Parallel (2024) Ending Explained
tl;dr: Parallel (2018) is a sci-fi thriller about four friends who discover a mysterious mirror that allows them to travel to parallel universes. As they exploit this power for personal gain, their actions have catastrophic consequences, leading to betrayal, identity crises, and existential horror. The ending reveals that one of the friends, Josh, has been replaced by a doppelgänger from another universe, while the others are trapped in a loop of infinite realities, unable to return to their original lives. The film concludes with a chilling realization that their greed has doomed them to an endless cycle of fractured existences.
The Final Twist: Josh's Replacement and the Infinite Loop
The climax of Parallel reveals that Josh (played by Martin Wallström) has been secretly replaced by a version of himself from another universe-one who is far more ruthless and calculating. The real Josh is presumed dead, and his doppelgänger manipulates the remaining friends into continuing their interdimensional heists. Meanwhile, the others - Noel, Devin, and Leena-begin experiencing severe side effects from their travels, including memory loss and physical deterioration. The final scenes show them trapped in a nightmarish cycle where every attempt to fix their mistakes only leads to worse outcomes. The mirror, now a cursed object, becomes a symbol of their irreversible downfall.
Themes of Greed and Consequences
The ending underscores the film's central theme: the dangers of unchecked ambition. Initially, the friends use the mirror to steal wealth, knowledge, and even alternate versions of themselves to gain advantages. However, their greed fractures their realities, creating paradoxes that erode their identities. The doppelgänger twist emphasizes how their actions have corrupted their very sense of self. By the end, none of them can be sure if they're the "original" or just another copy lost in the multiverse. The film suggests that their fate was inevitable-once they tampered with forces beyond their understanding, they were doomed to be consumed by them.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Explanations
- What happened to the real Josh?
- He may have been killed by his doppelgänger.
- He could be trapped in another universe, unable to return.
- Is there a way to escape the loop?
- The film implies no-once the mirror's power is abused, escape is impossible.
- Alternate theory: Destroying the mirror could break the cycle, but the friends never try.
- Are any of the characters still their original selves?
- Likely not-each jump may have replaced them with slightly different versions.
- Their memories are so fragmented that "original" no longer has meaning.
Existential Horror and the Multiverse
The ending leans heavily into cosmic horror, portraying the multiverse as an incomprehensible, malevolent force. Unlike other dimension-hopping stories where characters learn and grow, Parallel offers no redemption. The friends are reduced to shells of themselves, their personalities eroded by infinite variations. The final shot-of one of them staring into the mirror, uncertain of who they are-is a haunting metaphor for identity loss in an uncaring universe. The film rejects hopeful sci-fi tropes, instead delivering a bleak message: some knowledge is too dangerous to possess.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
Parallel's ending is effective but polarizing. While some may find it frustratingly ambiguous, its nihilistic tone fits the story's themes. The horror doesn't come from jump scares but from the slow unraveling of the characters' sanity. That said, the film could have delved deeper into the mechanics of the mirror or explored more emotional consequences for the group. The doppelgänger twist is clever but underdeveloped-more screen time for the fake Josh's motives would have added weight. Overall, Parallel is a solid indie sci-fi thriller with a chilling, thought-provoking conclusion, even if it leaves some narrative threads dangling.
Final Verdict: A Cautionary Tale of Hubris
The ending of Parallel serves as a grim reminder that some doors should never be opened. By crossing into other realities, the characters lose everything that made them human-their trust, their identities, and ultimately their lives. The film doesn't offer closure because, in an infinite multiverse, closure is impossible. It's a fittingly dark conclusion to a story about the perils of playing god. Whether you love or hate the ambiguity, Parallel leaves a lasting impression by refusing to provide easy answers.