MovieChat Forums > The Dark Hours (2005) Discussion > The ending (again - SPOILERS)

The ending (again - SPOILERS)

posted 12 years ago by mata-12
4 replies | jump to latest

So... She has blood on her face, suggesting that she really did kill her husband and her sister, so who is rattling the door handle? Or is the rattling door handle supposed to be in her mind too?

There are two constrasting realities there - either the blood should not be there, or the door handle should not be rattling... Either one of these is another hallucination or there is a third option I'm missing..?

Perhaps the film makers wanted to leave this ambiguous, but it comes across they weren't quite sure themselves. I did enjoy the journey of the film, even if it was quite predictable, but the destination was a bit frustrating.

[–] Optimus_past_my_Prime 12 years ago

The way I took it was that Harlan and Adrian were in her mind. Harlan stated that Adrian is his ghost (as he buried Adrian in his backyard in pieces) and Harlan is Sams ghost. The reality is that she did kill her husband and sister after having caught them having sex and the door rattling is either the sound of the mice in the ceiling being substituted in her mind or it's just completely in her head. Unless, as you stated, there is a third option that we both missed. Either way an enjoyable ride.

The Thread Killer

[–] GMEllis625 11 years ago

There is blood on her face from her cut hand, and the door is rattling because her husband is trying to get into the bathroom. She may even be in a coma (Harlan says he was aware while in his coma) and reliving a variety of "realities." Nobody was killed, not even the dog.

At least that is how I see it, bolstered by some of the comments here. I don't have the DVD, so no access to the commentary, but some posters have quoted the commentary regarding the ending.

[–] mogonk 11 years ago

Correct. Everything after she goes into the bathroom is fantasy except the last shot.

[–] horst-kackebart 10 years ago

In that case the whole act of giving herself that last shot would make sense in that it'd close the circle.