The ending of the film "Behind the Scenes"« has sparked mixed reactions since its premiere last week. The horror film, based on the Kain Parsons book series, has divided fans, with many disagreeing with the film's narrative.
Behind the Scenes is directed by Kain Parsons from a screenplay by Will Sudick. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Rainswe, with Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lucit Maxwell, and Avan Jogia also starring. The screenplay was written by Will Sudick and Roberto Patino, with James Wan and Michael Clear producing through Wan's Atomic Monster.
«"A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture store," reads the film's brief and cryptic synopsis.
Behind the Scenes ending explained«
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For those who haven't seen Behind the Scenes yet, it's best to wait and see the film before going, as we'll be discussing some of the most important revelations in the film.
A24's latest horror film was a huge hit for the company, but it sparked a mixed reaction from fans due to its ending. For those unfamiliar, "Backstage" centers on the discovery and exploration of a mysterious extradimensional space known as Backstage. The film follows architect-turned-furniture store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who discovers this space and gradually begins to perceive it as his home.
Near the end of the film, Clark goes missing after telling his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinswe, about the existence of Backstage). Mary goes looking for him and discovers Backstage herself before finding Clark, who has gone slightly insane and incapacitates Mary. She awakens tied to a chair at the dinner table, while Clark explains that he won't be returning, that he's happy in Backstage, and that he exists among a multitude of "still lifes"—replicas of people Backstage tried to create from those who find him.
After some bickering, during which Clark demands Mary play the role of his divorced wife (something they've done previously in the film), Mary explains that Clark is the cause of his depression and unhappiness. Clark momentarily regains consciousness and frees Mary, after which they encounter the film's "main" creature—a massive, deformed version of Clark, dressed in a pirate costume from the store he owns.
While Clark attempts to calm the creature, it eventually kills Clark and pursues Mary. This triggers a chase that ends with Mary and the creature being gassed by the mysterious company Async, which once developed MRI machines before discovering Backstage. Mary asks if she'll be allowed to leave, but researcher Phil (Mark Duplass) refuses to answer. The film then ends with a montage of Backstage footage, followed by a monstrous glimpse of Mary inside Backstage's version of an interrogation room.
The ending of the film "Behind the Scenes" divided fans of the A24 horror film.
The ending is quite unconventional for a horror film, and as a result, fans are divided. Unlike most traditional horror films, "Behind the Scenes" doesn't feature any major jump scares or twist endings. Instead, the film focuses primarily on the psychological aspects of the participants.
Throughout the film, Clark is portrayed as a man unhappy with his life and struggling with his inner demons. Mary is also depicted as having experienced a traumatic childhood and suffering from recurring nightmares. The film doesn't directly address this, but many disagree on whether Backstage is a physical or mental space, although it does appear to be a real, existing place.
Additionally, some fans were left somewhat disappointed by the film's more artistic ending. The final montage largely explores the real world's impact on Backstage before concluding with the reveal of Mary's replica. Thematically, this is a powerful connection, as Mary's replica is now trapped in a place she likely can't leave, similar to how young Mary was raised by her withdrawn mother. However, fans hoping for a more terrifying creature were left dissatisfied with the film's ending.
Fortunately, it looks like a sequel to "Behind the Scenes" is on the horizon. The film's success practically guarantees that something else will follow. However, Parsons isn't sure whether it will be a film or not. In an interview with USA Today, Parsons said he believes the best way to continue "Behind the Scenes" is as a serialized series. "I still firmly believe it should be a television series," Parsons said. "I don't think you can finish "Behind the Scenes" as a multi-film narrative, and I don't even think it's a good idea to make so many feature films. I think specificity is a good thing.".
The original article was written by Anthony Nash for Coming Soon.
The article "Behind the Scenes Ending Explained: Why the Horror Film's Ending Is Controversial" first appeared on Mandatory.