‘Men’ Ending Explained: The Meaning of That Freaky Final Sequence

If the last 20 minutes of the Alex Garland film left you at a loss for words, you’re not alone

Men
A24

Warning: This article contains spoilers for “Men”

The films of writer-director Alex Garland – including 2014’s “Ex Machina” and 2018’s “Annihilation” – are known for their sci-fi horror premises, unusual settings and, above all, mind-bending finales. His third film “Men” elevates those trademarks to a new level, especially its gory, perplexing ending. 

The nightmare begins when Harper (Jessie Buckley) rents a house in the English countryside, craving a respite from the city where her husband tragically died. But there’s no escape from her memories, nor the men who keep showing up out of nowhere. As these interactions grow increasingly frightening and bizarre, Harper comes to realize what the audience has perceived all along: none of these men are just another face in the crowd; they are the crowd.

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