Barbarians

The ending of Barbarian reveals a brutal confrontation where Tess manages to escape from the horrific underground tunnels after a series of harrowing encounters. Although she and AJ do reach safety—taking refuge at a neighbor’s house—the threat is far from over. The Mother, a monstrous and relentless figure, survives even after being shot and crashing Tess’s car into her. The film concludes with Tess shooting the Mother, finally ending her reign of terror, but not before the Mother has already killed AJ and injured Tess, demonstrating her resilience and the ongoing danger she poses. Mirroring Frank’s earlier actions, AJ’s character arc culminates in a tragic sacrifice as he attempts to save Tess at the cost of his own eyesight and life. His actions highlight the film’s key themes—toxicity, misogyny, and the dark consequences of unchecked masculinity.

The film also delves into the backstory of the underground tunnels, suggesting they were likely built by Frank himself or discovered by him later, possibly serving as the hidden site of his abuses. The underground space is a grim, confining place filled with cages and dark corners, symbolizing the secret horrors that have lurked beneath the surface of suburban life. Surprisingly, no bodies are left behind, implying that Frank or the Mother may have concealed the victims elsewhere, such as buried in the yard or hidden within the tunnels. The ending emphasizes that danger for women isn’t confined to isolated incidents but is rooted in societal patterns of neglect and disbelief. Stepping back from pure horror, the story is a stark commentary on women’s vulnerability and the systemic failure to protect them. Tess’s resilience and survival underscore a message of hope and resistance amid pervasive evil, making the ending both shocking and thought-provoking while reinforcing the film’s unsettling themes of power, control, and fear.**

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:59