We Don't Belong Here (2017) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
We Don't Belong Here (2017) is a psychological thriller that follows the dysfunctional Green family as they grapple with the disappearance of their son, Max. The ending reveals that Max's sister, Lily (played by Kaitlyn Dever), has been hallucinating his presence all along, and Max is actually dead, having drowned years earlier. The family's collective denial and grief have warped their reality, with Lily's hallucinations serving as a coping mechanism. The film concludes with Lily finally accepting the truth, symbolically letting go of Max's ghost as she walks away from the ocean-a metaphor for her emotional release. The ambiguous final shot leaves room for interpretation about whether the family can heal or will remain trapped in their shared delusion.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climax of We Don't Belong Here is a slow-burning revelation that unravels the film's central mystery: the fate of Max Green. Throughout the movie, Lily insists that Max is alive and communicates with her, even though the rest of the family behaves as if he's gone. The truth is finally unveiled when Lily's mother, Nancy (Catherine Keener), confesses that Max drowned years ago, and the family has been complicit in maintaining the fiction of his survival to avoid confronting their grief. This confession shatters Lily's fragile psyche, forcing her to reconcile with the reality she's suppressed. The final scene shows Lily standing at the ocean's edge, where Max supposedly disappeared, and as she turns away, the camera lingers on the empty shoreline-implying that Max's ghost (or her hallucination of him) has finally dissipated.
The ocean serves as a powerful symbolic backdrop throughout the film, representing the family's unresolved trauma and the boundary between reality and illusion. Lily's final act of walking away from the water signifies her tentative step toward acceptance, though the film leaves her emotional state ambiguous. The director, Peer Pedersen, deliberately avoids a tidy resolution, suggesting that healing is a nonlinear process. The family's dynamic-marked by secrecy, guilt, and codependency-remains fractured, and the audience is left to wonder whether Lily's newfound awareness will liberate her or plunge her deeper into isolation. The haunting score and muted cinematography amplify the sense of melancholy, reinforcing the idea that some wounds never fully close.
Unresolved Questions and Possible Answers
- Was Max's death an accident, or was there foul play?
- The film implies it was an accidental drowning, but the family's guilt suggests they may harbor blame (e.g., neglect).
- Why did the family collectively pretend Max was alive?
- Likely a coping mechanism to avoid grief, with Nancy as the enabler who orchestrated the charade.
- Is Lily truly free from her hallucinations at the end?
- The ambiguous ending suggests she's taken the first step, but her mental state remains precarious.
- What happens to the rest of the family?
- The film sidelines their arcs, but their denial seems entrenched, hinting at continued dysfunction.
Symbolism and Themes
The film explores themes of grief, mental illness, and the corrosive power of secrets. Lily's hallucinations are a manifestation of survivor's guilt and unresolved trauma, while Nancy's manipulative behavior underscores how parental figures can distort reality for their children. The recurring motif of water-both as a life-giving force and a destructive one-mirrors the family's duality: they're adrift in denial yet drowning in sorrow. The title We Don't Belong Here reflects their alienation, not just from society but from their own truths. The ending's lack of closure is intentional, mirroring real-life grief's lingering presence.
Personal Opinion
We Don't Belong Here is a flawed but compelling exploration of familial trauma, buoyed by strong performances, particularly Kaitlyn Dever's portrayal of Lily's unraveling psyche. The ending is poignant but frustratingly vague; while ambiguity can be powerful, the film's sparse character development makes it hard to feel fully invested in the Greens' fate. The psychological horror elements are underutilized, and the plot's reliance on a twist feels somewhat derivative of better films like The Sixth Sense. Still, its raw depiction of grief resonates, and the final scene's quiet devastation lingers. It's a movie that demands patience but rewards viewers with a haunting meditation on loss.
Final Thoughts
The film's strength lies in its atmosphere and emotional honesty, even if its narrative execution falters. The ending doesn't offer catharsis but instead a stark acknowledgment of pain-a reminder that some families never truly escape their ghosts. Whether Lily's journey ends in healing or relapse is left to the audience, making We Don't Belong Here a polarizing but memorable entry in the psychological thriller genre.