10 Cloverfield Lane had an absolutely terrible ending.
SPOILER:
I saw it the other day, and thought it was a fantastic movie. Really well done, and superb acting.
But the ending was just odd. Why was it there?
It was done really well, admittedly, better than many films dedicated to that specific genre do, but it felt incredibly out of place.
I can only assume it was initially conceived of as a joke. It's a call back to a throwaway comedy line earlier in the film, and you can easily imagine the writer/director laughing over the idea of it being the ending.
Only, I reckon Abrams, as producer, heard about the joke and realised he could spin it to better the marketing.
It gives him a reason to connect the film to Cloverfield, despite not sharing any other plot elements, style of filming or setting.
The name change came late before release, changed by Abrams. I'd wager the scene was shot late too, as a pick up in the editing stage. It only required one actor after all, and given a lack of CG beforehand, it wouldn't be too much strain on the department.
And it lets him lure viewers in thinking it's a sequel to Cloverfield, which has a cult following.
It's a shame, because it divides audiences and can leave a bad taste for some. It distracts from the thriller theme earlier, and disappoints those looking for Cloverfield 2.
The film could have stood on its own too. I hope there's a director's cut with an alternate ending.
On-Topic;
Bruce Campbell vs Army of Darkness (Evil Dead 3), if you watch the non-US version.
US version has Bruce return to his normal life, with a bit of action.
Non-US version has Bruce stranded in a tragically comical incident.
