MovieChat Forums > On the Job (2013) Discussion > Spoiler Alert: The Ending

Spoiler Alert: The Ending

posted 11 years ago by vicinting
8 replies | jump to latest

Anyone want to discuss why Tatang killed Daniel (the kid)? I usually preempt stuff in movies, but I did not see this one coming.

The obvious would be because he wanted to keep his job. However, I find it a little shallow considering Tatang's complexity and relationship with the kid. But one could also argue that he was just a cold-blooded hitman.

I share my girlfriend's perspective on Tatang's motive. In a couple of scenes prior where tatang was eating alone, he saw the kid pass by with his typical "angas", despite earlier efforts of training him to lie low. Coupled with past failures, I guess this made him realize that the kid will never be ready to take on the "challenges" ahead and will only complicate his life further. To spare him of this fate, Tatang ended it early on.

I really liked the kid, along with Francis (NBI dude).

Only one thing I could say at the end: http://25.media.tumblr.com/917e44957ec298cc678d25da8cc72369/tumblr_mss 3kaMItH1qzccmno1_500.gif

Great Movie

[–] John_Mars 11 years ago

I just saw it earlier. What I got from it is that Tatang had nothing to go back to on the outside since he found out that his wife was having an affair and his daughter knew about his real life.

I didn't think it was shallow. He felt guilt when he stabbed/shived the protege. But it was what he needed to do to stay in that life. He had to take out the competition.

The life of a hitman was all he knew and he killed the closest thing he had to a friend for it.

looking for somewhere to stand and stay, i leaned on the wall, the wall leaned away.

[–] dreamcandyy 10 years ago

I also looked at it as Daniel being a liability to the whole ordeal. General Pacheco (spelling?) probably ordered Tatang to do it, Tatang agrees anyways considering his wife was "cheating" on him, and like the other guy said, his daughter knew what his job was and Tatang had nothing to go back to.

Also, if you noticed when Tatang was in the car he sat in the middle, to me this means that Tatang didn't have "back-up" anymore and perhaps the organization will now work with their best hitman asset, going solo;and that person is Tatang.

[–] Ghost_Of_Me 10 years ago

I think he did it for three reasons. 1. He didnt want to get out of prison since he had nothing to go back to. His wife was cheating, and his daughter knew he was a killer. 2. He saw that Daniel still wasnt following the rules and kept coming back with new clothes and gear, and had little helpers to do all of his things. Something Tatang told him not to do. And 3. He wanted to kill the guy sleeping with his wife. Notice how the car picked him up right after. Tatang said you dont get to pick who you kill but I guess the organization gave him a freebie since he killed Daniel and kept his mouth shut.

I def didnt see the end coming. I mean I was waiting for Daniel to shank Tat but I was pretty blown away when it went the other way around. Oh and Nickey was a spoiled rich c&^nt that got her husband killed for the sake of keeping her rich life style...but she was pretty smoking so I forgive her. :P

[–] grool_jul 9 years ago

I don't think Nicky was responsible for getting her husband killed. I think her brother was the one who told General Pacheco and Cong. Manrique that Francis secretly recorded their conversation, thus, prompting the Gen. to order the killing.

[–] lightningcows 9 years ago

...i agree that it was probably something ordered by General Pachero. Probably just to tie up loose ends after Francis was killed.

Still, I do agree that Tatang may have had his own motivations as well. if he didn't do it, then eventually Daniel may have.

[–] bwgood77 9 years ago

This seemed fairly obvious. He knew when he got out he'd be killed anyway, and he had lost anything to go back to, so he wanted to leave his bosses no choice but to keep him doing their work instead of the next kid, who he thought would kill him and end up taking his place. I was surprised though, I was expecting possibly the kid to take him out in that moment.

[–] phlbrq58 9 years ago

I knew the old assassin was a film star from the first scene. I look up his work and see he was in john Sayles'AMIGO among his 160 credits. Very impressed with the entire film and this particular actor.
Now I learn a sequel is out this year. I think this is my first Philippine film and I really dug it.
He kills the partner to save the kid's soul and to save him from the hell he's entered along with himself staying on the job.

[–] grandmastersik 7 years ago

I thought that the General wanted to shut the killers up in face of a new investigation. Tatang was allowed to kill his wife's lover and when he gets into the car, his expression says that he knows he's now going to his death.

Or, it could be that Thelma would keep him hidden somewhere. Either way, Tatang had already proven his loyalty by not speaking, whereas Daniel was cocky, shown to want more for himself in the future and asked questions. In short, had he been under the police spotlight, would he have cracked?
Offered terms, I think he would have, so he had to go... and that meant Tatang had to do it.

By not showing Tatang actually die at the end, things were left open to speculation. This is just good storytelling as it gets the viewer asking questions, and ultimately, we can decide for ourselves his fate.