MovieChat Forums > Z for Zachariah (2015) Discussion > Ending explanation. My theory.

Ending explanation. My theory.

posted 8 years ago by Olahn
2 replies | jump to latest

Loomis DID NOT KILL Caleb.

But he asked him to leave.

1. Ann pushing the glass over the table with a book without it breaking is the metaphor.

2. Loomis has been open about his love for Ann. Caleb does not love Ann, he was attracted to her but did not want to stay in a farm and try to rebuild as much as Loomis and Ann. Remember that conversation during a meal and Caleb remarked how Ann sounds like Loomis. Loomis has a big plan to create infrastructure AT THE VALLEY which is Ann's home...Caleb didn't want to stay long term....

3. Letting go of Caleb whilst on the top of the waterwall signified a 20 foot drop, an adult sized man falling that distance would destroy a car's roof including the A, B and C pillars... All steel materials.
The water trough they created would NOT stand a chance... The wheel would of also been damaged.
And logistically... How would Loomis fetch the body without a suit, fix the wheel and trough and not get sick? We all saw him get sick quickly at the start of the film after jumping in the water.

What happened is.
Caleb knew Loomis loved Ann, he knew Loomis and Ann has big plans at the valley. He just wanted water at the start, but they took him in and gave him a place to stay. But Caleb's intention is to go to Anson. He didnt want to stay and be a malcontent presense whilst alienating Loomis. Caleb realized Loomis is a good man after saving him twice... So he left without saying goodbye because Ann would of convinced him to stay and he didnt want to be convinced to stay either.

The last scene where Loomis felt bad wasn't remorse or guilt but merely withdrawn because he knew that Ann wanted Caleb to stay.

[–] DontTrollMeBro 8 years ago

Very solid theory.

[–] Banjo_oz 8 years ago

The movie points towards John killing Caleb, however I was hoping for something a bit less cliche, so I like this theory.

I think the one factor favoring John not killing Caleb was caleb's story about staring down the guy in the mine, thus stopping John from letting go later the same way.

I do prefer the idea that Caleb redeemed himself by seeing John almost turn to murder out of jealously and decide to leave. Or as said, seeing that John saved him knowing he might well have killed John in a reverse situation (he's clearly tempted to shoot him when the pair are out hunting.

The idea Caleb would walk away a better man makes for a better ending than John just killing a helpless but unlikeable guy, IMO.