Despite being a contentious element of the generally highly praised sequel, the denouement of 10 Cloverfield Lane capitalizes on the film’s more profound themes. From start to finish, the second Cloverfield movie is a cerebral and nuanced thriller that introspectively addresses themes of paranoia and remorse.
It is also a very claustrophobic and unpleasant experience. On the surface, though, only the closing shots connect 10 Cloverfield Lane to the 2008 found-footage Kaiju picture Cloverfield, so the two films don’t really look alike.
When Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up in a bunker after being chased off the road in 10 Cloverfield Lane, her captor Howard (John Goodman) informs her that the world is under attack. Despite her reservations, Michelle and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) move into Howard’s bunker.
The drama that follows is gripping, character-driven, and provides a constant stream of fear. Though, maybe to its detriment, the conclusion needs a thorough analysis to show how it fits within the larger Cloverfield timeline, there are far deeper themes at work throughout 10 Cloverfield Lane.
What Happens In 10 Cloverfield Lane’s Ending?
In the 10 Cloverfield Lane conclusion, Michelle chooses to risk freedom after Howard becomes more dangerous and insane, lighting the bunker on fire and fleeing. Michelle discovers that Howard’s claim that the air is poisonous was false after she escapes the bunker just before it blows up while wearing her own protective gear.
Michelle takes off her mask as she notices birds flying overhead and realizes the air is breathable. Though symbolic, Michelle’s escape from Howard’s bunker isn’t the primary cause of the numerous unanswered questions raised by 10 Cloverfield Lane’s conclusion.
Michelle decides to travel to Houston in the conclusion of 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Even though some of Howard’s assertions were untrue, it is evident that the world is in danger when a massive extraterrestrial suddenly appears in the sky. After being attacked by the beast, Michelle must battle for her life and ultimately use a homemade Molotov cocktail to kill the enormous creature.
Michelle is at a literal crossroads as she finally leaves Howard’s farm, having to decide whether to proceed to Houston to assist in the battle against the beasts or to Baton Rouge, a safe haven. Michelle decides to travel to Houston in the conclusion of 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Many viewers were perplexed by the events at the end of 10 Cloverfield Lane, particularly before The Cloverfield Paradox was released in 2018, which helped to clarify some of the details. Up until its conclusion, 10 Cloverfield Lane was a close-knit psychological thriller in which Howard’s villainy progressively overshadowed the dangers posed by the events outside.
Furthermore, a number of Michelle’s choices, as well as the reasons behind Howard’s first detention of her, raised valid concerns in and of themselves. An analysis of the meaning of 10 Cloverfield Lane and its primary themes reveals how the ending does, in fact, suit the remainder of the film.
The True Meaning Of The End Of 10 Cloverfield Lane
In the conclusion of 10 Cloverfield Lane, Michelle manages to elude one predator but unintentionally crosses paths with another, a massive extraterrestrial threat. Despite being a sudden revelation, it offers an intriguing extension of the movie’s preexisting themes.
Michelle is given the chance to defend herself by facing yet another monster, and as she has only recently managed to escape one type of captivity, she is now motivated to do so.
Michelle is at a crossroads in the last moments, having to decide whether to run for her life or confront the issue head-on. This sequence brings everything together, much as the final shot of the movie when Cloverfield’s monster is revealed. Everything Michelle has experienced throughout the movie has brought her to this point, and she is now prepared to strike back.
Even while the latter sequences of 10 Cloverfield Lane are frequently criticized as the movie’s weakest parts, they actually tie everything into the Cloverfield franchise and offer an intriguing continuation of its deeper themes.
Why There Was Controversy Around the End of 10 Cloverfield Lane?
Some viewers thought that the conclusion of 10 Cloverfield Lane was forced into the plot in order to fit it into the larger Cloverfield franchise, which caused criticism. If viewers were unaware of the Cloverfield link, it was a startling foray into sci-fi terrain and lacked tonal coherence.
Many reviews believed that 10 Cloverfield Lane would have been better off as a stand-alone picture with a less genre-bending finish because it undercut the rest of the film. But despite its controversy, the conclusion of 10 Cloverfield Lane has just as many fans.
The abrupt change in tempo reflects Michelle’s desperation to transform herself as soon as possible in order to get away from Howard and the poisonous atmosphere in the bunker. The near-instant transition from a slow-creep thriller to a fast-paced extraterrestrial encounter thematically reflects the adrenaline panic Michelle would be experiencing at the end of 10 Cloverfield Lane.
She needs to overcome her fear, especially when it comes to placing herself in danger. Like the mystery Emmett dreaded that prevented him from leaving, the aliens likewise symbolize an unknown she must face when moving forward.
She is aware of danger and has conquered her concerns.
Many people are stuck in abusive relationships. 10 Cloverfield Lane expertly examines how they were unable to escape their maltreatment because they were afraid of what lay beyond their current situation.
This is encapsulated in the film’s closing scenes as Michelle travels to Houston against a backdrop of alien ships landing in a flash of lightning. She has conquered her concerns and is willing to face danger because she has come to realize that the tranquility she seeks is beyond more suffering.
This is similar to what victims of abuse go through when they expose their abusers, and many of them continue to support other victims of domestic abuse even when it puts them in close proximity to their own pain.
Given its connections to the film’s deeper themes, the climax of 10 Cloverfield Lane may have been a more astute and appropriate choice than it was first thought to be. There may be even more controversy about a possible 10 Cloverfield Lane 2.
Although the conclusion of 10 Cloverfield Lane has generated a lot of discussion, it ultimately connects the film’s more profound themes of survival and dread. Do you want to read the analysis in more detail? For more in-depth analysis and insights on this exciting film, visit our website! Don’t wait—explore right away!