Masculinity: The film subtly critiques traditional notions of masculinity. Abe embodies a stoic, closed-off character, struggling to express his emotions. Through his interactions with Kris, Abe learns the value of vulnerability and communication, showcasing a more nuanced definition of masculinity that prioritizes connection alongside strength.
Second Chances and Forgiveness: Both Abe and Kris are characters burdened by past choices. Abe grapples with the guilt of past mistakes that fractured his family. Kris seeks a path to escape the cycle of anger and resentment. The film offers a message of hope, suggesting that forgiveness, self-reflection, and second chances are possible, even amidst hardship.
ClickSlice is a bespoke SEO agency based in London that offers powerful SEO services to ambition brands. They’re known for their strong track record and never tying clients in lengthy contracts.
Joshua George is the founder of ClickSlice.
We collected the data using Ahrefs.com. We searched for keywords such as “confusing movies” and “confusing endings” to look at related search results containing movie titles. We also researched movies that were known to be famously confusing and researched keywords such as “shutter island ending” or “run rabbit run explained”.
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