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And by igniting Susan’s interest in him once again after a long marriage in which he was perceived as being weak, Edward finally has the upper hand and is able to hit her where it hurts.
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No: this is a man who knows exactly how to deliver an effective and long-lasting punch. So, when Edward fails to show up at the restaurant at the end of Nocturnal Animals, it would be an underestimation of his character to assume that he was merely late, or caught up in some way. In his book, Tony’s vengeance plays out against Laura and India’s killer, Ray ( Aaron Taylor-Johnson), in a satisfying bloody showdown. If there is one thing we have learned about Edward during the course of the film, it is that he has a deep understanding of what it really means to exact revenge. But why would he do that? And why would this be a fitting ending for Nocturnal Animals, a film so jam-packed with action and drama? After all, compared to the rest of the film, this final scene is notably quiet, and, let’s face it, anticlimactic. The second theory is that Edward simply stood Susan up. Or maybe he went so far as to kill himself in his final “ gotcha!” moment, illustrating to Susan the agony she caused him. Maybe he was killed in a tragic accident on the way to dinner, just like the character in his book. The first theory, which is the less likely one, is that he is dead. There are ultimately two plausible explanations for Edward’s absence that night. But as the cocktails proliferate and the diners come and go, Edward is nowhere to be seen.Īnd thus the film concludes with Susan expecting someone who will likely never arrive. Wearing a decadent green gown in an upscale restaurant, Susan waits hopefully for him. Perhaps ready to finally forgive her for the infidelity that broke up their marriage, Edward accepts. Shaken by its horrific contents, yet moved by the skillful writing, Susan calls Edward and invites him to have dinner with her. Nocturnal Animals the film ends shortly after Susan finishes reading Nocturnal Animals the manuscript. Tony winds up killing the main assailant but also accidentally shoots himself afterward. As Susan reads, the film then depicts the story within.Įdward’s novel follows Tony Hastings (also Gyllenhaal), a man who goes on a bender for revenge after his wife Laura ( Isla Fisher) and daughter India ( Ellie Bamber) are kidnapped, raped, and murdered by a sadistic trio of men whom they encounter on the road. The book-to-be, written by her estranged ex-husband, Edward Sheffield ( Jake Gyllenhaal), is also titled Nocturnal Animals. The film, an adaptation of Austin Wright’s 1993 novel Tony and Susan, first introduces Susan Morrow ( Amy Adams), a wealthy gallery owner who is surprised one night by the arrival of a manuscript. Perhaps it means to tell us that exacting justice is never a simple feat, and in the real world, it always comes with unexpected casualties.
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The film introduces the blueprint of the revenge movie only to subvert it and turn it on its head at the end. But on closer look, the twisted neo-noir isn’t quite as simple as your run-of-the-mill bid for vengeance.

Tom Ford’s stylish sophomore feature, Nocturnal Animals (2016), has all the necessary elements.

Yes, prepare for spoilers.Ī good revenge story ultimately needs three things: a spiteful, cold-blooded villain a heinous crime with a helpless victim and last but certainly not least, a triumphant hero.

This time, we consider two possible explanations for the ambiguous ending of Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals.
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Ending Explained is a recurring series in which we explore the finales, secrets, and themes of interesting movies and shows, both new and old.
