I am no dummy but I have no idea what happened in this piece of crap movie. Was it a dream? Why was he not there after he shot the rifle? If you have an idea on what this movie was about please explain your theory. Can't believe I wasted an hour and a half watching it.
shareI'm sorry I'm not sure either.😕
shareI gave up 30 mins in
shareI am going make an attempt to explain some things, but I was hoping there would already be more discussion on this. I liked the movie. I think "Buster" was mentally ill and we were seeing the progression of the disease during the flashbacks, with present day being the mountain man on the run. So, there was no drifter who helped him steal from customers- once that was made clear it was much easier to understand that the guy was very mentally ill. Working nights and lack of sleep made things worse, I assume. But there is a running theme that about "the last free man", even when he is watching the cartoon with his daughter- he is feeling trapped by family life and work obligations- even though he dearly loves his family. He finally stops all pretense of trying to be normal, after realizing (spoiler!!!!) what really happened to his family. I liked the way the movie set all this up, against the backdrop of Y2K hysteria, etc. It seemed very believable that things were going into the weird/paranormal, when really it was all this guys illness. I don't really understand some of the ending, where it shows the fork in the road and he splits and takes two paths- if it implies that he has two selves, that had to have been the case before this point. Then it shows both selves in the boat, talking about how the only escape was for one to be consumed and the other spit out by the whale. And at the end, did he kill himself? Where is the body? Only one self is on the beach with his family. I'm not really good with symbolism, deeper meanings, etc. That's why I like discussion boards and I'm hoping others will comment on their understanding of this movie.
shareThis is exactly what I took from it as well and I think I was following it well until the end which is left open for interpretation.
I think at the end his mind has to make a decision for one self to overcome the other and take full control, in order to achieve sanity, while he is adrift in his consciousness. I think we see the family man/Jonas overcome the wildman/Buster as he ends up on the beach with his family. Also we see Buster the Wild, disappear completely symbolizing that this ego has been eliminated. What happens in the actual real world I'm not sure.
There are some other theories out there that the "machine" actually exists and that he is able to overcome it by proving his love to his family, rather than going back into the "system" even after the "exterminator" kills his family and thus he reaches the island of paradise.
Overall, I thought it was entertaining and thought provoking. Certainly worth a watch imo.