10 movies about mysteries that were never solved

Some of the best mystery movies end on an ambiguous note, and this is especially powerful if they are based on real-life cases. While a grand finale that reveals the culprit can be immensely satisfying in the moment, many of the best mystery movies end without a clear resolution. No answer is ever as engaging as a good puzzle, and unsolved mysteries can stay with audiences for much longer.

Movies based on true crime stories usually offer audiences more to chew on, and they can do their own research long after the credits roll. It’s also interesting to see how filmmakers approach open mysteries when the audience is so used to having all the answers. Movies can bring real-life criminal cases to life unlike any documentary, pulling audiences into a perplexing mystery.

10

Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher makes his audience just as obsessed with an unsolved case as he is

David Fincher’s crime dramas have often delved into the dark depths of criminal psychology, however Zodiac Put the audience in the shoes of the investigators. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a cartoonist who becomes obsessed with uncovering the true identity of the Zodiac Killer in San Francisco. Although the case occurred in the 1960s, Zodiacs approach to citizen sleuthing feels surprisingly modern.

Just like in real life, the identity of the killer is never revealed zodiac, Although the investigation points to one suspect in particular. however, Zodiac Leave things open to interpretation, and there is just as much evidence discounting Arthur Leigh Allen. Zodiac is a charming kind of whodunit. It’s not just about solving the mystery; It’s also about the deep obsession of a good puzzle. It’s easy to become just as transfixed with the mystery as the characters are.

9

The Black Dahlia (2006)

The black dahlia is based on the famously unsanctioned murder of Elizabeth Short in 1947. Short was given the nickname “Black Dahlia” by sensationalist tabloid newspapers, which drew attention to the gruesome nature of her murder. Her body was found in a park in Los Angeles after she was badly mutilated and drained of blood. Brian De Palma The black dahlia Follows two police officers who try to solve the case.

In real life, The Black Dahlia case remains unsolved, although the LAPD has considered over 150 suspects. De Palma’s movie suggests a possible solution, with Short’s death being linked to her role in a pornographic film. There is no evidence to suggest that Short ever took this kind of work, so The black dahlia is nothing more than pure speculation, told in the same style as the film noir movies of the era.

8

The City That Dreaded Sandown (1976)

Most of the slasher movie’s gory details are taken from real life

The city that dreaded Sandown is recognized as one of the first slasher moviesReleased two years before John Carpenter’s Halloween. The movie tells the story of the real-life series of murders that took place in and around the city of Texarkana, Texas in 1946. The Texarkana Moonlight Murders, as they came to be known, were never solved, although the Phantom killed five people and injured three others.

The city that dreaded Sandown Stay true to the facts of the case, although it is not necessary to add extraordinary details to make the murders seem more horrific. Many iconic slasher villains seem to draw directly from the Phantom, with its shapelessness and slow, deliberate pace. The city that dreaded Sandown Ends with a meta twist, as the Phantom attends the movie’s premiere, highlighting the fact that he can still run free.

7

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Martin McDonagh transforms a real-life case into his own story

Martin McDonagh’s darkly comic masterpiece Three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri It stars Frances McDormand in Oscar-winning form as a grieving mother who pressures the local police department for failing to solve her daughter’s murder. Although her actions cause an uproar in her town, she ends up with no clarity on who is responsible. She finds one suspect, but he is ruled out by DNA and a tight alibi.

Three billboards Ends with the mother and one of the police officers together to drive across the country to confront their only suspect. They know that he is not guilty of her daughter’s murder, but they have strong enough evidence to believe that he killed another anonymous woman. Three billboards is loosely based on a true story, however McDonagh makes a lot of changes to the Cathy Page case.

6

Without a Rudder (2004)

Without a rudder is a comic fantasy about solving a famous mystery

Without a paddle is a true comedy about three friends who go in search of a hidden treasure in the forest. Although their story is entirely fictional, The treasure they seek is linked to a real-life case That has drawn endless speculation since 1971. A man known by the alias DB Cooper hijacked a flight from Portland to Seattle and parachuted off into the night with $200,000 in cash.

Although DB Cooper was never caught and his real identity remained unknown for over 50 years, lovers of sleeves came up with their own solutions. Without a paddle Suggests that he fell into a mine shaft, and had to burn half of the money for warmth. This supports the popular theory that Cooper did not survive the jump, although his remains have never been found.

5

The Irishman (2019)

The disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa is one of America’s great mysteries

One of the most popular unsolved mysteries in American history is the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. The union leader was a hugely influential political figure in the 1960s. Throughout his time as president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Hoppe was plagued with accusations that he had ties to organized crime, and many people believe that had something to do with his disappearance.

Martin Sources The Irish Tells the story that Charles Brandt puts out in his book, which claims that Hoffa was killed by Frank Sheeran on the orders of the Mafia. Al Pacino delivers a brilliant performance as HoffaCapturing his great personality until his dying day. Although Brandt claims that Sheeran confessed to him personally, there are many who reject his version of events, and Hopf’s fate remains a mystery.

4

Loving Vincent (2017)

Some historians believe that Vincent Van Gogh was murdered

Vincent van Gogh’s death has been the subject of much debate in the art world. The official verdict is that Van Gogh shot himself in the chest before dying two days later, but there are some strange details about the case. Which suggests he may have been murdered. His admission that he fired the shot could have been his way of protecting the real culprit, whether they shot him by mistake or on purpose.

Dear Vincent‘s eye-catching oil painting animation tells the story of one man’s investigation into Van Gogh’s death. By talking to people who spent time with the artist in his last days, Armand Rollin sees that some things don’t add up. The film is based on the theory of Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith’s biography Van Gogh: The Life, which focuses on the evidence that suggests Van Gogh’s bullet wound must have come from several feet away, and that he was mentally stable in the days before his death.

3

The Bank Job (2008)

Jason Statham’s heist thriller promises the real scoop

There aren’t many heist movies that are based on real casesBut the story of the 1971 Baker Street Robbery may be stranger than fiction. The true story behind The bank works Has a lot of holes in it, and the true purpose of the heist is still somewhat mysterious. The police only managed to recover a small amount of the stolen money, and there are still some unanswered questions.

According to the producers of the bank works, The Jason Statham movie contains some real information about the case that has never been made public before. The bank works Allegations that the true purpose of the heist was a collection of compromising photos of Princess Margaret. Theoretically, the photograph could be worth much more than the money taken in the robbery. Until the British police reveal the documents related to the case in the year 2071, The bank worksHis version of events will probably remain just another theory.

2

Memories of Murder (2003)

The case was unsolved at the time

Bong Joon-ho’s crime thriller Memories of murder is based on a series of rapes and murders that took place in South Korea in the 1980s. Many of the gruesome details in Memories of murder are taken from real lifeWithout the need for any embellishment. At the time, the case was not solved, but the South Korean police had a breakthrough years later, which led to them identifying the culprit as a man who was already serving a life sentence for another crime.

Memories of murder Details the obsession and stress that accompanies such a high-profile case, but it also has some dark humor. It satirizes the inefficient nature of South Korea’s criminal justice system, explaining that many cases are hindered by basic human error. This is a big difference to most Western mystery movies, in which the efficacy of law enforcement is rarely called into question.

1

From Hell (2001)

Jack the Ripper is one of the most famous unsolved cases of all time

from hell is based on one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases of all time, the series of killings that took place in London in the 19th century attributed to “Jack the Ripper”. from hell Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, it is an intriguing blend of fact and fiction. Johnny Depp stars as a Scotland Yard inspector on the trail of Jack the Ripper.

Frederick Abberline was a real investigator involved in the Jack the Ripper caseHowever from hell Imagine a lot of conversations and details about his personal life. This is typical of the movie’s approach to historical fidelity. One thing the movie keeps 100% faithful to is the fact that the case remains unsolved. from hell Is more interested in the panic that grips London and the media frenzy around the killings than actually suggesting a possible solution.