Nocturnal Animals is a 2016 psychological thriller directed by Tom Ford. Based on the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright, the film intertwines a story within a story. It follows Amy Adams’ character Susan as she reads a manuscript sent by her ex-husband. The film is visually stunning, emotionally intense, and filled with symbolism. Understanding the ending requires looking at both the narrative of the manuscript and Susan’s personal life. Let’s break down the ending in simple terms.
The Plot of Nocturnal Animals
The story revolves around Susan Morrow, a successful art gallery owner, who receives a manuscript of a novel written by her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield. Susan’s marriage to Edward ended years ago, and she is now married to a wealthy man named Hutton Morrow. However, her life isn’t as perfect as it may seem.
Edward’s manuscript is titled Nocturnal Animals, and it tells the story of Tony Hastings, a man whose family is brutally attacked during a road trip in Texas. The novel is a dark and tragic narrative, and as Susan reads it, she begins to reflect on her own life and her past relationship with Edward. The film’s structure alternates between the novel’s events and flashbacks of Susan’s life, which makes it harder to distinguish between what’s real and what’s fiction.
The Manuscript’s Story
In the manuscript, Tony Hastings, a mild-mannered man, is driving through Texas with his wife and daughter when their car is forced off the road by a group of violent men. The men kidnap his wife and daughter, leading to a tragic series of events. Tony’s life unravels as he becomes obsessed with seeking revenge on the men who destroyed his family. The manuscript reflects themes of vengeance, guilt, and loss.
Tony, in the novel, is deeply affected by the tragedy. He never fully recovers from the loss of his family and becomes a changed man. The novel is clearly an emotional expression of Edward’s pain, reflecting his own experiences and his feelings towards Susan.
The Flashbacks to Susan’s Life
While reading the novel, Susan remembers her own troubled relationship with Edward. Their marriage fell apart because Susan chose wealth and stability over love. Edward was an artist, and Susan felt that he wasn’t practical enough for her. She eventually left him for Hutton, a wealthy man. However, as Susan reads Edward’s manuscript, she starts to regret her decisions. She realizes that she may have chosen a life of material wealth, but she sacrificed love and passion.
The film also shows Susan’s life with Hutton, which is cold and empty. Hutton is distant, and their marriage is clearly not fulfilling. Susan feels trapped in a life that lacks real emotional connection.
The Ending Explained
The ending of Nocturnal Animals is symbolic and poignant. After reading the manuscript, Susan is deeply moved and disturbed by the story. She tries to reach out to Edward, but he remains distant, refusing to engage with her. The manuscript’s events are a reflection of the bitterness and pain Edward feels over their failed relationship. The brutal attack on Tony’s family mirrors how Susan’s actions affected Edward. The story is his way of expressing his anger and regret.
In the final scene, Susan invites Edward to dinner, hoping to reconnect and apologize for how things ended between them. But the dinner is a failure. Edward doesn’t show up, leaving Susan to realize that the emotional distance between them is too great to overcome. Edward has moved on, and Susan is left to confront the reality of her choices.
The dinner scene serves as a metaphor for Susan’s failed life. Her attempt to reconnect with Edward symbolizes her regret over leaving him for a life of wealth. The fact that Edward doesn’t show up signifies his refusal to go back to a life with her. He has grown emotionally distant, just as Susan has emotionally distanced herself from the love and passion that once existed between them.
Symbolism in the Ending
The film is filled with symbolism, and the ending is no exception. The manuscript represents more than just a story. It is a way for Edward to express his grief, anger, and heartbreak over their failed marriage. The violence in the novel symbolizes the destruction of their relationship and the emotional wounds that have never healed.
The scene with the dinner invitation also represents Susan’s desire to find redemption. She wants to make amends for her past mistakes, but she realizes too late that it’s impossible to turn back time. Edward’s rejection is a final blow that forces Susan to face the consequences of her decisions.
The film’s ending is deliberately ambiguous, leaving the audience to interpret what happens next. The emotional weight of the film suggests that Susan’s regret will stay with her for the rest of her life. The failure of her attempt to reconnect with Edward marks the end of any possibility of healing or reconciliation.
What Does It All Mean?
In simple terms, the ending of Nocturnal Animals is about regret and missed opportunities. Susan’s life is a reflection of what happens when we prioritize wealth and stability over love and passion. Edward’s manuscript is a way for him to cope with the pain of losing her, but it also serves as a mirror for Susan. It forces her to confront the reality of her choices and the emotional emptiness she feels.
The film suggests that it’s never too late to make changes in life, but sometimes the damage is too great to undo. Susan realizes that her desire to reconnect with Edward is futile. He has moved on, and the love they once shared is gone forever.
Conclusion
The ending of Nocturnal Animals is haunting and thought-provoking. It explores the themes of love, loss, regret, and the consequences of our choices. The film leaves us with a sense of lingering sadness, showing how our past decisions shape our present and future. In the end, the manuscript isn’t just a story—it’s a reflection of the pain and loss that both Susan and Edward experience in their own lives.
