In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for Nightcrawler, we will explain the film’s ending.
Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal – Louis “Lou” Bloom
- Rene Russo – Nina Romina
- Riz Ahmed – Rick
- Bill Paxton – Joe Loder
- Kevin Rahm – Frank Kruse
- Michael Hyatt – Detective Frontieri
- Ann Cusack – Linda
- Dan Gilroy – Writer and director
The end of Nightcrawler explained
Recap
Lou tracks down the gunmen who committed the triple homicide in Granada Hills. His plan is to follow them to a crowded area, call the police, and then record the ensuing confrontation. But Rick is frightened by the plan, and demands half of the money Lou stands to make from the footage or he’ll tell the police about the footage Lou withheld. Lou agrees.
They track the gunmen to a diner where the gunmen are eating. Rick realizes that Lou has gone too far and is engaging in unethical and illegal behavior. Rick confronts Lou and tells him that he wants no part in what is happening. Lou, however, is undeterred and tells Rick that he is welcome to leave but that he is going to stay and capture the footage.
A shootout ensues, and one of the gunmen escapes in his car. Lou and Rick follow as the police chase the gunman. Eventually, the gunman crashes. Lou pushes Rick to capture some footage of the dead gunman—but it turns out the gunman isn’t dead, and he fatally shoots Rick. Lou films everything, including the police shooting and killing the gunman. Lou then approaches the dying Rick and says, “I can’t jeopardize my company’s success to retain an untrustworthy employee…You took my bargaining power and you used it against me. You would have done it again. Just admit it.”
Lou returns to the news station with the video footage. Nina is disturbed by the video footage, but ultimately blown away and impressed by it. Just before the footage is set to air, Frank approaches Nina after he discovers from a source that the homicide originally took place as a drug raid and not a home invasion. But Nina wants to push forward with the sensational and deadly news footage. “The story is urban crime creeping into the suburbs—that’s the story,” she says. “Jesus,” Frank responds, “you sound like Lou.” “I think Lou is inspiring us all to reach a little higher,” she says.
Lou is then questioned by the police, who suspect that he may have had a role in the staged crime scene. However, Lou manages to avoid prosecution by using his charm and manipulation skills to convince the detectives that he is innocent.
The film’s final scene shows Lou speaking to several new employees that he has hired for his growing business. He gives a speech about the importance of hard work, determination, and the pursuit of success.
Meaning
The ending of Nightcrawler is a powerful conclusion to a story that is ultimately about the dark side of the American Dream and the ethical standards of the media industry. The movie’s final scenes have significant thematic implications, highlighting the consequences of chasing growth and profit at any cost and the potential danger of media sensationalism.
The conversation between Rick and Lou is a powerful moment that encapsulates the grislier aspects of ambition. Lou’s character is driven by a desire for achievement and a need for control, which ultimately leads him down a disturbing path. He is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, even if it means breaking the law or exploiting others. Their conversation raises important questions about the nature of friendship and the consequences of driving a company forward at any cost. Lou’s persistence as a businessman has cost him his humanity and his ability to form meaningful relationships. He is ultimately alone, driven by his own capitalistic appetite and desire for control.
The movie’s final scenes also highlight the potential danger of media sensationalism when it is not balanced with responsibility. Lou stages a shootout in order to capture footage that he believes will be even more sensational, and he manipulates the crime scene to make it more dramatic. The scene is a clear violation of journalistic ethics, but Lou is driven by his capitalistic obsessions and his belief that the ends justify the means. The footage that Lou captures is highly sensationalized and portrays violence in a way that is both graphic and alarming. The film raises important questions about the role of the media in perpetuating violence and negative stereotypes, and the responsibility of the media to report the news accurately and ethically.
The final scene of Nightcrawler when Lou speaks to his employees has significant thematic implications that highlight the darker aspects of ambition and the media industry. Lou’s speech is a chilling reminder of his character and the potential danger of being driven by a capitalist system. The speech is highly manipulative and narcissistic, as he tells his employees that they are the best and that they should always strive to be the best. He talks about the importance of hard work and determination, but it is clear that his definition of success is based solely on profit and ratings, rather than moral considerations. The scene is a reminder that Lou’s character is still the same manipulative and ruthless individual he was at the beginning of the film, driven by his desire for financial growth and his willingness to exploit others for his own gain.
It’s a powerful, cynical twist on the underdog story that’s so popular in American cinema. You have films like The Pursuit of Happyness that enshrine this idea of the American Dream where you start from nothing, grind your way up, and make a better life for you and your family. Nightcrawler has the same story beats and happy ending. Except Lou is a morally bankrupt person. It creates a conflicting response in the viewer, as this narrative structure is something we’re used to seeing with positive, likable people. We root for them. But should we root for Lou? Probably not. But he’s wormed his way into this structure and exploited it and us. So that by the end, there’s an implicit, trained part of us that feels satisfaction at the “underdog” finding success. A feeling that is probably immediately checked by a sense of disgust that the system would reward such a person. The sad thing is, it happens every day. There are thousands of Lou’s who have no morality and only want to get ahead.
Nightcrawler is an indictment of a 21st century culture that’s rewarding the heartless more than the heartfelt.
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