Last night, I finally watched Gone Girl—yes, the 2014 film. I no longer keep up with movie trends or box office buzz. It was cold, raining, and I’d wrapped up this week’s writing, so Margo and I flicked through the channels. Not much on, but Ben Affleck’s always worth a look. We landed on this dark, twisty tale of a marriage gone horribly wrong—and got pulled right in.
What struck me most wasn’t the strong performances or the haunting tone—it was the ending. Disturbing. Unsettling. Unsatisfying, even. The villain wasn’t caught, and those who knew the truth just… went on with life. No justice. No relief. And yet, it felt real. Familiar, even.
It reminded me of my own writing. My stories often end this way—not neatly tied, not hero-saves-the-day. I don’t do it to tease sequels. I do it to mirror the same frustration and emotional disquiet that runs through the narrative. The characters live with it. So must the reader.
Gone Girl didn’t disappoint me. On the contrary, it reaffirmed something I already believed: not all stories should have a resolution that makes the audience feel good. Sometimes, they should just feel. And last night, I felt plenty.
–Michael (Dark fiction. Author of SEETHINGS (the first book), free for a limited time)
Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
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