The Revenant (2015) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The Revenant ends with Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) achieving vengeance by killing John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) but ultimately abandoning him to die slowly rather than granting a quick death. After a brutal final confrontation, Glass is left emotionally hollow, staring at the camera as he grapples with the cost of his revenge. The film closes with a vision of his deceased wife, symbolizing his unresolved grief and the futility of violence. The ending is ambiguous, leaving Glass's future uncertain but suggesting that vengeance hasn't healed his pain.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climactic scene of The Revenant sees Hugh Glass finally cornering John Fitzgerald, the man who murdered his son and left him for dead. Their fight is brutal and visceral, mirroring the raw, unforgiving wilderness that has shaped their journey. Glass overpowers Fitzgerald and slashes his throat, but instead of delivering a swift death, he drags Fitzgerald to the river and pushes him into the current, leaving him to bleed out slowly. This act is symbolic - Glass denies Fitzgerald the mercy he was denied, emphasizing the cyclical nature of violence and revenge. The river, a recurring motif in the film, represents both cleansing and the inevitability of fate, carrying Fitzgerald away just as it carried Glass through his trials.
After killing Fitzgerald, Glass collapses, exhausted and wounded, and has a vision of his deceased wife, Pawnee woman Hawk Woman (Grace Dove). She appears in the trees, looking at him wordlessly before walking away. This vision underscores the film's central theme: revenge does not bring closure. Glass's journey was driven by grief and rage, but in the end, he is left with nothing but emptiness. His wife's spirit fades, suggesting that his pursuit of vengeance has not reconciled him with his loss. The final shot lingers on Glass's face as he stares directly at the camera, his expression a mix of exhaustion, sorrow, and unresolved torment.
Unresolved Questions
Does Glass find peace after killing Fitzgerald?
- Possible Answer: No. The vision of his wife walking away implies that revenge hasn't healed him.
- Possible Answer: Yes, in a twisted way-he has fulfilled his mission, but at great personal cost.
What happens to Glass afterward?
- Possible Answer: He returns to civilization but remains a broken man.
- Possible Answer: He disappears into the wilderness, choosing isolation over society.
Was Fitzgerald's fate worse than death?
- Possible Answer: Yes - Glass ensured he suffered, making his death more agonizing.
- Possible Answer: No - Glass's act was just another violent moment in a world defined by brutality.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
The Revenant is a masterpiece of survival cinema, but its ending is deliberately bleak. Alejandro González Iñárritu crafts a film where nature is both a character and a force of reckoning, and the finale reinforces that theme. Glass's victory is pyrrhic-he survives, but at what cost? The film suggests that revenge is an empty pursuit, a lesson underscored by the haunting final image. DiCaprio's performance is phenomenal, conveying profound suffering without excessive dialogue. While the film is visually stunning and thematically rich, its unrelenting grimness may alienate some viewers. Still, it's a powerful meditation on human endurance and the futility of vengeance.
Final Thoughts
The ending of The Revenant refuses to offer catharsis, instead leaving the audience with a sense of unresolved tension. Glass's journey was never truly about survival-it was about pain, loss, and the destructive nature of revenge. The film's final moments, with its ethereal imagery and stark realism, ensure that its impact lingers long after the credits roll. It's a fitting conclusion to a story that questions whether vengeance is ever truly satisfying or merely another form of suffering.