Why the Ending was Awful (Spoilers)

I thought that this movie may have had some potential in the early goings, perhaps bringing back fond memories of Se7en. The difference though, the ending to this movie ruined it.

I'm not sure what kind of message was trying to be said at the end but whatever way you look it just kills the film. With each so-called horseman, they seem to kill to get back at somebody who wronged them. Kristin killed her mother to get back at her father, who molested her. Corey killed himself to get back at his brother (and perhaps family) who rejected him because he was gay. Garrison Jacobs killed that teacher (sorry can't remember his name) because his wife was cheating with him. Now Jacobs was killed because he apparently "tricked" the horsemen in punishing someone innocent. Perhaps his motive doesn't fit in with the horsemen's philosophy but each individual's motive had some arguably reasonable cause. But Alex is different. He apparently wants to get back at his father by making him watch him die. Alex did say that his sacrifice was necessary to began the apocalypse but he's not making his dad watch for no reason.

It is here where I feel the movie is just ruined. Alex's killing in response to his father is incredibly selfish and shallow on his part. First of all, the movie has the feel-good little scene with the two out for dinner. Does it repair years of ignoring Alex? Very likely not, but it sure does vilify Alex's motives at the end, at least it should in the eyes of the audience. Second, Aidan did not grow apart from his son because of any evil or cruel intent nor did he arguably act in such a way. He lost his wife, and, understandably buried himself in his work. When he tells his son he envies him for the fact that he spent the last moments with mom, it becomes clear that he shares as much if not more pain then his son. Alex never understood his father's pain, which for example is why he continues to bring out the birthday cake. Aidan has already suffered and thus making him suffer by watching his son die is what makes Alex the bad guy.

So, if you look at the ending like that then it completely destroys whatever message the horsemen were trying to put out about being "the nothing", etc., etc. On the other hand, it is conceivable that Alex's actions were intentionally shown in this selfish light. However, if this is true then it renders whatever message the film may have tried to put forward about the other horsemen moot. No longer would the film be about the mistreatment of the horsemen (and I guess kids in general) but instead about their apparent naivety. Well this could be true, I don't think the film is that deep and it is not at all supported. Kristin may be an evil person but she was legitimately molested and Corey was actually hurt by his family for ultimately short-sighted and cruel reasons, neither of which support any theory that the children simply misunderstood their families. No matter how you look at it the film really doesn't have a coherent message. It had potential, but it went for the "Hollywood, good hero saves his son" kinda ending. If Aidan legitimately didn't care for his son, well we'd have a different story. But, that didn't happen. And this folks, is why the ending was awful.

(Sorry for the long rant) :)