Netflix’s latest horror film, Don’t Move, has generated a significant buzz for its intriguing storyline. But what unfolds in the conclusion, and can our main character truly escape?
This year has blessed horror enthusiasts with a wealth of exceptional films, among which Netflix’s offerings stand out (who can forget Glenn Close’s chilling performance as a demon in The Deliverance?).
Adding to this impressive lineup is Don’t Move, featuring Kelsey Asbille, known for her role in Yellowstone, as Iris, a woman being pursued by the menacing serial killer Richard, played by Finn Wittrock.
Wittrock’s ability to portray a convincing villain is well established (thanks to his role in AHS Freakshow), but what exactly transpires in the Don’t Move ending? Here’s a complete analysis – with spoilers ahead.
A Tense Conclusion on the Water
Don’t Move culminates in a dramatic struggle on a boat in the middle of a lake, where Iris and Richard battle for their survival, leading to Iris stabbing and shooting Richard. This ultimately gives her the chance to escape, after discovering a severely injured Richard on the riverbank.
The journey leading to this climactic moment is lengthy and harrowing. The film opens with Iris at a memorial site on a mountaintop, staring down from a cliff as if contemplating a leap. She encounters Richard, who engages her with a troubling story of his past, coaxing her to reveal hers.
This memorial is for her son, Mateo, who tragically died on this very spot while playing. During their conversation, Richard subtly tries to dissuade Iris from ending her life, eventually convincing her to leave the cliff and return to their vehicles. However, Richard has another agenda, having blocked her car in, and when Iris tries to escape, he shocks her with a hidden taser disguised as an umbrella.
Upon regaining consciousness, Iris finds herself restrained in the back of Richard’s vehicle. He reveals that he has injected her with a drug that will render her immobile within the hour. Seizing the fleeting moment, she manages to distract him and retrieves a penknife from her pocket, enabling her to break free and inadvertently causes Richard to crash the car, but the nightmare isn’t over yet.
Richard informs Iris of the injection, prompting her to sprint into the nearby woods, but he soon catches up with her. As she begins to lose her strength, she leaps into a river to evade him.
Iris manages to escape but succumbs to paralysis. An elderly man mowing his lawn finds her and quickly assesses that she cannot communicate. By blinking, she manages to convey her situation, and he helps her to his log cabin for refuge. Shortly after, Richard arrives, knocking on the door as the old man cleverly hides Iris beneath a couch.
Richard pretends to search for his missing “wife” after a car accident, claiming he lost his phone. The elderly man becomes suspicious, wanting Richard to leave at once or he will call for help. In an attempt to gain his trust, Richard concocts a story about Iris willingly retreating when conflicted with him, hitting a sensitive nerve related to the old man’s previous wife, who had managed her volatile tendencies.
The situation escalates as Richard’s phone starts ringing, revealing his deceit. A violent confrontation ensues, resulting in Richard killing the old man. He then sets the cabin ablaze, leaving Iris to panic as she gains slight mobility, enough to tug at the blinds while Richard exits.
The scene shifts to a petrol station where a young boy innocently attempts to greet Iris through the car window. His mother quickly intervenes, but the moment of safety is short-lived as Richard returns to drive away. They haven’t gone far when a police officer spots them due to suspicious reports regarding their vehicle’s license plate.
Just as Iris manages to signal to the officer about the needle, Richard violently kills him. Again, they flee, and as Iris gradually regains the ability to speak, tension builds when Richard receives a call from his real wife and children wanting to visit him at the cabin. His frantic attempts to dodge their arrival prompt further distress.
Iris wisely leverages this situation, taunting Richard about how devastated his family would be if they learned about his heinous actions. This stokes Richard’s rage and alters his plans, leading us to the film’s resolution.
Iris finds herself bound once more, as Richard drags her to a boat at the lake. As they drift into the center, he ominously declares it to be Iris’ final moment. Iris probes Richard why he didn’t allow her to end her life earlier, to which he retorts that it was always her choice. He believes she’s destined for him, which he dubs “fate.”
Seizing a final opportunity, Iris requests the boat from the memorial dedicated to Mateo. As Richard steps away to grant her request, she seizes the knife from his belt and stabs him in the neck. A frantic struggle ensues, during which Richard reaches for a gun but tumbles overboard. As he resurfaces, Iris shoots him thrice, securing her freedom as the vessel begins to sink.
Iris swims to the shore where she discovers Richard, gravely injured and gasping for life. As he lies dying, she expresses her gratitude.
Where to Stream
You can watch Don’t Move now on Netflix.
However, if you’re interested in viewing a similar film, Don’t Breathe, produced by Sam Raimi, it’s available on Amazon Prime Video for a double-feature night.
Check out Don’t Move on Netflix today. For additional options, explore other new releases this month and top-rated films of the year.
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