Year: 2022
Runtime: 107 min
Language: English
Director: David Cronenberg
Echo Score: 71Budget: $35M
In a dystopian future where the human body undergoes synthetic evolution, performance artist Saul Tenser showcases unsettling transformations of his own organs alongside his partner, Caprice. As Saul’s fame grows, a detective, Timlin, begins to monitor their activities. However, a shadowy organization sees an opportunity to exploit Saul's notoriety, intending to reveal a disturbing progression in human evolution and further obscure the line between biology and technology.
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Still thinking about how Crimes of the Future (2022) ended? Here’s a full breakdown of the ending, key final moments, major twists, and the deeper meaning behind the film’s conclusion.
At the end of “Crimes of the Future,” Saul Tenser, who has been performing body mutilation art in a world devoid of pain, finally seeks a sort of liberation or truth through an extreme act. After helping to reveal the extraordinary internal organs of a young boy who naturally digests plastic, Saul discovers that these organs have been replaced or surgically altered, and that the government has been secretly monitoring and controlling such biological anomalies. The autopsy performed on the boy’s body exposes that the organs are tattooed and stored by the government, signifying their deep involvement in manipulating and hiding the truth about human evolution. When Saul witnesses the dissection, Lang, the father of the boy and leader of anti-government evolutionists, becomes overwhelmed with despair and breaks down, while his dream of seeing his son’s inside organs is shattered.
Berst and Router, the technicians who assist with the autopsy, then kill Lang, revealing that they are working to silence any threats to the government’s authority. Later, detective Cope confirms that the government knew about Brecken’s unique digestion from the start, but kept the truth hidden to maintain power. Saul, increasingly disillusioned with the oppressive system, chooses to reject all control and perform one final act of rebellion. He consumes a piece of plastic waste, a symbolic gesture that could be interpreted as embracing the unnatural evolution of humans or as a final rejection of societal constraints. His face briefly shows a look of satisfaction, yet his eyes widen as if he might be dying, leaving his fate ambiguous.
Overall, the ending underscores themes of control, concealment, and the brutal realities behind technological and societal progress. Saul’s acceptance of the plastic symbolizes both his surrender to the evolved body he has become and his defiant stance against a system that manipulates and suppresses truth. The film’s conclusion leaves viewers questioning whether Saul survives or perishes, emphasizing the personal and political rebellion against oppression and the natural order. The murders of the doctors and Lang hint at a broader conspiracy, with LifeFormWare potentially collaborating with the government to eliminate opposition, highlighting a world where curiosity and pain are exploited for power. Ultimately, the film ends on a note of ambiguous defiance, inviting viewers to reflect on the boundaries of human evolution, pain, and societal control.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58
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Stories exploring the dark and painful consequences of technological evolution.Explore more movies like Crimes of the Future that delve into dystopian futures shaped by transhumanism. These similar sci-fi stories feature body horror and philosophical themes, presenting heavy, dark tales about the merging of technology and humanity.
Narratives involve characters grappling with radical bodily or societal changes, often framed as a disturbing new normal. The central conflict arises from the clash between an evolving reality and the remnants of human nature, leading to explorations of grief, loss, and the search for meaning in a synthetic world.
These films are grouped by their shared focus on the dark side of transhumanism, using dystopian settings to explore heavy themes of identity, loss, and the clinical, painful intersection of the organic and the artificial.
Stories where avant-garde art blurs the line between creation and suffering.If you liked the performance art themes in Crimes of the Future, discover more movies featuring transgressive art. These similar dramas and thrillers explore artists who use pain, their bodies, or shocking acts to create, often within a dark and complex narrative.
The plot follows an artist or performer whose controversial work attracts scrutiny, admiration, and danger. Their artistic journey is intertwined with personal trauma, leading to a narrative that questions the nature of art, pain, and the limits of the human body or spirit.
These films share a focus on the process and impact of extreme, boundary-pushing art. They are united by a dark, complex tone, a slow build of unease, and a deep exploration of the connection between creativity and suffering.
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Read a complete plot summary of Crimes of the Future, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
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