The Deer Hunter Ending Explained, Plot, Cast and more
by A Maria
Updated Jun 20, 2023
The Deer Hunter Movie
"The Deer Hunter" is a remarkable war drama film from 1978, co-written and directed by Michael Cimino. The story revolves around a group of Slavic-American steelworkers whose lives are profoundly impacted after serving in the Vietnam War. The film features an outstanding cast, with Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage portraying the three soldiers. John Cazale, in his final role, Meryl Streep, and George Dzundza also deliver powerful performances in supporting roles.
The narrative unfolds in Clairton, Pennsylvania, a blue-collar town situated along the Monongahela River, just south of Pittsburgh. The gripping storyline also takes us to the harrowing landscapes of Vietnam. "The Deer Hunter" has garnered immense acclaim and recognition over the years. It has earned a place on various prestigious lists of the greatest films ever made.
In the American Film Institute's 2007 edition of the "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies" list, "The Deer Hunter" was ranked as the 53rd-greatest American film of all time. Its inclusion highlights its enduring impact on cinema. Furthermore, the film was deemed culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant, leading to its selection for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1996.
"The Deer Hunter" stands as a powerful portrayal of the human experience during and after the Vietnam War. Its gripping narrative, stellar performances, and poignant exploration of the effects of war have solidified its place as an iconic and timeless piece of filmmaking.
The Deer Hunter Ending Explained
"The Deer Hunter" is a powerful film that follows the lives of three friends as they face the horrors of the Vietnam War. After a series of intense experiences, the film concludes with profound implications for each character. In the film's climactic sequence, the three friends, Mike, Steven, and Nick, find themselves captured by the Viet Cong. Subjected to a sadistic game of Russian Roulette, their lives hang in the balance.
Tragically, Steven is separated from the group and confined to a cage, which is then thrown into a river filled with lifeless bodies. The brutality of their circumstances becomes painfully apparent. Determined to save their friend, Mike and Nick devise a daring plan to escape their captors. In a moment of courage and desperation, they overpower their guards, taking control of the situation. Together, they manage to rescue Steven and find temporary refuge on a floating tree trunk.
As the story progresses, Nick is eventually rescued by an aircraft crew, but the fates of Steven and Mike take different turns. Nick's physical and psychological trauma from his time in captivity are evident as he receives medical treatment in a hospital. Meanwhile, Steven and Mike remain stranded in Saigon, grappling with the aftermath of their harrowing ordeal. Returning to their former lives in Pennsylvania proves to be a challenge as they struggle to readjust to civilian society.
The profound trauma they have experienced sets them apart from those who cannot comprehend the depth of their suffering. The ending of "The Deer Hunter" leaves a lasting impact, highlighting the devastating consequences of war on the human psyche. It portrays the enduring struggle of soldiers who have witnessed unimaginable horrors, often finding themselves isolated and misunderstood upon their return to civilian life.
Cast of The Deer Hunter
Robert De Niro
Staff Sergeant Michael Vronsky ("Mike"
Christopher Walken
Corporal Nikanor Chevotarevich ("Nick")
John Savage
Corporal Steven Pushkov
John Cazale
Stanley
Meryl Streep
Linda
George Dzundza
John Welsh
Pierre Segui
Julien Grinda
Shirley Stoler
Steven's mother
Chuck Aspegren
Peter Axelrod ("Axel")
Rutanya Alda
Angela Ludhjduravic-Pushkov
Paul D'Amato
Sergeant
Amy Wright
Bridesmaid
Joe Grifasi
Bandleader
CAST
CHARACTER
The Deer Hunter Plot
In the late 1960s, "The Deer Hunter" revolves around three close friends, Mike, Steven, and Nick, living in a tightly-knit Slavic American community in Western Pennsylvania. The friends work together in a steel mill and share a passion for deer hunting.
As the Vietnam War looms, the trio prepares to depart for military service. Steven is engaged to Angela, but she carries the secret of being pregnant with another man's child. Mike and Nick share a strong bond and reside together.
Both of them are in love with Linda, who seeks refuge from her abusive father by moving in with them. At Steven and Angela's wedding, Nick impulsively proposes to Linda, and she accepts. Nick implores Mike to ensure his safe return from Vietnam. The group of friends embarks on a final deer hunting trip, where Mike expertly kills a deer with a single shot.
In early 1969, in the midst of the Vietnam War, Mike, an airborne green beret, unexpectedly encounters Nick and Steven in a village. However, their reunion is short-lived as they are captured by the Viet Cong and imprisoned in a cage near the River Kwai. The captors force them to play Russian roulette, placing bets on their lives. When Steven refuses to participate, he is confined in a cage alongside deceased bodies and rats.
Mike, utilizing his cunning, persuades the captors to load three bullets into the revolver's cylinder. Together, Mike and Nick use the weapon to escape their captors. The trio floats down the river, but Nick is shot in the leg.
They are eventually rescued by an American helicopter, but Steven falls back into the river. Mike bravely dives in to save him while Nick is airlifted away. Steven suffers multiple broken bones from the fall, and Mike carries him until they encounter refugees fleeing to Saigon.
Nick receives medical treatment at a U.S. military hospital but soon experiences the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a state of distress, he enters a gambling den where a French businessman named Julien convinces him to join. Upset by Nick's presence, Nick interrupts a game of Russian roulette and pulls the trigger on himself. Mike witnesses this act but is unable to intervene as Nick and Julien quickly depart.
In 1970, Mike returns home but struggles to reintegrate into civilian life. He avoids a welcome-home party and chooses to stay alone in a hotel. Mike visits Linda, only to discover that Nick has deserted them. He then visits Angela, who is now a mother but has fallen into a catatonic state due to Steven's return as an invalid. Mike's other friends, Stan, Axel, and John, are oblivious to the realities of war and fail to understand Mike's experiences.
Mike finds solace in the companionship of Linda. During a hunting trip, Mike's anger flares when Stan casually threatens Axel with his pistol. Mike loads only one round and aims it at Stan's head, triggering an empty chamber. Mike visits Steven at a veterans' hospital, where he learns that Steven has lost both his legs and the use of one arm. Steven refuses to return home, feeling alienated and out of place.
Steven reveals that he has been receiving large sums of money from Vietnam, leading Mike to deduce that Nick is the source. Mike persuades Steven to return to Angela's care. Determined to find Nick, Mike returns to Vietnam. In the chaotic streets of Saigon, he locates Julien and convinces him to take him to the gambling den. There, Mike confronts Nick, who has become a professional in the deadly game but fails to recognize his old friend.
Despite Mike's efforts to reason with him, Nick, now a heroin addict, remains indifferent. In a game of Russian roulette, Mike invokes memories of their past hunting trips. Nick, momentarily recalling Mike's "one shot" technique, smiles before pulling the trigger, ending his own life.
Mike and his friends attend Nick's funeral, and a somber atmosphere engulfs their local bar. Overwhelmed by emotion, John starts singing "God Bless America" in honor of Nick, with everyone eventually joining in, their voices filled with a mix of grief and respect.
The Deer Hunter Where to Watch?
"The Deer Hunter" can be streamed on various platforms, including:
The film follows a group of friends from a working-class background who make the decision to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War. However, their experiences in the war turn out to be far from the noble and heroic endeavor they had envisioned. Before their departure, one of the friends named Steven gets married to his pregnant girlfriend. Meanwhile, both Michael and Nick find themselves in love with the same woman.
As they return from the war, the three friends are profoundly changed, each grappling with the harrowing effects of their experiences.The film serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting scars left by war and the challenges faced by those who have endured its ravages.
About The Deer Hunter
Directed by
Michael Cimino
Screenplay by
Deric Washburn
Michael Cimino (uncredited)
Story by
Deric Washburn
Michael Cimino
Louis A. Garfinkle
Quinn K. Redeker
Release dates
Countries
United Kingdom
United States
Languages
English
Russian
Vietnamese
French
The Deer Hunter Ending Explained - FAQs
"The Deer Hunter" is a war drama film released in 1978. It tells the story of a group of Slavic-American steelworkers who enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War. The film explores the impact of the war on their lives and how it changes them upon their return.
The ending of "The Deer Hunter" portrays the devastating consequences of war on the human psyche. It highlights the struggles faced by soldiers who have witnessed unimaginable horrors and the challenges they encounter upon their return to civilian life. The film leaves a lasting impact as it explores the enduring scars left by war.
Yes, "The Deer Hunter" is widely regarded as a significant film. It has received critical acclaim and has been recognized for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. The film has been included in prestigious lists of the greatest movies ever made and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
"The Deer Hunter" was directed by Michael Cimino.
"The Deer Hunter" is primarily in English, but it also includes Russian, Vietnamese, and French dialogue.