The Aviary (2022) Ending Explained

tl;dr
The Aviary (2022) is a psychological thriller about two women, Jillian and Blair, who escape a cult called Skylight, only to find themselves trapped in the New Mexico desert, pursued by the cult's leader, Seth. The film's ambiguous ending leaves their fate uncertain, suggesting they may either be hallucinating due to dehydration or have been recaptured by the cult. The final scenes blur reality and delusion, leaving viewers questioning whether freedom was ever truly possible or if the cult's psychological grip was inescapable.

Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The ending of The Aviary is intentionally ambiguous, designed to leave the audience unsettled and questioning what is real. After days of wandering the desert, Jillian and Blair finally reach a diner, where they believe they've found safety. However, the film's closing moments reveal that Seth, the cult leader, is sitting at a nearby table, watching them. This twist suggests that their escape may have been an illusion-either a shared hallucination caused by extreme dehydration or a psychological trick orchestrated by Seth to break their will. The diner's sterile, surreal atmosphere reinforces the idea that they may never have truly left Skylight's control.

Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
1. Did Jillian and Blair ever truly escape the cult?
- Possibility 1: They hallucinated their escape due to starvation and dehydration.
- Possibility 2: Seth allowed them to "escape" as part of a psychological experiment to reinforce their dependence on him.
2. Is the diner real, or another layer of manipulation?
- Possibility 1: The diner is real, but Seth has tracked them down.
- Possibility 2: The diner is a mirage or a vision engineered by the cult.
3. What is the significance of the repeated bird imagery?
- Possibility 1: It symbolizes their trapped existence, like birds in an aviary.
- Possibility 2: It represents Seth's omnipresence, watching them like a predator.

Psychological & Thematic Layers
The film's ending reinforces its central theme of psychological entrapment. Even if Jillian and Blair physically left Skylight, the cult's ideology and Seth's influence remain embedded in their minds. The desert itself acts as a metaphor for their mental state-barren, disorienting, and inescapable. The final shot of Seth smirking at them suggests that freedom was never an option, as the cult's control extends beyond physical boundaries. This aligns with real-life cult dynamics, where escaping the group's psychological hold is often harder than fleeing its physical location.

Cinematic Techniques & Ambiguity
Director Chris Cullifer uses visual and auditory cues to blur reality. The diner's fluorescent lighting and eerie silence create an uncanny atmosphere, making it unclear whether the scene is real or imagined. The recurring whispers and distorted sounds imply that Seth's voice still haunts them, reinforcing the idea that they are still under his influence. The film's refusal to provide a clear resolution forces the audience to sit with the same paranoia and uncertainty that the protagonists experience, making the ending deeply unsettling.

Personal Opinion
I found The Aviary's ending deeply effective in its ambiguity. By denying a clear resolution, the film lingers in the viewer's mind, much like the cult's grip on its victims. The performances by Malin Åkerman and Lorenza Izzo sell the psychological torment, making their characters' desperation palpable. However, the lack of closure might frustrate some viewers. Thematically, the ending works-it underscores how cults destroy the very idea of freedom-but a bit more clarity could have made it more impactful. Still, it's a haunting conclusion that stays with you, which is the mark of a strong psychological thriller.