Here's my take...


So my initial interpretation after my first viewing is that E1 ends up with S2.

Here's why:

So I think there's alternate parallel universes, and the guest house is a rift in the dimensions acting as a gateway between them. (Like previously joked about in the beginning of the movie).

I think the business behind the therapist that they go to see, utilizes this science (hence found computer files). My guess is that the vacation exercise their therapist sends them on is essentially an orchestrated opportunity to allow couples to switch spouses with a more preferable one from another universe more suited to their desired traits. Meaning that E2 and S2 are "in on" the ol' switcheroo trick.

S1 and E2 end up falling for each other. The three of them conspire a way to switch up the couples in a way that is desirable for both parties, while E1 is alone in the guest house.

This is where it gets twisted, the following plan ensues:

S1 comes into the guest house to pretend she's S2, and then the rest of the elaborate plan to change up clothes and stage a convincing fight pans out... yada yada.

In the end, E2 runs into the dimension's wall and pretends to be dead. The two Sophie's switch up behind E1 to throw him off. He chooses S2, she has kind of a forced looking *inappropriate after witnessing someone supposedly die* smile, S1 has a look of guilt. S1 waits for E2 to wake up as the other two drive away and stay in that dimension. S1 and E2 take a picture which ends up on the Ipad thing, and they leave the dimension. Meanwhile... S2 drops the bacon bomb annnnnnnnnnd he doesn't really care because it's either a dream or he thinks she's decided to cook him bacon because she's changed to his needs.

Both original Ethan and Sophie end up with the versions of themselves they wanted to be with. The message is that even though E1 decided he wanted to be with S1 for who she was, it was too late, he shouldn't have cheated, she fell in love with another "him" that she like more. The way he used to be.

The whole movie the audience is trained to study the behavior and mannerisms to differentiate between the versions of themselves, building up to the moment Ethan has to decide who to take based merely on their facial expressions. Quite clever.


BUT I could be wrong, and the beauty is it's left ambiguous. lol.

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I have to agree with you. I really think the trio(E2, S1, S2) hatched a plan, while E1 was on the computer looking for the folders, so that they all will be with whom they want to be. As S1(considering S1 pretended to be S2) said, "A lot happened last night after you left." so maybe that's what happened.

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I think the whole plot is more devious than what you've described.

Based on the computer files we hear, with E1 listening to the couples trying to perfect their voices, and based on what S2 tells E1 about them not being able to leave the guest house and the fact that this curse is now passing on to the 1s from the 2s and how E1 does find himself unable to exit the guest house... my take on it is that each couple that comes to the retreat gets stuck there with the previous couple taking their place in the "real world" and taking over their identities.

I don't think that there's an alternate dimension going on with different versions of E and S; I think that the previous couple that vacationed there was stuck in the guest house and have been trained to take over E's and S's identities. Obviously, there's still something magical or extra-dimensional in regards to the explanations of how this happens... but I don't think it's as simple as an E & S from two different dimensions, more that it's a pass-on-the-curse kind of thing. The previous couple gets their release from being trapped in this "phantom zone," where they've had to exist almost as spirits haunting the place-- unable to leave, and with periodic manifestations initially based on which of the new couple is entering the guest house. As the weekend goes on, normally the previous couple is supposed to set the newer couple against each other, and the new couple ends up trapped in the guest house while the previous couple escapes into the real world with their new identities.

If this were to play out as it has in the past, my theory is that E2 and S2 would have left together, and E1 and S1 would have been trapped in the guest house together. Eventually, Ted Danson would have showed up and given them new identities of a couple planning on coming for a weekend, and trained them to talk like them. They (E1 and S1) would have then eventually escaped back into the real world in new identities, glad for some way back into the real world, even if it would have been as different people.

But in this scenario, E2 decides he likes S1 better, and that he wants to leave with her instead of with his wife/S2. This culminates in an ending similar to what you've described, where S2 warns E1, and then E2 runs into the force field and E1 thinks he's leaving with S1, believing that S2 is at the side of the road with the injured E1. But of course, S2 has tricked E1 and left with him, and he's accidentally left his actual wife/S1 behind... which is fine with her as she's already decided she prefers E2 anyway. But she's disappointed that ultimately E1 can't tell the difference.

I think the bacon thing is the giveaway that it is in fact S2. Because E1 never told S1 about the bacon, so she wouldn't have known to make that specific change to fit his "needs," and he never mentioned the conversation to S2 either, so she wouldn't have known not to cook the bacon to preserve her cover as S1. But I think in that last dark moment, E1 finally realizes he's now with S2... and he accepts that he's happier now, and accepts the outcome. I don't think he believes it's S1 and she's made a decision to cook him bacon to preserve the now-happier marriage.

Ultimately, I believe this movie is a pretty dark take on the fact that people often marry their idealized fantasies, and when faced with the opportunity to accept the flawed person they married when they finally see that person for who they truly are... they would prefer to return to the fantasy. It's like the Joey Pants character in The Matrix deciding he'd rather turn a blind eye to the fact that he's living in The Matrix and not in reality simply because he enjoys that reality more, even though it's a fantasy.

As you say, it is left ambiguous to promote thought and discussion, and to allow people to have their own interpretation to some degree. That's mine.

It's definitely a very clever and well-executed little indie, and it's refreshing to see something able to do so much without being dependent on a huge studio budget, and to simultaneously tackle relationships from a very complex perspective.

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In response to the whole "E1 never tells S1 about the bacon," he actually does mention that there was bacon on the counter several times to S1 after he pulled her into the guest house cause he was freaking out. I feel like she eventually would realize that Ethan thought she had cooked him bacon. But even if she didn't know that, I don't think that proves S2 went home with him. It was established in their relationship that Ethan likes bacon and S1 didn't want him eating it.

It's very probable that it is S1 at the end, and she is sacrificing her feelings towards bacon for the love of her life. Yes it still is up for interpretation who it actually is but in my opinion, I think it's more likely to be S1 because its clear that they found love for each other again. I don't think S1 would have tricked E1 after what they went through but you never can know I guess.

Everything that keeps me together is falling apart

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Yep, although with all due respect to the OP, I think that you have it mate... 

To me, the most powerful point is that S2 TOLD E1 what was going on and made it clear that she was determined to stay with E2 because she really loved him. There was no logical reason for her to tell him that. Also, as the one couple is leaving, the 'S' staying with the fallen E2 looks completely calm and resigned. I would think that if that had been S1 staying with E2 and watching her 'REAL' husband drive off, there would have been SOME agonizing or wistfulness or concern for him or being torn, SOMETHING... But, NOT just that cool, calm expression. To me, THAT was PRECISELY the expression that I would expect S2 to have if she had arranged things to stay with exactly who she wanted to stay with, E2. Not to mention the COMPLETELY different looks on both of S1 & S2's faces as E1 was faced with choosing one to run off with... Also too, when S2 was pretending to be S1 when she came down the stairs with an identical blue shirt and when E2 kissed her and said, 'You're not Sophie', her calm and determined expression was EXACTLY the same as when the 2 of them were both standing there as E1 chose who to take with him.

I agree too with what you said that S1 simply chose unselfishly to make bacon for her husband since she had ALWAYS known that he likes it. She was indeed doing it 'For the One She Loves'...




I now have over 7000 films; many of them very rare and OOP. I LOVE to trade. PLEASE ASK! 

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