Surprising?
Is this in reference to my surprising/fitting subject matter remark? If so, the emotional turmoil / psychological torture ---> fitting, the seemingly sci-fi-ish destruction of the world ----> surprising.
Perhaps more surprising from the wikipedia link is Von Trier's claim that all his previous films had happy endings.
Some recent examples:
Dancer in the Dark - Bjork's character lets herself be executed, though her son does regain his sight.
Dogville - Nicole Kidman's character learns she is the child of a criminal from whom she has fled in disgust/contempt/fear (?). She rejoins him. Oh, and the whole town of Dogville is brutally murdered, with her participation.
Antichrist - In part, He kills and then cremates Her.