Super Dark Times (2017) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
Super Dark Times (2017) is a psychological thriller that follows teenagers Zach and Josh as their friendship unravels after a gruesome accident involving a samurai sword. The film's ending reveals that Josh, traumatized by the event, has descended into madness, murdering their friend Daryl and attempting to kill Zach. In a climactic confrontation, Zach kills Josh in self-defense. The final scenes show Zach trying to move on, but the lingering guilt and trauma suggest he may never fully escape the horror of what happened. The film leaves several questions unanswered, particularly about the nature of Josh's breakdown and Zach's future.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending:
The ending of Super Dark Times is a harrowing culmination of the psychological turmoil that builds throughout the film. After the accidental death of their friend Charlie, Zach and Josh try to bury the incident, but Josh becomes increasingly unhinged. His descent into violence peaks when he murders Daryl, another friend, and later attacks Zach with the same samurai sword. The final confrontation in Josh's house is intense and brutal, with Zach ultimately stabbing Josh to death. This moment is symbolic of Zach's forced transition into adulthood-a violent, irreversible step that leaves him scarred. The film closes with Zach in a therapist's office, attempting to process the trauma, but his hollow expression suggests he is far from healed.
Unresolved Questions:
1. What truly triggered Josh's mental breakdown?
- The guilt over Charlie's death may have been too much for him.
- He might have had pre-existing psychological issues that the trauma exacerbated.
- The film hints at his repressed feelings for Zach, which could have contributed to his instability.
Will Zach ever recover from the trauma?
- The therapist scene implies he is trying, but his emotional numbness suggests a long road ahead.
- The cyclical nature of violence in the film (the sword passing from one killer to another) hints that Zach may never fully escape the past.
What was the significance of the deer?
- The recurring imagery of the dead deer could symbolize innocence lost or fate's inevitability.
- It might also represent Josh's fractured mental state, as he fixates on it before his rampage.
Personal Opinion:
Super Dark Times is a masterclass in slow-burning tension and adolescent horror. The ending is devastating but fitting-it doesn't offer easy answers or redemption, which makes it all the more impactful. Zach's survival comes at the cost of his innocence, and the film leaves you wondering if he's truly "free" or if the trauma will haunt him forever. The ambiguity of Josh's motives adds to the unease; his actions feel both shocking and tragically inevitable. The cinematography and sound design amplify the dread, making the finale unforgettable. While not a traditional horror film, its psychological depth lingers long after the credits roll.
Final Thoughts:
The film's strength lies in its realism-the violence isn't glamorized, and the emotional fallout is portrayed with raw honesty. The ending doesn't tie everything up neatly, mirroring the messy, unresolved nature of real-life trauma. It's a bleak but brilliant conclusion to a story about the fragility of friendship and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of ordinary lives. Super Dark Times is a haunting exploration of guilt, madness, and the irreversible loss of innocence, and its ending ensures those themes stay with you.