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The ending explained (There is only one concrete interpretation)

posted 10 years ago by griffon652
43 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!

There are three main camps in regards to what the ending means:

Theory 1: The ending is another one of Curtis's hallucinations/nightmares.

Theory 2: The scene is a metaphor for Sam completely accepting her Husband’s condition. And her saying "Okay" means she also empathizes with how he must feel when he sees these hallucinations/nightmares.

Theory 3: He wasn't having hallucinations/nightmares and they were all premonitions of a future world changing disaster.

Honestly, all three of these theories would have merit if it wasn't for the interview below. The writer literally gives away which of these 3 views are correct when he answered the question. Based on what he said, #3 can be the only explanation that makes sense. Many have given excellent reasoning behind why #3 is correct. I will give very simplified yet obvious reasons why that can be the only explanation.

First here is what the author had to say:

Q:Without spoiling it for readers, the ending of the
film is somewhat ambiguous. Do you have a preferred way that
you want viewers to read it?

It’s specifically designed to be ambiguous. That really riles
some people and some people really love it. What’s funny and
interesting to me — and not to sound too cocky about it, but
I really do think it worked — is everybody talks about the
specifics of what’s happening in that scene. And to me, the
specifics don’t matter that much. And I’ll explain.

What is happening, what is going to happen, all that is just
fun to talk about. But what’s important to me is that these
two people are on the same page and are seeing the same thing.
There’s several interpretations of where they’re at. And
that’s great. But as long as they’re seeing the same thing I
think there is a resolution and the possibility of hope in
the film.

The writer tried to be "ambiguous" in his answer but slipped up with the bolded parts. Basically the only thing he gave away was the "they were both seeing the same thing." And he follows up with saying that "because they are seeing the same thing there is a resolution." These two lines are extremely telling as to the writers true ending and leaves no room for interpretation of alternate explanations. Here is why:

Theory 1: The theory regarding the last scene being another of Curtis's delusion's is impossible under what the writer stated. If he was just "dreaming" his wife, child and the disaster then it's impossible for them to be "on the same page." The only way they can be on the same page is if the last scene is real. Obviously Sam can't simultaneously have the same nightmare that Curtis has. Thats the only way they can be "on the same page." Based on the entirety of the movie; this would be a ridiculous explanation. In my opinion this is the weakest theory because based on the writers answer it's clear its not a hallucination.

Theory 2: The metaphor theory is also practically impossible based on the style and direction of the movie. The movie followed a strict set of rules. The director made very clear distinctions between what Curtis was hallucinating and what was reality. Many movies are meant to be seen as if the audience is "part of the movie." Artsy movies often do this where even the audience is intentionally confused by the writer as to what’s real, what’s going on and who the main character is.

In this film the author made it very clear what was going on. The only thing the audience wasn't sure of is if Curtis was delusional or seeing premonitions. There were no "made up" or "metaphoric" scenes in the ENTIRE movie besides the hallucinations Curtis has. So it would make no sense that the writer added in a random fake scene that is not "real" or "Curtis’s delusion" that is supposed to represent a metaphor for Sam's complete understanding of what Curtis goes through. It doesn't fit in with the style of the movie.

Plus a tsunami, multiple tornados and polluted rain seem like an extremely weak metaphor for Sam's understating/complete acceptance of Curtis's condition. Finally, how can they "be on the same page" if this is a completely made up scene?

Theory 3: That brings us to the end scene being 100% real. This is the only explanation that fits in with the style, theme and flow of the movie if you take into account what the writer said above. The first thing we notice at the end is that there are very clear separations between what Curtis imagines and what is reality. Through the whole movies we know exactly which is which.

The second clue to the ending being real is the hallucinations/nightmares he has. They all follow one simple rule that makes it clear that they are not reality. Anytime he sees/hears birds, thunder, tornados, polluted having temporary hallucinations (like when he hears thunder at work with Dwight) or when he is having a nightmare.

Watch the first nightmare he has when his dog bites him. Pay extra close attention. Notice that his daughter doesn't react/see at all to the thunder, lightning or tornados forming. In fact, there is a scene before his dog bites him (10:58) where you can clearly see that his daughter see's nothing from the fact that he is staring up at the storm with grave concern while she is acting like it's just another day. This same scenario repeats in all his dreams where he is the only one that can see the signs.

So we know that the movie has clear separations between the "fake scenes" and reality. We also know that in EVERY single "fake scene" Curtis is the only one that sees the signs of disaster. Furthermore, the author states that at the end its a fact that Curtis and Sam are on the same page. Based on all these facts, there is no explanation besides the last scene being real. Another clue to this scene being real is the fact that this is the ONLY scene in the ENTIRE movie where someone else (Hannah) see's the storm besides Curtis. To make it even more clear, the scene is shot to show that Hannah actually see's the storm in this scene BEFORE Curtis. When you add all this together the only theory that makes perfect sense is #3.

On a side note, based on the size of the Tsunami, how Tsunami's work in real life and the families proximity to the beach; I believe they all died. The reason Curtis and Sam are so clam at the end is because they understand and accept their death. They want to spend their last moments together in peace as a family without going into hysteria and distressing Hannah.

[–] ff_house3 9 years ago

In my opinion, the writer is the one that makes the rules of the film. And therefore there is a forth interpretation that, to me, it is more related with what the director said in that segment you quote:the all movie is a metaphor. This film is about the problems in a relationship between a couple. More important than the landscape of the film ( i meant the visions, the dreams, the tsunamis, etc) is the sensations: sensations of a couple falling apart and, at the end, the sensations of hope.

You highlight some sentences in director's statement, but i think the most important one for us to understand the ending is "And to me, the
specifics don’t matter that much".

Concluding, the plot it's just the plot, just a mean to achieve the film's real message: even when events shows that it is impossible an understanding, love and hope shows that is possible to be "on the same page".

[–] jef_imans 9 years ago

"What’s funny and
interesting to me — and not to sound too cocky about it, but
I really do think it worked — is everybody talks about the
specifics of what’s happening in that scene. And to me, the
specifics don’t matter that much"

Mission accomplished...

[–] bl333 9 years ago

I think it's real for two main reasons.

A.) As others have said, the daughter is the first to see it.

B.) Jessica Chastain is in the kitchen away from him when the scene starts. Near as I can recall, all of the other hallucination scenes began with him alone or with his daughter.

That scene, however, that's not really even his scene. It feels much more about Chastain than about him.

[–] remembervhs 9 years ago

I think you're reading your own perspective into the writer's comments.

You could easily use those comments to argue for other explanations, you're just choosing not to, because you disagree with those explanations.

[–] saschaprofi 9 years ago

its real, the ppl in town are going to die. It was their destiny that they would go on vacation and be safe that way

[–] Royalcourtier 9 years ago

I do not agree that in writing "But as long as they’re seeing the same thing I
think there is a resolution" means that the third interpretation is correct. It is not even clear who he mean by "theyre".

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

I'm going to go with theory 3: It was real because both of them saw it. He was not crazy. He was having premonitions of what was going to happen in the future. It's the most logical explanation, and it makes for a truly bizarre and creepy end to a really great movie.

I give it an 8.5!

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

[–] metheslayed19 9 years ago

A good film is supposed to have multiple interpretations like any other art form. Anyone who tells me that there is only one concrete interpretation can do a little bit research on the history of cinema and how it's closely linked with music, literature, theatre, etc. When you listen to a music piece, you seldom try to deconstruct it and say that it works because...
You like it because it is visceral and your response is emotional. Of course, even films do this, but the elements used are different. The problem with not accepting any other interpretation is a sign of conditioning to only one type of filmmaking.

My interpretation is as follows(you can disagree with it and have your own interpretation. don't have any problems with that): I really liked how this film was trying to communicate what the protagonist was going through using the metaphor of a storm. Throughout the film, Michael Shannon lives in denial of the problems that he is facing in his head by making the problem external. So, in order to solve what he's going internally, he starts building an external shed. Also, because he is the head of the family brought up with American values that requires him to be the protector, he feels responsible to save his family from this 'storm'. What he does not realize is that his problems are also his family's. And he can work together with them to solve them. The best scene IMO is when all three of them are in the tornado shelter. That is where the catharsis happens for Shannon. When his wife tells him to take off the mask, she really means the metaphorical mask that he's wearing (to keep himself in a shell, not confronting his problems). When she tells him to open the door, she really means the door to his subconscious, things that he is not sharing. And only he has to open the door. Only when he confronts whats troubling him, would he allow someone else to help him. The scene works on both levels, surface and metaphorical.

[–] Athios 8 years ago

Well said, metheslayed19.

I have only one more thing to add. The one thing that jumped out in my mind after reading this entire thread. Samantha said in the storm shelter:

"Baby, there is no storm outside. [...] You'll see that everything's fine, but nothing will change. This is what it means to stay with us."

I think this line sets the scene for the ending. Curtis seeks psychiatric help. His illness (whatever it is) manifests as the impending storm, and hence the storm shelter is bad for him, exactly for the reason metheslayed19 mentioned above. He needs to stop "dealing with" his illness by preparing for the storm. He needs to find a proper way to cope, as he will have to face this for the rest of his life.

In the Psychiatrist's Office, I remember Curtis' nod of commitment to proper treatment. Instead of running away like his mother did and succumbing to illness (and ending up facing it alone in a facility), their family has chosen to stick together.

In my mind, the final scene is his illness hitting again. This time, they are at Myrtle Beach, and there is no storm shelter there. But, this time he does not face the storm alone. And therein lies the hope.

My two cents.