I was rewatching 'The Shawshank Red Redemption' for the 10th time and had a totally different idea for the ending.

Okay so you know how Andy escapes and Red gets paroled and they meet on that beach in Mexico? What if it ended right after Red gets on the bus to go to Mexico? Like, we see him looking out the window, hopeful, and the screen fades to black. We don't see the reunion. It ends on the hope, not the payoff. I was thinking about this after a long day dealing with a flooded apartment unit, and it just hit me that sometimes the journey is the whole point. What do you think? Would that have been a better, more powerful ending, or is the happy reunion necessary?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_gibson4311d ago

Man, that's a heavy thought after a flooded apartment! Honestly, your version is probably the 'better' ending, but I'm a total sucker for the payoff. I need to see Red's face on that beach to feel like my own parole was approved.

derekgibson11d ago

Yeah, I get that need for the happy ending! I'm the same way, I'd sit through ten hours of Andy digging just to see him smile on that beach. My version would probably cut to black right as he steps off the bus and leave everyone mad at me.