The Witch (2015) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The Witch (2015) concludes with Thomasin, the eldest daughter of a Puritan family exiled to the wilderness, fully embracing witchcraft after her family is destroyed by supernatural forces and paranoia. The final scene shows her joining a coven of witches, levitating into the night sky, and signing her name in the Devil's book-symbolizing her surrender to evil and newfound freedom from Puritan repression. The ending is ambiguous, leaving questions about whether the witchcraft was real or a product of the family's hysteria. The film explores themes of religious extremism, female oppression, and the allure of liberation through darkness.*
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The ending of The Witch is a chilling culmination of the family's disintegration and Thomasin's transformation from a pious Puritan girl to a witch. After her siblings are killed-some by supernatural means, others by the family's own paranoia - Thomasin is left alone in the wilderness. In the final moments, she encounters Black Phillip, the sinister goat revealed to be the Devil in disguise. He speaks to her, asking if she desires "the taste of butter" and "pretty dresses," symbolizing worldly pleasures forbidden by her strict faith. When she asks if he can provide these things, he responds, "Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?" Thomasin, stripped of her family and faith, agrees, leading to her ecstatic communion with a coven of naked witches in the woods. The film closes with her levitating into the air, screaming in joy, her fate sealed as a servant of Satan.
Themes and Symbolism
The ending underscores the film's central themes of religious oppression and female agency. Thomasin's arc reflects the historical persecution of women as witches-often scapegoats for societal fears. Her "corruption" is framed as both a tragedy and a liberation. While her family's fanaticism and repression doom them, her embrace of witchcraft offers a perverse kind of empowerment. The levitation scene mirrors medieval accounts of witches' sabbaths, blurring the line between hallucination and reality. The forest, a recurring symbol of the unknown and the feminine, becomes a space of both terror and freedom. The Devil's offer isn't just about evil but about autonomy-something denied to Thomasin in her Puritan life.
Unresolved Questions
- Was the witchcraft real, or was it the family's paranoia?
- The film deliberately blurs reality and delusion. The supernatural events (the baby's disappearance, Black Phillip's speech) suggest real witchcraft, but the family's escalating hysteria could also explain their downfall.
- What happened to the missing baby, Samuel?
- The early scene implies the witch ground him into a flying ointment, but some interpretations suggest it was a hallucination stemming from the mother's grief.
- Why did Caleb die after his encounter with the witch?
- His death could be supernatural (the witch's curse) or natural (illness exacerbated by stress and malnutrition).
- Is Thomasin truly evil, or a victim?
- The film leaves this ambiguous. Her final smile suggests both damnation and triumph, depending on the viewer's perspective.
Personal Opinion
I find the ending of The Witch deeply unsettling yet brilliant. It refuses easy answers, forcing the audience to sit with its ambiguity. Thomasin's transformation is horrifying yet perversely cathartic-a rebellion against a world that offered her no mercy. The film's slow burn and atmospheric dread make the finale feel earned, not gratuitous. Robert Eggers' commitment to historical authenticity and folklore elevates it beyond typical horror, turning it into a meditation on fear, faith, and freedom. It's a masterpiece of psychological horror, leaving you haunted long after the credits roll.
Final Thoughts
The Witch isn't just a horror movie; it's a historical nightmare steeped in primal fears. The ending doesn't provide closure but instead lingers like a curse. Whether you interpret Thomasin's fate as damnation or liberation, the film's power lies in its refusal to judge. It's a rare horror film that trusts its audience to grapple with its darkness-one that lingers in the mind like a whispered spell.