When it comes to movies, nothing quite stirs up a heated debate like the ending. This is undoubtedly the case with ‘Prisoners,’ released in 2013 and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie follows the story of two families whose daughters are abducted and the lengths the fathers will go to find them.

At the movie’s end, the fate of Keller Dover (Jackman) is left unknown, with many viewers wondering what happened. Let’s take a closer look at the ending of ‘Prisoners,’ and find out whether Keller Dover will be pulled out of the pit or not. The film is a real nail-biter and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Let’s dive in and break down the ending of “Prisoners.”

Warning: Spoilers Ahead! 

Prisoners: The Movie You Can’t Unsee

Prisoners is a movie that will leave you emotionally drained and questioning everything you thought you knew. This film is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it for the incredible performances by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal.

“Prisoners” is a movie that revolves around two families whose daughters go missing on Thanksgiving Day. The girls’ fathers, Keller Dover and Franklin Birch take matters into their own hands and start an investigation, leading them to Alex Jones, a man with the IQ of a ten-year-old. They believe he has something to do with the abduction, and they torture him to extract information. Meanwhile, Detective Loki is assigned to the case and begins to unravel the mystery of the missing girls.

The film takes you on a journey of desperation, hopelessness, and unimaginable circumstances. The acting is top-notch, and the plot is intricate and captivating. The ending, in particular, is a topic of discussion among viewers.

The Not-So-Ambiguous Ending

Some people think the ending is ambiguous because we don’t actually see Detective Loki find Keller in the pit. But come on, guys! Detective Loki is a Sherlock. He hears the whistle, and he knows that someone is down there. He won’t just walk away and leave Keller in the pit. That would be crazy!

The director cut the final scene of Keller being pulled out of the pit because it wasn’t necessary. The audience can infer what happens next. It’s the only logical conclusion. Detective Loki finds Keller and pulls him out of the pit. 

The Director’s Style

If you’ve seen “Prisoners,” you’ll know that the director, Denis Villeneuve, has a unique style. He doesn’t give us the usual gratification shots we’re used to seeing in movies. Instead of showing us the climactic conclusion of a scene, he fades to black, leaving the audience to imagine what happens next. This style is evident in how Joy is found and how Detective Loki rushes into the hospital carrying Anna. We see him go in and plead for help, but the screen fades to black before we can see if he gets it.

The director chose to end the movie to avoid an unnecessary scene in an already long film and let the audience use their imagination to fill in the blanks.

Guess what? Aaron Guzikowski, the brilliant mind behind the script for the Prisoners movie, spilled the tea to Buzzfeed and said, “I was very surprised that we were allowed to keep that ending.”  Thanks, Guzikowski!

The movie is not about the ending; it’s about the journey!

The movie is not about whether or not Keller gets pulled out of the pit. The film is about the journey that Keller, Detective Loki, and the other characters go through to find the missing girls.

The movie’s message is about the limits people will go to when pushed to the brink. It’s about how taking matters into your own hands can make you do things you never thought possible. Holly, the kidnapper, says it best when she says that taking things into your own hands can turn you into a demon.

Keller was pushed to the brink in this movie. He did what he thought was necessary to find his daughter, and we can’t blame him for that. Detective Loki didn’t believe Keller when Keller said Alex said something about the girl not stopping crying until he left them. The captain let the suspect go, even though he was their only lead and obviously knew something. Franklin was against Keller’s methods, even though his own daughter was missing too.

The characters in this movie are flawed, but that’s what makes them interesting. They’re not perfect, but they’re trying to do the right thing in a difficult situation.

We don’t get all the answers, and that’s okay!

The movie shows the lengths a father would go to find his daughter. It also portrays the moral dilemma of taking matters into your own hands. But it’s hard not to root for Keller’s fierce determination to find his daughter. So the next time someone tries to tell you the ending of Prisoners is a head-scratcher, remember: Detective Loki’s got this.

What do you think about the ending? Debate in the comments! Also, head over to averagebeing.com for the cinephile in you.