Denis Villeneuve delivered his greatest plot twist in Incendies 15 years ago, creating a cinematic moment that surpasses even the dramatic events and shocking turns presented in his adaptation of Dune. As interest turns toward his upcoming work on Dune: Messiah, comparisons continue to be drawn between these defining stories in his career and how they handle revelations that leave audiences stunned.
Villeneuve’s Expertise Behind Acclaimed Cinematic Revelations
Few directors have reached the international prestige enjoyed by Denis Villeneuve, who achieved widespread fame following his direction of Dune in 2021. Renowned for his ability to craft complex narratives and revive iconic franchises such as Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve is recognized as one of the most talented filmmakers of his generation. As attention intensifies around Dune: Messiah, fans and critics alike recall the phenomenal twist he orchestrated in an earlier work that arguably set the standard for his reputation.
The narrative of Dune: Part Two has already brought viewers into the chaos of a holy war led by Paul Atreides, setting the stage for even greater upheaval as the story continues. While this turn captured imaginations, there exists an earlier creation in Villeneuve’s filmography that many argue features an even more profound narrative shock.
A Masterful Plot Twist in Incendies
Back in 2010, Denis Villeneuve co-wrote and directed the film Incendies, a Canadian production that would go on to receive critical acclaim for its storytelling and emotional depth. The film centers on Canadian twins who travel to their mother‘s homeland to discover the secrets of her hidden past, against the backdrop of a devastating civil war.
As Incendies unfolds, audiences witness the mother’s suffering as she endures the horrors of conflict, including a harrowing period when she is imprisoned and assaulted by a torturer known as Abou Tarek. Although she survives these ordeals, the past continues to cast a shadow over her life and her children’s understanding of their heritage.
The film reaches its unforgettable climax when, years later, the mother encounters a man at a swimming pool who has a distinctive mark she recognizes—the mark that belonged to her missing son. In a moment flooded with realization, she recognizes not only her child but also the face of her tormenter. The harrowing discovery is that her son, unknown to both of them at the time, was the very man who assaulted her during her imprisonment. This revelation is so devastating that the mother is overwhelmed, and her collapse becomes the catalyst for her twins’ emotional journey, as they come to understand that their half-brother is also their biological father.
Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies (2010) is one of those films that leaves you sitting in silence when it ends. The twist hits like a freight train. If you know, you know. pic.twitter.com/0ibF8vSXkl https://t.co/ayqE85SzcA— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) June 1, 2025
This staggering revelation positions Incendies among the most impactful films of the last two decades. Its emotional weight and ability to leave audiences in stunned silence have contributed to its lasting reputation, drawing comparisons to other works that explore complex, unexpected relationships—but with a realism and gravity that stand apart.
Villeneuve’s approach to storytelling in Incendies set a benchmark many believe cannot be replicated within the constraints of sprawling franchises like Dune, where shocks and revelations take on different forms and serve larger mythologies rather than the deeply personal confrontations of the past shown here. As Dune fans speculate about potential twists in Messiah, many believe that nothing in the sand-swept universe will match the gut-wrenching experience delivered by Incendies.
Anticipating the Turn in Dune: Messiah
While Dune: Messiah promises a significant twist, Villeneuve faces the challenge of portraying Paul Atreides’ controversial actions without alienating the loyal fanbase. Drawing from Frank Herbert’s novels, which the director has faithfully followed so far, Messiah will depict a religiously motivated campaign that spreads across the universe, led by Emperor Paul Atreides and his followers.
The seeds of conflict planted in Dune: Part Two come to fruition when Paul, after ascending to leadership and marrying Princess Irulan, sends Fremen warriors throughout the cosmos to impose religious unity and force conversion—or face annihilation. The destruction that follows is immense and bloody, with the event remembered as “Muad’Dib’s Jihad,” resulting in the deaths of more than 61 billion individuals over the twelve-year reign of Atreides. This narrative turn, while shocking and heavy, is rooted in the larger themes of fanaticism, power, and consequence that Herbert first introduced to science fiction literature decades ago.
Yet, even in the scale of genocide and the fall from grace of a messianic leader, the film community widely maintains that the visceral twist of Incendies—a mother, son, and abuser intertwined by war and fate—possesses a haunting impact that the futuristic epic narrative of Dune may never quite equal. Both stories showcase Villeneuve’s commitment to exploring the boundaries of morality, identity, and trauma, but Incendies remains singular in its deeply personal resonance.
The Legacy and Ongoing Influence of Incendies
Villeneuve’s Incendies, recognized with an 8.3/10 rating on IMDb and an impressive 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, continues to draw new viewers and critical discussion, especially as his reputation grows with recent and forthcoming adaptations. Audiences in the USA can currently access the film through rental platforms, ensuring its influential twist remains part of ongoing conversations about narrative craft and the psychological effects of cinema.
As the anticipation for Dune: Messiah increases, the legacy of Incendies serves as a reminder of Villeneuve’s unique ability to deliver cinematic moments that redefine audience expectations. The emotional devastation experienced in Incendies stands as testament to his mastery of storytelling, leaving a profound and lasting impression that echoes through his entire body of work.
