Homunculus (2021) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The ending of Homunculus (2021) is a surreal, psychological climax where protagonist Susumu Nakoshi confronts the fractured reality of his own mind. After undergoing trepanation (drilling a hole in his skull) to unlock psychic abilities, Nakoshi spirals into a hallucinatory nightmare where he can no longer distinguish between truth and delusion. The film concludes ambiguously: Nakoshi either becomes a godlike figure who sees the "homunculi" (metaphorical representations of human trauma) in everyone, or he succumbs to insanity, trapped in a self-created purgatory. The ending leaves his fate-and the nature of reality-open to interpretation, emphasizing themes of identity, perception, and the cost of enlightenment.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The final act of Homunculus escalates Nakoshi's psychological disintegration. After gaining the ability to see "homunculi"—grotesque manifestations of people's repressed traumas-he becomes increasingly unhinged, unable to reconcile his visions with reality. The film's climax occurs in a chaotic, dreamlike sequence where Nakoshi wanders Tokyo, witnessing homunculi everywhere, including his own: a shadowy, childlike figure representing his suppressed guilt over a past accident. The boundary between Nakoshi's psyche and the external world dissolves, culminating in a confrontation with Manabu Ito, the enigmatic doctor who facilitated his transformation. Ito taunts Nakoshi, suggesting his abilities are either divine or delusional, leaving the audience questioning whether Nakoshi has transcended humanity or lost his mind entirely.
The final scene is deliberately ambiguous. Nakoshi stands atop a building, gazing at the city below, as the camera pans to show the sky filled with floating homunculi. This imagery implies he now perceives the collective suffering of humanity, but it's unclear whether this is a hallucination or a supernatural revelation. The film cuts to black, refusing to confirm whether Nakoshi has achieved enlightenment or succumbed to psychosis. This open-endedness reinforces the movie's central theme: the fragility of perception and the impossibility of objective truth when the mind is untethered from reality.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
Is Nakoshi's vision of homunculi real or imaginary?
- Real: The homunculi could be a hidden layer of reality, visible only to those who've undergone trepanation.
- Imaginary: They may be projections of Nakoshi's trauma, symbolizing his inability to cope with guilt and alienation.
What is the significance of Nakoshi's final confrontation with Ito?
- Ito represents the duality of science and madness, pushing Nakoshi to either transcend or break. His taunts could be a test or a cruel joke.
Does Nakoshi die, ascend, or remain trapped?
- Ascension: He becomes a cosmic observer of human pain.
- Trapped: He's doomed to an eternal loop of hallucinations.
- Death: The building scene is a metaphorical suicide.
What does the homunculus inside Nakoshi symbolize?
- It's likely his repressed childhood trauma or the “true self” he's avoided confronting.
Themes and Symbolism
Homunculus explores the Price of Knowledge-whether “seeing more” leads to wisdom or ruin. Nakoshi's journey mirrors Faustian bargains, where enlightenment comes at the cost of sanity. The homunculi serve as metaphors for societal and personal rot, suggesting that everyone harbors hidden wounds. The film also critiques urban alienation; Tokyo's neon-lit streets mirror Nakoshi's inner chaos, a labyrinth with no exit. The trepanation hole symbolizes both a gateway and a wound, blurring the line between liberation and self-destruction.
The ending's ambiguity forces viewers to grapple with their own interpretations. Is Nakoshi a tragic hero who saw too much, or a madman who lost everything? The film refuses to answer, instead inviting reflection on how much truth a person can bear before collapsing under its weight.
Personal Opinion
Homunculus is a visually stunning, cerebral nightmare that lingers long after the credits roll. The ending is frustrating yet brilliant-it denies closure to emphasize its themes. While some may find the ambiguity unsatisfying, it's a fitting conclusion for a story about the unreliability of perception. The film's strength lies in its willingness to embrace discomfort, leaving the audience as unsettled as Nakoshi. However, the pacing could be tighter, and the supporting characters feel underdeveloped. Despite these flaws, Homunculus is a haunting exploration of identity and madness, with an ending that's as thought-provoking as it is unsettling.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely-but only to those prepared to wrestle with its existential dread.