Critics Hated This 28-Year-Old Gangster Movie, But Its 2 Secret Endings Would’ve Made It Much Worse

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Posted on 2 hours ago by inuno.ai

Category: Animations & Comics

The crime thriller, Suicide Kings, released in 1997 to mixed reviews and a poor performance at the box office. Blending dark comedy, suspense, and gangster tropes, the film failed to connect with mainstream audiences and drew unfavorable comparisons to the work of Quentin Tarantino. Nearly three decades later, the movie has managed to develop a cult following among fans who think the story was underrated, but Suicide Kings has generallybeen forgotten. Of course, the film’s fate could have been far worse if the producers had concluded the narrative with either of the two alternate endings.

Despite the arguable problems with the plot, Suicide Kings did wrap things up with a satisfying and thematically appropriate climax. Former mob boss Charlie Barret, with his henchman Lono, tracks down Max and Elise who, after betraying their friends, had absconded with his money. Confronting them on a boat, he offers some degree of sympathy for them while making clear that justice, at least his version of it, must be done. On his orders, Lono executes the pair as the screen fades to red. Thankfully, this ending was used instead of the two others that were filmed but later abandoned.

Suicide King’s Alternate Endings Let the Worst Characters Off the Hook

Suicide Kings - Max and Elise — Lionsgate Studios

Suicide Kings’ two alternate endings were included as special features on the DVD release of the film.
The alternate endings were shown to test audiences before the movies release, but ultimately abandoned.
Audiences that saw the alternate endings were frustrated by the idea of Max and Elise getting away with their crimes.

The two alternate endings were similar to the true ending in some respects, taking place in the same location and featuring the same characters. The essence of these scenes and how they played, however, were fundamentally different. Both required Charlie to act completely out of character and allowed Max and Elise to largely evade punishment for their crimes.

In one alternate take, Charlie still tracks down the pair and confronts them on their boat. This time, however, rather than having them killed, he simply takes his money back. Even more shocking, Charlie allows them to keep some of it, seemingly as a show of respect. This ending not only had Max and Elise getting away with all their misdeeds, they were even rewarded for it. They may have lost most of the money, but they were still left with more than when they dreamed up their scheme.

The second alternate ending, at least, left them worse off than how they started, but still let them evade death. Again, Charlie boards their boat, exchanges a few words with them, and takes back his money. Rather than letting them keep some of their ill-gotten gains or having them killed, he then has Lono shoot holes in their boat, leaving them to sink. The scene ends without showing the aftermath of this moment, but it’s safe to assume that Max and Elise make it to shore, broke but alive.

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Both endings clashed with the tone of the film and undermined the character of Charlie. While presented as more of a professional criminal than a violent psychopath, Suicide Kings still makes clear in flashbacks that he’s a dangerous man and certain to take revenge when wronged. He’s shown to sympathize with his kidnappers when he learns of their story, but Max and Elise’s deception was something that he would be unlikely to forgive. The fact that they not only harmed him, but also betrayed their friends would elevate their crime in Charlie’s mind, demanding a more harsh punishment.

Fortunately, test audiences had similar feelings when they watched the alternate endings before the movies release. The consensus was that Max and Elise should not get away with what they did and pay for the damage they had done. These responses ultimately led to Suicide Kings getting the ending it did.

Suicide King’s True Ending Fit the Tone Perfectly

While the film is dark and gritty, it featured performances by several prominent comedians.
Denis Leary, Jay Mohr, and Brad Garret all got their starts as comedians.
While Denis Leary would later move on to more dramatic roles, Mohr and Garret mostly stuck to comedy after Suicide Kings.

The true ending of Suicide Kings, in contrast to the alternatives, concluded the story perfectly. Max climbing back onto the boat after swimming and finding Charlie’s ring is a dramatic and suspenseful moment. It shocks viewers after the previous scene had suggested he and Elise might get away clean. The reveal is made all the more effective by flashbacks and stories from earlier in the movie.

It’s previously established that Charlie values his ring and that removing it is a warning sign. He tells Max and his friends, after they cut off his ring finger, that the ring had only been off his hand one other time in his life. Later in the film, a friend of Charlie’s tells his attorney the story of this occasion, revealing that Charlie gave the ring to a man shortly before killing him. She even emphasizes the importance of the piece of jewelry, concluding her anecdote by saying “Charlie got his ring back.” These moments combine to imbue the ring with an ominous power that allows it to set the stage for what follows.

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When Max and Elise find Charlie sitting on deck, flanked by Lono, it’s clear what’s coming and Christopher gives an excellent and chilling performance in the finale. Displaying the cold, calculating side of a former gangster, he also exhibits just a hint of regret that it’s come to this. Still, even Max and Elise seem to know that Charlie’s personal code won’t allow him to behave any other way.

As Lono raises his gun and the screen fades to red, Suicide Kings gives fans the dark ending that the movie demands. The entire story was about spoiled rich kids trying to dive into a world they don’t truly appreciate or comprehend and quickly finding themselves overwhelmed. The contrast between their wealth and the violence they’re involved in is highlighted by constant transitions between the mansion they’re staying in and Lono on the streets. The murder of Max and Elise, on a fancy yacht in a beautiful location, fits what preceded the scene perfectly.

Suicide Kings deserves more praise

While it earned mixed reviews overall, Suicide Kings did receive praise for its tone and humor.
In an homage to Quentin Tarantino, a shot of Reservoir Dogs is shown on the TV of the thugs who help stage Elise’s kidnapping.
Leaning into its comedic elements, comedian Denis Leary was allowed to improvise nearly all his dialogue in Suicide Kings.

Suicide Kings largely failed with critics and audiences, leading to it becoming an obscure and forgotten film today. While still enjoyed by a cult following, it never managed to achieve mainstream appeal. This is unfortunate as, thanks to its great performances, Suicide Kings is a solid crime thriller worth watching.

Featuring a mix of dramatic and comedic performers, the film nailed a darkly comedic style and took advantage of classic genre tropes while maintaining a sense of originality. Walken’s portrayal of an accomplished criminal who manages to manipulate and intimidate his own kidnappers is consistently entertaining and his henchman, Lono, delivers a solid mix of action and humorous rants thanks to some fun ad libbing by Denis Leary. Further, each of the preppy boys who abduct Charlie have unique personalities that lead to intriguing dynamics between each other and with the former mob boss.

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Brett’s obnoxious bullying and desperate need to be in control leads to continued confrontations, while Ira’s neuroticism and fear make him the closest thing to an ally Charlie has in the house. When it’s revealed that one of the boys may be a traitor, it sets up a mystery and causes viewers to reevaluate them all and watch their behavior more closely from then on. This builds to a tense climax, with Charlie finally taking control and the friends turning on one another. Following this exciting moment with one last denouement on the boat makes for a perfect conclusion.

Suicide Kings, despite its shortcomings and status as a critical flop, remains a cult classic well worth watching. Thanks to dumping its alternate takes, it remains a satisfying thriller from beginning to end.