***SPOILER ALERT***
Thanks. What you share reveals the weakness of the movie, a weak and ambiguous ending. A ring in someone's hand doesn't prove much. The grandpa could've found the ring and then fell in the ditch; or someone could've simply placed it in his hand after his death, which is what really happened. Certainly, finding the ring in his hand would provoke the authorities to track down Wes & Jack and question them, but not much else would result from it. Even if they found enough proof that they were illegally hunting on Charlie's property the punishment wouldn't be anything significant, certainly nothing that would radically change or ruin their lives. Plus the cop's statement to Charlie made no sense.
I did like the tone of the movie (the cinematography, score & most of the acting), but there were kinks that needed worked out in the script. In the filmmakers' defense they did say on the DVD commentary that quite a few scenes were either not shot or not used because of lack of funds.
About Morrigan: She's not even a person, but rather a death spirit/omen, which explains why the boy never talks to her or responds to her, even though it seems like he's leaning on her in one scene. You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morr%C3%ADgan
The grandfather sees the Morrigan in the opening scene, so he knows he's going to die soon and this explains why he's so melancholic throughout the story, but I'm sure he was more sad for his grandson than himself. Even the Morrigan seems saddened for the boy. You would think, though, that the grandpa would be more concerned with setting the kid up with alternative support rather than taking him on an unnecessary hunting trip since he knows he's going to die. Then again, maybe he just wanted to spend some quality time with his grandson before passing on. I don't know; I'm just speculating based on the info at hand.
Any additional insights from you or others would be appreciated.
My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/
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Nevermore333
9 years ago
I like your theory. Maybe there isn't enough evidence to send them to jail and the grandson's attempt at incriminating them was futile. Interesting how people come up with different interpretations and outcomes when elements in the story are left ambiguous and up to the audience to ponder after watching.
Thank you for the link and explanation on Morrigan. I felt like there was a supernatural element to her, but I didn't know the lore behind it.
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JKJulep
9 years ago
***SPOILER ALERT***
I listened to the Blu-ray commentary and took from it and the story that the grandpa character was a bull-headed, stubborn, old man who wasn't going to let anyone tell him what to do - not too atypical of old, southern men. The two filmmakers said it was sort of a commentary on southern "manliness," and I thought that was kinda obvious. Being from the south originally, it made a lot of sense to me. That's why I thought his choice to continue with their trip, even though he knew something was probably going to go wrong, wasn't that far out.
The ending surprised me, but it made me feel that maybe the two men, Wes and Jack, may not go to prison. There wasn't enough evidence, really, to put them away. But maybe the story isn't entirely over. This was just a moment in time from all their lives, and though the boy is probably off the hook for any crime for now, his problems are far from over. What if the cops find the corpse they were hiding. Those two guys think it was the boy out there that night shooting at them.
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Wuchakk
9 years ago
The two filmmakers said it was sort of a commentary on southern "manliness," and I thought that was kinda obvious. Being from the south originally, it made a lot of sense to me.
Yeah, I heard that on the commentary too; obviously the downside of masculinity.
My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/
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Wuchakk
9 years ago
But maybe the story isn't entirely over. This was just a moment in time from all their lives,
That's a good way to put it -- a "snapshot" in time. Anyway, I appreciate your insights.
My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/
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JKJulep
9 years ago
I feel like the Coen Brothers do that a lot with their narratives. It's a snapshot in time, an event that's worth telling, but the story had plenty happen before and will obviously have plenty more happen after it ends - sometimes abruptly.
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