In the Earth (2021) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
In the Earth (2021), directed by Ben Wheatley, is a psychedelic horror film set during a global pandemic. The story follows scientist Martin Lowery and park ranger Alma as they venture into a mysterious forest to find a missing researcher, Dr. Olivia Wendle. The forest is controlled by a malevolent, possibly sentient entity that manipulates reality through sound and light. The ending reveals the entity's ancient power, merging Martin and Alma into a grotesque, fungal-like hybrid as part of its cyclical ritual. The film leaves many questions about the entity's nature, humanity's role in its plans, and whether the characters' fates are inevitable or chosen.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climax of In the Earth occurs after Martin and Alma encounter Zach, a deranged survivalist who believes he can communicate with the forest entity through brutal rituals. After barely escaping Zach's violence, they finally reach Dr. Wendle, who has been studying the entity's influence. She explains that the forest harbors an ancient intelligence-possibly a fungal network or a primal deity-that responds to sound and light, distorting perception and reality. The entity's power is cyclical, tied to lunar phases, and it demands sacrifice. In the final act, Martin and Alma are drawn into the entity's ritual, their bodies merging with the fungal growths in a horrifying transformation. The last shot lingers on their fused, monstrous forms, suggesting they've become part of the entity's eternal cycle.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
What is the true nature of the entity?
- Possibility 1: A sentient mycelium network (like real-world "wood wide web" theories).
- Possibility 2: A Lovecraftian deity, indifferent to human suffering.
- Possibility 3: A manifestation of humanity's collective unconscious, punishing intruders.
Was Dr. Wendle complicit or another victim?
- She may have willingly served the entity, given her cryptic warnings.
- Alternatively, she might have been manipulated, like Martin and Alma.
Is the transformation a punishment or transcendence?
- The film hints it's both-a grotesque evolution into something beyond human.
Is the pandemic connected to the entity?
- The film's opening text suggests a link, but it's never clarified.
Themes & Symbolism
The ending reinforces themes of nature's indifference and humanity's futile attempts to control it. The entity represents primal forces that predate and outlast human civilization. The merging of Martin and Alma mirrors fungal symbiosis-a violent yet natural process. The film's use of disorienting visuals and sound design immerses the audience in the characters' unraveling sanity, making the ending feel like an inevitable surrender to chaos.
Personal Opinion
In the Earth is a visually stunning but polarizing film. The ending is deliberately ambiguous, which may frustrate viewers seeking clear answers. However, the grotesque beauty of the final transformation lingers, making it a memorable climax. Wheatley's blend of folk horror and psychedelic body horror works for those willing to embrace its nightmarish logic, though it risks feeling pretentious or underdeveloped. I appreciate its boldness but wish it had explored the pandemic connection more deeply.
Final Thoughts
The ending of In the Earth doesn't provide neat resolutions but instead leaves the audience haunted by its imagery. Whether the entity is a force of nature, a god, or a hallucination is less important than the visceral terror of becoming part of something unknowable. It's a film that demands multiple viewings to unpack its layers-though not everyone will want to revisit its unsettling world.