Evil Does Not Exist

In the final moments of Evil Does Not Exist, Takumi is overwhelmed with grief and despair after discovering Hana’s lifeless body in the woods. The scene’s disjointed imagery, with Hana and the deer appearing as if from a different time, suggests a dreamlike reflection on the tragic events and Takumi’s memories. His grief is so intense that he chooses to walk into the darkness of the forest, perhaps symbolizing his desire to escape the pain or join Hana in death. Meanwhile, Takahashi, who has been a symbol of outside influence and capitalist intrusion into the village, is shown to be physically and emotionally overwhelmed—he collapses and appears defeated, recognizing that his presence and the destruction caused by outside forces have contributed to Hana’s death.

The ending underscores the movie’s core message: that the village and its inhabitants embody a natural harmony untouched by evil, with their strength lying in their resilience and unity. The villagers live without pretense or malice, and their rejection of the destructive greed represented by Takahashi and his company highlights the importance of respecting nature and community. The scene’s tragic conclusion suggests that the real evil is not an active force, but the destructive tendencies of capitalism and ignorance that threaten to destroy the fragile balance of life. Ultimately, Takumi’s act of carrying Hana’s body into the woods symbolizes his loss of hope and his attempt to retreat into the natural world, possibly as a final act of resistance or surrender to the uncontrollable forces that have led to his daughter’s death. The film leaves a haunting impression that true evil does not lie in intentional malice, but in the disruption of harmony and respect for life, which the villagers consciously preserve.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:02