We Are the Flesh (2016) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
We Are the Flesh (2016), directed by Emiliano Rocha Minter, is a surreal, disturbing, and highly symbolic Mexican horror film that explores themes of primal desire, societal collapse, and the breakdown of morality. The ending depicts the complete disintegration of reality as the two siblings, Mariano and Lucio, succumb to the chaotic, ritualistic world created by the enigmatic character El Señor. The film culminates in a grotesque orgy of violence, birth, and rebirth, leaving the audience with more questions than answers about the nature of humanity, freedom, and the limits of depravity.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The final act of We Are the the Flesh is a hallucinatory descent into madness, where the boundaries between reality and nightmare blur entirely. El Señor, who has manipulated the siblings into participating in his grotesque rituals, reaches the apex of his influence over them. The siblings, initially repulsed by his demands, eventually embrace his philosophy of absolute freedom-freedom from societal norms, morality, and even their own humanity. The film's climax is marked by an extended sequence of surreal violence, incestuous coupling, and a grotesque mockery of birth, as Lucio emerges from a fleshy, womb-like structure, symbolizing a perverse rebirth into a world without rules.
The final moments of the film are deliberately ambiguous. After the siblings fully submit to El Señor's vision, they are left in a state of ecstatic yet horrifying liberation. The camera lingers on their faces, smeared with blood and sweat, their expressions caught between euphoria and existential horror. The film then cuts to black, leaving the audience to grapple with the implications of what they've witnessed. The ending suggests that the characters have either transcended humanity or been consumed by their own darkest impulses, with no clear resolution as to whether their transformation is triumphant or tragic.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Interpretations
What is El Señor's true nature?
- A demonic or supernatural entity manipulating humans for his own ends.
- A mad prophet representing the collapse of civilization.
- A figment of the siblings' shared psychosis.
Is the film's world post-apocalyptic or purely psychological?
- The city outside is in ruins, suggesting a societal collapse.
- The entire film could be a metaphorical descent into the subconscious.
What does the "rebirth" of Lucio signify?
- A literal new beginning in a world without rules.
- A cyclical return to primal instincts, implying humanity is doomed to repeat its worst impulses.
Are the siblings victims or willing participants?
- Initially coerced, but they ultimately embrace the chaos.
- Their compliance suggests a latent desire for destruction all along.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
We Are the Flesh is an uncompromising, visually arresting, and deeply unsettling film that refuses to offer easy answers. The ending is deliberately provocative, forcing the viewer to confront uncomfortable questions about desire, power, and the fragility of civilization. While some may find the film gratuitous or nihilistic, its nightmarish imagery and psychological intensity make it a memorable (if disturbing) experience. The lack of a clear resolution enhances its impact-this isn't a story with a moral lesson, but a visceral plunge into the darkest corners of human nature. Whether one sees it as a profound allegory or an exercise in shock value depends on the viewer's tolerance for ambiguity and extreme content.
Final Thoughts
Few films linger in the mind like We Are the Flesh. Its ending is a culmination of its themes-freedom as both liberation and destruction, rebirth as both hope and horror. It's a film that demands multiple viewings (if one can stomach it) and rewards those willing to engage with its dense symbolism. Whether it's a masterpiece or a grotesque indulgence is up for debate, but its audacity and unflinching vision ensure it won't be forgotten easily.