What Josiah Saw

The ending of What Josiah Saw reveals a haunting and tragic culmination of the family’s dark secrets and sins. Throughout the film, each sibling grapples with their past and the horrors rooted in their upbringing. Eli’s reckless lifestyle and involvement with gypsies lead to him uncovering gruesome truths, including the buried skeletons of an infant and an adult, confirming that the family’s sins extend to the murder of a child. Mary’s desire to become a mother and her mental struggles are intertwined with her traumatic history and abuse, but her reconciliation with her trauma seems possible as she begins to accept her past. However, it is Tommy, the most mentally fragile and disoriented sibling, who embodies the ultimate tragedy. When he reveals that their mother, Miriam, committed suicide because she knew about their sins—specifically the incest and abuse—he also claims to speak with their father, Josiah, who may have died or been murdered long ago.

As Tommy claims to be talking to Josiah’s ghost, he uncovers horrifying truths—namely that the family had committed multiple sins, including the murder and burial of a baby. When the siblings realize that the skeleton buried on the property is the evidence of this unthinkable crime, they are overcome by shock. In a violent climax, Tommy kills Eli and Mary, punishing them for their own sins, orchestrated perhaps by the ghostly influence of Josiah or his own madness. The story concludes with a fire under a willow tree, inscribed with the words “Sins Paid In Full,” symbolizing that the family’s sins have finally been atoned for—or it could be interpreted as a sinister final act of revenge and guilt. The film invites viewers to ponder whether the sins have truly been redeemed or whether the cycle of trauma continues in some form. Ultimately, What Josiah Saw leaves open the question of whether redemption is possible, or if the dark family legacy will forever haunt those involved. It is a chilling meditation on trauma, guilt, and the destructive power of hidden secrets.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:59