MovieChat Forums > Under the Volcano (1984) Discussion > that damn ending....

that damn ending....

posted 13 years ago by dyahrmarkt
5 replies | jump to latest

I was completely, 100% with this film right up until the ending scenes. I felt myself deflate, then get a little pissed off. It's just too bad when you give your trust to a film completely and have the filmmakers turn on you, attempting to wrap things up with some kind of ridiculous melodramatic violence. On top of that, it wasn't even filmed very well - it looked choppy, stunted, as if Huston had his 2nd unit come in and take care of the conclusion. It certainly felt like Huston abandoned his own film exactly one minute too early.

It simply had no fit with the rest of the film. Even Finney's sword-swaggering had me delighted and I was right with it - willing to sit through a rousing finale of sorts....and then.....

*Sigh*......too bad. I'll still praise it for what it was almost all the way - but that ending, man....

"There is no inner peace. There is only nervousness and death." - Fran Lebowitz

[–] BayouMoses 12 years ago

Yeah I agree--rushed and forced. Near-masterpiece though

[–] Edward_de_Vere 11 years ago

The ending seemed like it was put there to put an end to a story that didn't have any real direction. Not having read the novel, I'm not sure whether Huston was just following the source material or whether he chose to abruptly "wrap things up" in this way.

This is one of those films that you watch more for the acting than the story anyway, so if the ending seems abrupt and artificial, so be it.

[–] dingduder 11 years ago

That's how the novel ends.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] balthazar_bee 8 years ago

The conclusion of the book is one of the best parts. It's horrifying and evocative in a way that tops much of what has come before. Look it up and read the last few pages; you'll see what I mean.

But you're right, the way it's filmed is comparatively bland. A less nuts-and-bolts director would probably have opted for some sort of stylized representation of the fall, which might've been a mixed blessing, but it's hard not to wish for a bit more from the conclusion.