The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, concludes with Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell), a cardiologist, being forced to kill one of his family members to atone for his past medical negligence, which resulted in the death of a patient. After his children mysteriously fall ill, Steven is given an ultimatum by Martin (Barry Keoghan), the son of the deceased patient: sacrifice one family member or watch them all die. In the end, Steven blindfolds himself and shoots his son, Bob, breaking the curse. The film ends with the surviving family members resuming their lives, haunted by the trauma but seemingly free from Martin's vengeance.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The finale of The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a harrowing culmination of psychological and moral torment. The film's climax hinges on Steven's impossible choice: he must kill one of his family members-his wife Anna (Nicole Kidman), daughter Kim (Raffey Cassidy), or son Bob (Sunny Suljic)—to satisfy Martin's demand for retribution. Martin's supernatural curse, which paralyzes and slowly kills Steven's children, mirrors the ancient Greek myth of Iphigenia, where Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter to appease the gods. Steven initially resists, trying medical interventions and even attempting to kill Martin, but ultimately realizes there is no escape from the moral debt he owes.
The final act sees Steven blindfolding himself and spinning in a circle with a rifle, firing randomly in a twisted game of chance. The bullet strikes Bob, killing him and fulfilling the sacrificial demand. This moment is chilling in its detachment - Steven's refusal to look while committing the act underscores his cowardice and moral evasion. After Bob's death, the curse is lifted: Kim regains her ability to walk, and the family sits silently at a diner, attempting to resume normalcy. The final shot lingers on their hollow expressions, suggesting that while they survive physically, they are irreparably broken emotionally.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
Is Martin supernatural, or is this a psychological revenge scheme?
- Supernatural interpretation: Martin's ability to inflict illness suggests he's an avenging spirit or a force of divine justice.
- Psychological interpretation: The curse could be a metaphor for guilt manifesting as psychosomatic illness, with Steven's family suffering from his repressed remorse.
Why does Steven choose to kill Bob instead of Anna or Kim?
- The spinning rifle scene implies fate decides, removing Steven's agency.
- Symbolically, Bob's death may represent the loss of innocence or the youngest bearing the sins of the father.
What does the diner scene signify?
- The family's silence suggests they are complicit in the sacrifice, unable to process the horror.
- The mundane setting contrasts with the brutality of their ordeal, emphasizing how trauma lingers beneath the surface of normal life.
Themes & Symbolism
The film explores guilt, retribution, and the illusion of control. Steven, a man of science, is powerless against Martin's archaic form of justice, highlighting the limits of rationality in the face of moral consequences. The title references the myth of Iphigenia, where a sacred deer's killing demands a human sacrifice, reinforcing the idea that some debts can only be paid in blood. Lanthimos's signature deadpan dialogue and sterile cinematography amplify the existential dread, making the ending feel both absurd and inevitable.
Personal Opinion
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a masterclass in slow-burning horror, with an ending that lingers like a nightmare. Barry Keoghan's unsettling performance as Martin elevates the film from a simple revenge tale to a mythic tragedy. The finale's emotional detachment is jarring yet fitting - Lanthimos refuses to offer catharsis, leaving the audience to grapple with the weight of Steven's choice. While some may find the resolution too bleak or ambiguous, I appreciate its refusal to provide easy answers, forcing viewers to confront the moral abyss at the story's core. It's a film that haunts long after the credits roll.
Final Thoughts
The ending of The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a brutal, poetic conclusion to a film steeped in dread and moral ambiguity. By blending Greek tragedy with modern psychological horror, Lanthimos crafts a story where justice is neither fair nor merciful-only inevitable. The family's survival comes at the cost of their humanity, leaving them forever scarred by the price of Steven's sin. It's a testament to the film's power that its ending feels both shocking and eerily predestined, a reminder that some debts can never truly be repaid.