The Hateful Eight

The ending of The Hateful Eight is intense and filled with betrayal, characteristic of Tarantino’s style. Throughout the film, it’s revealed that some characters, including Daisy, Marco, and Hicox, had coordinated plans to rescue Daisy and betray the others. As the violence escalates, Daisy’s gang poisons the coffee, which results in Major Warren and John Ruth being killed. Warren manages to shoot Marco, but is then shot by Jody, who was hiding beneath the floorboards. Daisy, now in control, hangs Ruth from the rafters in a symbolic act, honoring him, while Warren and Mannix, both wounded, are left to die.

Originally, Tarantino’s initial script featured a much more brutal ending—where Warren is shot multiple times by Jody from beneath the floor, and Daisy finishes him off with three shots to the head. That version also would have left Mannix as the only survivor, with no meaningful social commentary or character development. However, Tarantino decided to change this ending to add more tension and thematic depth. Instead of a bloody shootout where everyone kills each other, he crafted a more layered ending, allowing characters like Daisy to reveal her motives and manipulate Mannix into killing Warren. This adjustment also gave the story room to explore themes of racial and social tension, which Tarantino felt would be diluted in the more straightforward, violent finale of the original version.

In the final version, the story subverts traditional Western tropes by emphasizing psychological conflict, racial dynamics, and personal betrayal rather than just relying on gratuitous violence. Daisy’s ultimate act of hanging Ruth is a powerful gesture that underscores her cunning and ruthless nature. The ending leaves viewers with a complex tableau of morality, justice, and deception, making the conclusion not just about bloodshed, but about the manipulation of perceptions and the blurring of good and evil—hallmarks of Tarantino’s storytelling. This revised ending elevates the film beyond a simple gunslinger tale into a more profound commentary on human nature and societal tensions.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00