MovieChat Forums > Cruel & Unusual (2014) Discussion > What Is This Place *SPOILERS*

What Is This Place SPOILERS

posted 8 years ago by essex9999
3 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS BELOW

So what is this place supposed to be? People seem to refer to it as Purgatory, and so did I in other posts, but being in Purgatory is not supposed to be permanent. And yet, no one ever gets out of it. Doris doesn't count because she got another chance at life and so didn't die.

Everyone else just stays and stays, reliving their sins, I guess we have to call them, over and over, seemingly for eternity. Even when they understand what they did and feel terrible remorse ("acceptance"), they stay on. Even though Edgar saves Doris (thus saving her family from the pain of her suicide) and saves Maylon from suffering the same fate as he does, he still has to stay.

There's a name for a place like that ... it's called hell. So, I'm wondering, are they in hell?

[–] pennilayne 8 years ago

I consider it to be hell, personally.

[–] eqdealerguy 8 years ago

I'd say that's simply a small philosophical decision you have to make for yourself. The film never explicitly states exactly where they are. Besides, the film never picks a religion to run with. Maybe it isn't purgatory or Hell if we're willing to think outside of Christianity.

It could merely be a "generic" supernatural limbo. The guy who murdered his parents claimed regret, acceptance, and even honestly stated he likes the place if I remember right. IF that's true, it's really up to each character to decide what they think the place is. Long-term therapy facility? Prison? Purgatory? Hell? I don't see a wrong answer, given the varying perspectives of each character.

My take? If anyone there likes the therapy they're receiving...it can't be the Christian Hell. Edgar relives a seemingly positive moment of self-sacrifice every day, by film's end. Doesn't seem like a hellish existence for him. And in the Christian take of Hell, everyone there suffers forever.

So. My opinion isn't that it's up for us, the viewers, to decide. But each independent character themselves. Thanks for getting me thinking about this though!

[–] MisterMovieGuy 8 years ago

Excellent post. I tend to agree with everything you said here, and that is part of the beauty of this film!