Southbound Ending Explained, Movie Plot and Cast
by Swetha P | Updated Apr 03, 2023
Southbound Movie Explained Overview
In 2015, an anthology horror film called Southbound was directed by a team consisting of Radio Silence, Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, and Patrick Horvath, with Brad Miska and Roxanne Benjamin as producers. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2015, and had a limited theatrical release on February 5, 2016. Southbound received critical acclaim and was featured on multiple "Best Horror Films of 2016" lists, including those compiled by Rolling Stone, BuzzFeed, and Thrillist. Check out the Southbound ending and plot explained in the following section.
Southbound Ending Explained
"Southbound" is a horror anthology film consisting of five short films that follow different characters facing their worst fears along a mysterious and deserted desert highway. The movie seamlessly ties each segment together with a consistent visual style, tone, and pacing, while still giving each a unique vibe. The film was well-received by critics and earned an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. According to Soren Anderson of The Seattle Times, "Southbound" creates an atmosphere of extreme dread, and its five mini-horror stories pack a powerful punch. The film is also thought-provoking, with plenty of allusions and Easter eggs contributing to a larger, more complex narrative. Overall, "Southbound" is a compelling horror film that leaves much for viewers to ponder, especially in its ending.
Southbound explained: Southbound ending, the final segment of "Southbound," named "The Way In," brings the film to a satisfying conclusion by linking all the storylines in a thought-provoking way. A family vacationing in the desert is attacked by masked intruders seeking revenge for the death of a woman named Catherine, who we learned about in the film's first segment. The intruders eventually kill the daughter of the family but start to feel remorse for their actions and leave. As they drive away, they are pursued by the floating monsters that appeared throughout the movie, creating a sense of never-ending horror.
The film's use of subtle links between the storylines suggests that the highway on which the events occur may be a kind of purgatory, with its inhabitants serving as deities who determine the fates of those who enter. Each segment explores the past mistakes of its characters and shows how they attempt to atone for them. Ultimately, everyone is on a road to redemption, but it is up to them to choose how to navigate it. This complex narrative, along with the film's intriguing visual style and pacing, makes "Southbound" a standout example of how to do a horror anthology right.
Southbound Movie Plot Explained
"Southbound" is an anthology horror film consisting of five short films that take place on a deserted desert highway. The film uses a consistent visual style to tie each segment together while still maintaining their individuality.
The Way Out
In the movie directed by Radio Silence and written by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Mitch and Jack are fleeing from mysterious floating creatures. While driving down a deserted highway, Mitch looks at a photograph of his daughter Katherine, filled with remorse. As they stop at a run-down gas station, they witness strange events as the creatures stalk them from afar. Jack is killed as they try to escape, leaving Mitch to follow the creatures to a nearby motel. In-room 6255, Mitch finds an apparition of his daughter Katherine, who begs for help. But as he approaches her, she continues to run away, leaving Mitch tormented by regret and trapped in the hallway until his death. The movie successfully ties every segment together through its consistent visual style and tone while still giving each a distinct feeling, making it a great example of a horror anthology done right.
Siren
The film, directed by Roxanne Benjamin and written by Benjamin and Susan Burke, follows three bandmates of The White Tights - Sadie (Fabianne Therese), Ava (Hannah Marks), and Kim (Nathalie Love) - as they travel through the desert and are stalked by mysterious floating creatures. After getting stranded with a flat tire, they are picked up by a friendly couple (Susan Burke and Davey Johnson) who take them to their house. The bandmates begin to act strangely after dinner, with Ava and Kim vomiting black substances and participating in a cult ritual. Sadie tries to leave but gets caught in a bear trap and is pursued by her possessed friends. In a shed, she sees an apparition of their deceased friend Alex. She runs out onto the road and is hit by a passing car. As she lies dying, one of the floating creatures watches from behind.
The Accident
Lucas, driving and talking to his wife Claire on the phone, accidentally hits Sadie, who was standing on the road. Lucas calls 911 but is unable to provide his location. With the help of a certified EMT, the dispatcher guides Lucas to a medical facility in a nearby town. However, the hospital is deserted and the voices on the phone instructed Lucas to perform surgery on Sadie himself. In a bizarre turn of events, Lucas is persuaded to compress Sadie's lungs, which results in her death. The voices laugh at him and he tries to escape, but all doors are locked. The dispatchers then offer him clean clothes and a new car to leave the scene. Lucas is hesitant but eventually leaves. As he drives away, one of the mysterious floating creatures is seen observing the aftermath of the tragedy.
Jailbreak
Sandy, the dispatcher who guided Lucas in the previous scene, walks into a bar called The Trap, where she gets into an argument with the bartender and a patron named Warren, who turns out to be a demon. Meanwhile, Danny, armed with a shotgun, storms into the bar looking for his sister. In the ensuing chaos, Warren attacks Danny, but Danny blows off Warren's hand and takes the bartender, Al, hostage. Al leads Danny to a hidden room where he finds his sister, Jesse, who refuses to leave with him. Danny kills Al and takes Jesse, but they are pursued by demons as they drive through the desert. Eventually, the car stops and Jesse reveals that she killed their parents and deserves to stay in the town. The demons pull Danny out of the car, and Jesse drives away with a smile on her face. As she drives, one of the floating creatures, previously seen observing the tragic events surrounding Lucas and Sadie, can be seen watching over Jesse in the moonlight.
The Way In
The horror film "Ready or Not" follows Jem, Cait, and Daryl as they spend their last weekend together before Jem goes to college. However, their plans are disrupted when three masked men break into their vacation house. As the men reveal their motives and secrets are unveiled, chaos ensues and the family members fight for their survival. Jem manages to injure the attackers but is ultimately killed, leading to the men feeling guilty for their actions. As they try to escape, the creatures from beneath the Earth emerge and attack them. While driving away, Mitch sees the creatures following them but keeps it to himself, ultimately leading to a suspenseful and eerie ending. Directed by Radio Silence and written by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, "Ready or Not" is a thrilling and unpredictable horror film that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Southbound Cast
Cast
Character
Chad Villella
Mitch
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Jack
Fabianne Therese
Sadie
Hannah Marks
Ava
Nathalie Love
Kim
Kate Beahan
Cait
Davey Johnson
Dale
Susan Burke
Betty
Tyler Tuione
Warren
Gerald Downey
Daryl
Larry Fessenden
The D.J (voice)
Dana Gould
Raymond Kensington
Anessa Ramsey
Betty
Kensington
Phone Operator
Hassie Harrison
Jem
Davey Johnson
Dale
Tipper Newton
Jesse
Maria Olsen
Sandy
Kristina Pesic
Sutter
Matt Peters
Al
David Yow
Danny
Mather Zickel
Lucas
Justin Welborn
Surgeon (voice)
Karla Droege
EMT (voice)
Karina Fontes
Alex
Roxanne Benjamin
Claire
Max and Nick Folkman
The Kensington Twins
Brad Miska
Diner Patron
Southbound Ending Explained - FAQs
The film was directed by a team consisting of Radio Silence, Roxanne Benjamin, Justin Martinez, David Bruckner, and Patrick Horvath.
Jesse, the sister Danny tries to rescue, leaves him behind and drives away with demons in pursuit, while Danny is left at the mercy of the creatures.
Mitch and Jack, the men who killed Jem and her family, try to escape from the creatures but are stalked in the desert.
Southbound premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2015.
"The Accident" is about a man named Lucas who accidentally hits a girl with his car and is then guided by mysterious voices to perform surgery on her himself, leading to her death.