Taking Lives Ending Explained, Cast, Plot, and Trailer
by Abinaya
Updated May 17, 2023
Taking Lives Movie
Taking Lives is a gripping American psychological thriller film released in 2004 and directed by D. J. Caruso. The movie stars Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke in the lead roles, supported by a talented cast including Kiefer Sutherland, Olivier Martinez, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hugues Anglade, and Gena Rowlands. Based loosely on the novel of the same name by Michael Pye, the story revolves around a mysterious serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims.
The film was predominantly shot on location in Montréal and Quebec City, capturing the atmospheric settings of these Canadian cities. The original music score was skillfully composed by Philip Glass, while the main title's theme was created by Walter Werzowa, a member of the electronic group Edelweiss. Warner Bros. Pictures distributed Taking Lives, which hit theatres in the United States on March 19, 2004. However, the movie received negative reviews from critics, indicating a mixed reception from audiences and highlighting the divisive nature of the film.
Taking Lives Ending Explained
In the ending of the movie "Taking Lives," it is revealed that James Costa, played by Ethan Hawke, is the real Martin Asher, the serial killer who has been assuming his victims' identities. After a series of events, including James being attacked and kidnapped, Illeana Scott, portrayed by Angelina Jolie, gives chase and causes the car to crash and explode.
Later, James visits Illeana in her hotel room, and they share a passionate moment. However, when Illeana wakes up, she finds herself covered in James' blood. It is revealed that James popped his stitches from the car chase, and he is taken to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, Illeana is called to the mortuary, where Rebecca, Martin Asher's mother, fails to identify the charred body of the assailant.
Illeana realises that Martin Asher is still alive and escapes the hospital. James, who is revealed to be the real Martin Asher, confronts Rebecca in the hospital elevator and kills her. As the police investigate, they discover that the assailant killed in the car chase was actually Christopher Hart, a drug addict and art thief. Asher had killed Hart and staged being taken hostage.
Asher escapes by train, taunting Illeana over the phone before disappearing. In a shocking twist, seven months later, Illeana is living alone in a farmhouse in Pennsylvania, apparently heavily pregnant with Asher's twins. Asher finds her and proposes they start over as a family, but Illeana refuses. Enraged, Asher attacks her and attempts to choke her.
Illeana defends herself and stabs Asher in the heart with a pair of scissors. She then reveals that the past months were a carefully planned trap and removes her prosthetic pregnant belly. Asher dies, and Illeana informs Inspector Leclair that the ordeal is finally over. In the end, Illeana's plan succeeds, and she has put an end to Asher's reign of terror.
Taking Lives Plot Explained
In the early 1980s, two teenagers named Martin Asher and Matt Soulsby met while travelling on a bus to Mont-Laurier, Quebec. Unfortunately, their journey takes a dark turn when the bus breaks down and they find themselves stranded. In an attempt to continue their journey, they manage to acquire a car, but it soon experiences a tyre blowout.
While Matt is changing the tyre, Martin unexpectedly kicks him into the path of an oncoming truck, resulting in the deaths of Matt and the driver. Martin, seizing the opportunity, takes Matt's clothes and guitar and continues on foot, adopting Matt's appearance and singing voice. Fast forward twenty years, and FBI profiler Illeana Scott is called upon by Inspector Leclair to assist the Montreal authorities in capturing a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims, allowing him to evade detection while travelling across North America.
During her investigation, Illeana interviews James Costa, an art dealer who witnessed the killer's most recent murder. James creates a sketch of the killer, which helps the authorities locate the suspect's apartment. Inside, they discover a decaying corpse chained to the ceiling. Meanwhile, Martin's mother, Rebecca, claims to have spotted her son, who was believed to have died in Matt's place many years ago, alive on a ferry to Quebec City.
This revelation leads to the exhumation of the body believed to be Martin's for forensic examination, making him the primary suspect in the case. In an attempt to gather more information, Illeana visits Rebecca's house and questions her about Martin. She learns that Martin was an unwanted child who struggled with mental instability following the death of his favoured twin brother.
During her investigation at the house, Illeana discovers a concealed passageway behind a cabinet that leads to Martin's secret room. However, as she explores the room, she is suddenly attacked by an unidentified assailant who manages to escape before she can identify him. The events depicted in the story highlight the twisted journey of a killer who assumes the identities of his victims and the challenges faced by FBI profiler Illeana Scott as she tries to unravel the truth behind the crimes and catch the elusive murderer.
In the early 1980s, two teenagers, Martin Asher and Matt Soulsby, met on a bus in Quebec. After the bus breaks down, they find a car, but a tragic incident occurs when Martin kicks Matt into the path of an oncoming truck, causing the deaths of Matt and the driver. Martin seizes the opportunity, taking Matt's belongings and assuming his identity, including his appearance and voice.
Fast forward twenty years, and FBI profiler Illeana Scott is enlisted by Montreal authorities to assist in capturing a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims. During her investigation, Illeana interviews James Costa, a witness to the killer's most recent murder. Together, they create a composite sketch of the suspect. The authorities locate the suspect's apartment, where they discover a decomposing body chained to the ceiling.
However, things take an unexpected turn when Martin's mother, Rebecca, claims to have seen her son alive, casting doubt on the identity of the buried body and making Martin the primary suspect. As Illeana delves deeper into the case, she uncovers the troubled past of Martin Asher. Rebecca reveals that Martin was an unwanted child who suffered from mental instability after the death of his beloved twin brother.
During her visit to Rebecca's home, Illeana stumbles upon a hidden passageway leading to Martin's secret room. While exploring the room, she is attacked by an unknown assailant, who manages to escape before she can identify him. The narrative intertwines events from the past and the present, exposing Martin Asher's dark deeds and the race against time for FBI profiler Illeana Scott to uncover the truth and bring the elusive killer to justice.
As James receives medical treatment for his injuries, Illeana is summoned to the mortuary, where Rebecca fails to identify the burned body of the attacker. Illeana realises that Martin Asher is still alive. Before Illeana can reach her, Rebecca enters an elevator and encounters James, who reveals himself as the real Martin Asher. He murders his mother, leaving Illeana shocked as she witnesses him covered in blood.
The elevator doors close, and he escapes from the hospital. The police determine that the assailant killed in the car chase was actually Christopher Hart, a drug addict and art thief who was owed money by Asher. It is revealed that Asher killed Hart and staged the incident to appear as if he was taken hostage. Pursued by the police, Asher manages to escape on a train and selects his next victim, taunting Illeana over the phone before disappearing. Illeana admits to having consensual sex with Asher, resulting in her termination from the FBI.
Seven months later, Illeana resides in a remote farmhouse in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She appears to be heavily pregnant with Asher's twins. Asher confronts her, proposing that they can start over and live together as a family. However, Illeana refuses his offer. Enraged, Asher violently attacks her, attempting to strangle her. In self-defence, Illeana manages to grab a pair of scissors and stab Asher in the heart.
She then reveals that her apparent pregnancy was a carefully orchestrated trap. Removing her prosthetic pregnant belly, she explains that the past months were part of her plan. Asher dies, and Illeana informs Leclair that the ordeal is finally over.
Taking Lives Cast
Angelina Jolie
Illeana
Ethan Hawke
Costa
Kiefer Sutherland
Hart
Gena Rowlands
Mrs. Asher
Olivier Martinez
Paquette
Tchéky Karyo
Leclair
Jean-Hugues Anglade
Duval
Paul Dano
Young Asher
Justin Chatwin
Matt Soulsby
André Lacoste
(Uncredited)
Cast
Character
Taking Lives Trailer
Taking Lives Summary
An FBI profiler named Illeana Scott is called in to help the Montreal police catch a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims. The killer, Peter Novak, has been on the loose for twenty years, and he is becoming increasingly brazen. Scott's only lead is an eyewitness, art dealer James Costa. Costa saw Novak kill his neighbor, and he is able to provide a detailed description of the killer.
Scott and Costa work together to track down Novak, and they eventually find him hiding in an abandoned warehouse. A standoff ensues, and Novak is killed in a shootout with the police. Scott is hailed as a hero, and she and Costa begin a romantic relationship.
Taking Lives Ending Explained - FAQs
The killer is revealed to be James Costa, who is actually Martin Asher, the serial killer who assumes his victims' identities.
The movie revolves around FBI profiler Illeana Scott's investigation to capture a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims.
The movie was predominantly shot on location in Montréal and Quebec City, capturing the atmospheric settings of these Canadian cities.
The movie was released in the United States on March 19, 2004.
The movie received negative reviews from critics, indicating a mixed reception from audiences and highlighting the divisive nature of the film.