There Will Be Blood (2007) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The ending of There Will Be Blood (2007) culminates in a violent and symbolic confrontation between oil tycoon Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) and false prophet Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). After years of rivalry, Plainview lures Eli to his mansion, humiliates him by forcing him to denounce God, and then brutally murders him with a bowling pin. The final line—"I'm finished!"—serves as a chilling declaration of Plainview's complete moral and spiritual decay, marking the culmination of his descent into isolation, greed, and misanthropy. The film critiques capitalism, religion, and the American Dream, leaving viewers to ponder the cost of unchecked ambition.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The final act of There Will Be Blood is a masterclass in tension and thematic resolution. Set years after the film's central oil rush, Daniel Plainview has achieved immense wealth but is utterly alone, living in a decaying mansion. His adopted son, H.W., has abandoned him after discovering Plainview's lies about his biological father. Eli Sunday, once a charismatic preacher who opposed Plainview's oil operations, arrives seeking financial help, revealing his own hypocrisy and desperation. The confrontation between the two men is the climax of their long-standing feud - Plainview represents ruthless capitalism, while Eli embodies religious opportunism. Neither is morally righteous, and their final encounter exposes the rot at the core of both systems.
The Murder of Eli Sunday
Plainview's murder of Eli is not just an act of vengeance but a symbolic annihilation of faith itself. He forces Eli to repeatedly scream, "I am a false prophet! God is a superstition!"—a moment that underscores the film's critique of organized religion as another form of exploitation. When Plainview bludgeons Eli to death with a bowling pin, the violence is shockingly visceral, reflecting the brutality of their ideological war. The bowling alley setting is significant; it's a place of leisure for Plainview, suggesting that destroying Eli is as trivial to him as a game. The act also mirrors earlier violence in the film, such as Plainview beating a man to death with a shovel, reinforcing his descent into unrestrained savagery.
"I'm Finished!" – The Final Line
Plainview's declaration, "I'm finished!" is layered with meaning. On one level, it's a literal admission that he has completed his revenge against Eli. On another, it's a bleak acknowledgment of his own spiritual and emotional bankruptcy. Having alienated everyone in his life-his son, his business partners, and now Eli - Plainview is left with nothing but his wealth, which has become meaningless. The line echoes his earlier quote, "I have a competition in me… I want no one else to succeed," revealing that his victory is hollow. The final shot of him sitting alone in the bowling alley, covered in blood, underscores the film's central thesis: unchecked ambition leads to isolation and ruin.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- What does Plainview's relationship with H.W. signify?
- Possible Answer: H.W. represents the last shred of Plainview's humanity. His abandonment marks the point of no return for Plainview's moral decay.
- Is Eli truly a believer, or is he as corrupt as Plainview?
- Possible Answer: Eli's willingness to beg for money suggests his faith is performative, making him a twisted mirror of Plainview's greed.
- What is the significance of the film's title?
- Possible Answer: It refers not just to literal violence but to the bloodshed inherent in capitalism and religious hypocrisy.
Personal Opinion
There Will Be Blood is a staggering achievement in filmmaking, with Daniel Day-Lewis delivering one of cinema's greatest performances. The ending is haunting because it refuses redemption or catharsis - Plainview's victory is pyrrhic, and the audience is left to grapple with the cost of his ambition. Paul Thomas Anderson's direction is meticulous, using long silences and stark imagery to emphasize the emptiness of Plainview's world. The film's critique of American capitalism and religious hypocrisy remains painfully relevant. While the ending is bleak, it's a necessary conclusion to a story about the poison of unchecked greed. It's a movie that lingers long after the credits roll, demanding reflection on the darker facets of human nature.
Final Thoughts
The ending of There Will Be Blood is a powerful denouement to a film that dissects the myth of the American Dream. Plainview's final act of violence is not just against Eli but against the last remnants of his own soul. The film's brilliance lies in its ambiguity-it doesn't judge Plainview outright but forces the audience to confront the horror of his choices. The final scene, with its eerie silence and stark imagery, is a fitting end to a story about the corrosive effects of greed, pride, and isolation. It's a masterpiece that challenges viewers to question the systems that create men like Daniel Plainview-and whether such men are monsters or products of a monstrous world.