32 Nonsensical Villain Reveals From Movies And TV Shows

In many tales, particularly those categorized as thrillers, the power of the villain significantly impacts the story’s success or failure. Interestingly, some movies and series intentionally build tension by concealing their antagonists until a later point in the narrative.

Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t consistently lead to the best or most sensible results, as the instances I’ll share will demonstrate. Please bear in mind that there are potential SPOILERS ahead.

Aldrich Killian (Iron Man 3)

Many people dislike “Iron Man 3” because the main antagonist, The Mandarin (played by Ben Kingsley), turns out to be an imposter named Trevor Slattery. However, there are others, like myself, who believe this twist is less frustrating than the shallow reasons behind the real villain, Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). Instead of having a grand scheme, he invents a terrorist persona just to get back at Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) for snubbing him at a New Year’s Eve party. To me, it seems like the storyline in “The Incredibles” isn’t that different.

The Final Five Cylons (Battlestar Galactica)

Ronald D. Moore’s SyFy adaptation of “Battlestar Galactica” is often praised as one of the most innovative TV reboots ever made, despite its less-than-satisfying ending. The much-anticipated climax that revealed the Final Five Cylons were Saul (played by Michael Hogan), Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon), Galen Tyrol (Aaron Douglas), Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco), and Tory Foster (Rekha Sharma) – all of whom had no memory of their past lives – left many viewers feeling let down.

Blofeld (Spectre)

In a fresh way of saying it, director Sam Mendes’ second James Bond film starring Daniel Craig, 2015’s “Spectre,” had an element of mystery slightly undermined when it was disclosed that the main antagonist, Blofeld (played by Christoph Waltz), had been secretly manipulating the events in the previous Bond movies. The plot took a turn towards the unbelievable when this villain introduced a twist reminiscent of the spy parody “Austin Powers in Goldmember”: he and Bond were revealed to be half-brothers.

Colleen Wing (Iron Fist)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe storyline known as Iron Fist, featuring Danny Rand (played by Finn Jones) and Colleen Wing (portrayed by Jessica Henwick), it emerges that Colleen is connected to the malevolent group, The Hand. Regrettably, this surprising turn of events was quickly overlooked, resulting in a somewhat disappointing outcome for viewers.

Roman Bridger (Scream 3)

In the series of self-referential slasher films, Scream 3 is often criticized as the least compelling, with many fans pointing to the character wearing the Ghostface mask, Roman Bridger (played by Scott Foley), as a key reason. This is because the director of Stab 3, it’s revealed, is not only Sidney Prescott’s (Neve Campbell) secret half-brother, but also claims to have been responsible for the killings in the first two movies, seeking revenge on their mother who had abandoned them years ago.

Flint Marko (Spider-Man 3)

In Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man film, it is revealed that a common burglar was responsible for the death of Peter Parker’s uncle Ben, portrayed by Cliff Robertson. Contrastingly, in Spider-Man 3, this event is rewritten, placing blame on Flint Marko, the previously compassionate antagonist, who transforms into Sandman after coming into contact with a particle accelerator.

John Connor (Terminator Genisys)

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I can’t help but express my disappointment with the plot twist in 2015’s Terminator Genisys, where our destined hero, John Connor (Jason Clarke), is transformed into a cyborg. Initially, this seemed like an uninspired move, hinted at too early in the promotional materials. However, what truly undermines this film’s narrative twist is its disregard for the time travel rules established within the Terminator series. Specifically, John’s biological parents, Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney), are shown to have been transported from 1984 to 2017, which, according to the movies’ time travel logic, would mean that John should not exist.

Khan (Star Trek Into Darkness)

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but admit that the revelation in 2013’s “Star Trek Into Darkness” where Commander John Harrison (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch) was none other than Khan, the infamous villain originally played by Ricardo Montalban, wasn’t entirely unexpected. However, for us dedicated Star Trek fans, it felt more like an anticipated twist rather than a thrilling surprise, making it somewhat underwhelming.

Walter Sparrow (The Number 23)

In Joel Schumacher’s 2007 psychological thriller “The Number 23”, the character Walter Sparrow, a family man played by Jim Carrey, develops an unsettling obsession with a book about a murderer that turns out to be his own autobiography, written and forgotten following a stay in a mental institution. This twist is somewhat implausible, but the most astonishing part is that his wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen), who knows his past, is the one who initially purchases the book for him. It’s hard to understand why she would intentionally stir up such painful memories.

Dylan Rhodes-Shrike (Now You See Me)

In the 2013 film “Now You See Me,” Mark Ruffalo plays FBI agent Dylan Rhodes who relentlessly hunts down a band of illusionist thieves known as The Four Horsemen. However, by the movie’s conclusion, it is unveiled that he was secretly part of their group and had been orchestrating the events all along, in an effort to avenge his magician father Lionel Shrike’s death.

The Plants (The Happening)

It’s commonly agreed that one of M. Night Shyamalan’s least convincing twist endings is found in his 2008 film, The Happening, where the unexplained, lethal occurrence is unveiled as a vengeful pheromone emitted by the Earth’s plants to punish humans. On the other hand, this implausible plot device is one of the primary reasons why this suspense movie has gained cult status in the “so bad it’s good” genre.

Alchemy (The Flash)

I, Tom Felton, stepped into the role of Dr. Julian Albert on The Flash, coincidentally around the time the enigmatic Alchemy emerged within the Arrow-verse. Given my past roles, particularly as the villainous Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, it didn’t take long for fans to speculate that the historian and this enigmatic antagonist (a manifestation of the evil Speedster, Savitar) were actually one and the same.

Will Benson (I Still Know What You Did Last Summer)

In “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” Julie James’ (Jennifer Love Hewitt) fellow student, posing as Will Benson (Matthew Settle), reveals that he is actually the son of Ben Willis, the man who orchestrated a brutal killing spree in the Bahamas with his father a year prior. This clever twist is one reason I find myself appreciating the entertainingly outrageous 1998 slasher sequel.

Olly (Game Of Thrones)

In the explanation for his change, it was mentioned that a desire for revenge against his parents’ killers was a driving factor. However, Olly’s (Brenock O’Connor) transformation into a villain seems unnatural, especially considering how trustworthy and kind-hearted he initially appeared on Game of Thrones.

Mac (Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull)

In the 2008 movie “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” Mac, played by Ray Winstone, initially appears as an ally to the villains, but later claims to be a secret agent working for Indy (Harrison Ford). However, in the end, he admits that his claim about being a double agent was a lie. This unexpected triple-turn at the end left me feeling more let down by its lack of originality than many other reasons that have led fans to dislike the fourth Indiana Jones film.

Gabriel (Malignant)

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that the mind-blowing twist in the ending of Malignant – where it’s revealed that Gabriel, Madison’s (Annabelle Wallis) mysterious twin, was possessing her body to carry out vengeful killings – is simply brilliant. Yet, there’s one aspect of James Wan’s 2021 Giallo tribute that leaves me scratching my head: how on earth does Gabriel control electricity or make telepathic phone calls?

Marie (High Tension)

In a thrilling, nerve-wracking fashion with memorable slayings, High Tension stands out as an impressive debut for writer and director Alexandre Aja… until the finale. The 2003 French horror film unfortunately undermines itself by disclosing that the maniacal murderer (Philippe Nahon), whom Marie (Cécile de France) has been desperately trying to protect her friend, Alexia (Maïwenn), from, is actually her own dissociative personality. This twist feels carelessly added and inconsistent with the overall plotline.

Christina Scofield (Prison Break)

In Season 4 of Prison Break, we learn that Michael Scofield’s mother, Christina, is a prominent figure in the secretive organization known as “The Company.” However, this plot development, which involved Christina, was met with disappointment by both critics and fans. They felt it was a last-ditch effort to sustain the show following the successful execution of the main prison break plot.

William Schenk (Spiral)

The secret to an outstanding Saw film isn’t just the intriguing traps, but rather a tense atmosphere that keeps viewers guessing, enhanced by a stunning plot twist. Regrettably, many spectators were able to anticipate that the enigmatic main antagonist from Spiral, the ninth installment of the franchise, was actually Detective William Schenk (Max Minghella), who appeared to have been killed much earlier in the story.

Silas (The Vampire Diaries)

Fans of “The Vampire Diaries” on the CW network weren’t particularly pleased when Silas, who could transform, revealed that his real visage was similar to Stefan (played by Paul Wesley).

Dr. David Callaway (Hide And Seek)

In the movie “Hide and Seek” from 2005, the character David Callaway, a widowed psychologist played by Robert De Niro, discovers in a chilling manner that a string of murders his daughter Emily (Dakota Fanning) attributes to her imaginary friend Charlie were in fact carried out by David’s own split personality. Despite the movie’s efforts to keep this twist under wraps, the “ah-ha!” moment where it turns out the villain was the protagonist all along, akin to “Fight Club,” had become an overused trope by that time.

Dan Humphrey (Gossip Girl)

It is my belief that the creators of “Gossip Girl” didn’t know who the real blogger was all along, so they randomly suggested the idea, “What if it were Dan Humphrey?” as a shocking twist. This theory holds up because it certainly took everyone by surprise, but in retrospect, it doesn’t make sense given how upset Penn Badgley’s character became over the blog posts about him.

Yuri Komarov (A Good Day To Die Hard)

Instead of delving deep into all the reasons why both fans and critics disliked the 2013 film “A Good Day to Die Hard,” let’s zero in on a single point for now. In an unconvincing plot turn, John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, and his CIA operative son, Jack (portrayed by Jai Courtney), uncover the shocking truth that the person they were supposedly safeguarding, Yuri Komarov (character acted by Sebastian Koch), was actually the real villain.

Nathan Shelley (Ted Lasso)

In the Apple TV+ original show “Ted Lasso,” it is revealed that reporter Trent Crimm (James Lance) confides to the main character Ted Lasso (played by Jason Sudeikis) that it was Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed) who leaked confidential information about his panic attack. It’s discovered that Nate betrays Ted and switches to coach the opposing team, as he felt hurt and neglected because he perceived Richmond’s head coach, Ted, had abandoned him. The reasons behind this perceived abandonment remain unclear and confusing to many viewers.

Tom Watson (The Girl On The Train)

Initially, the movie “The Girl on the Train” leads you to believe that the main character, Rachel (Emily Blunt), unintentionally killed Megan (Haley Bennett) while intoxicated. However, in a shocking turn of events reminiscent of a “Dateline” episode, it was revealed that Rachel’s ex-husband, Tom (Justin Theroux), who had been abusive and manipulative, was the actual murderer.

Brahms (Brahms: The Boy II)

In a surprising twist, the 2016 horror film “The Boy” initially misleads you into thinking a porcelain doll is inhabited by the spirit of a child named Brahms. However, it’s later revealed that the odd occurrences were orchestrated not by the spirit but by the living, adult Brahms hidden within the walls of his parents’ mansion. But in the sequel, “Brahms: The Boy II,” the original ending is overturned, suggesting instead that the doll has its own consciousness and has been controlling children, including young Brahms, to carry out heinous deeds for a long time.

Ares (Wonder Woman)

In the eyes of many, Wonder Woman, often praised as one of the better DCEU movies, is criticized for its unsatisfying conclusion. Here, it is unveiled that Sir Patrick (David Thewlis) is actually Ares disguised. Not only does the weak delivery of this plot twist fall short, but the revelation of the true God of War undermines the film’s potential to convey a stronger message about human imperfections and contradicts the motivations of Gal Gadot’s Amazonian warrior in other films.

Ian Buckells (Line Of Duty)

When the final episode of the British police drama, “Line of Duty,” unveiled “H” as Ian Buckells (played by Nigel Boyle), viewers speculated that this was a misdirection, suggesting it would be explained further in a later season. This theory allowed them to make sense of such an apparently unintelligent character being the cunning criminal mastermind.

Detective David “Rooster” Fisk (Righteous Kill)

The 2008 cop thriller “Righteous Kill” is often criticized as a career low for both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, particularly due to its surprising plot twist. It’s revealed that Pacino’s character, Rooster, was actually the vigilante killer they had been chasing throughout the movie.

Owen Carver (Fountain Of Youth)

Towards the conclusion of Apple TV+’s “Fountain of Youth”, the archaeologist Luke Purdue, portrayed by John Krasinski, uncovers that his wealthy benefactor, Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson), is not only dishonest but also power-hungry, desiring the legendary artifact for personal gain. This rather predictable twist is reminiscent of the ending of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

Aliens (The Forgotten)

In the 2004 thriller, “The Forgotten,” Julianne Moore’s character, Telly, speculates that the unexplained disappearance of her late son’s memory, along with those of other children, might be orchestrated by extraterrestrials. And surprisingly, she turns out to be correct.

Ray Bronson And Stevie Ward (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

In the 2025 sequel of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” titled as its legacy, Stevie (Sara Pidgeon) takes it upon herself to exact revenge on her friends, convinced they played a role in the accidental demise of her boyfriend, despite their attempts at saving him. Interestingly, this spree of killings also targets individuals unrelated to the initial incident. What adds to the bizarre nature of events is that original survivor Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr) becomes an active participant in the plot, seemingly under the impression that time has erased the tragic events of 1997 from public memory. However, this leads us to wonder why he chose to eliminate a prominent true crime podcaster who was planning on delving into the details of their past ordeal in a forthcoming episode.

2025-08-02 16:27