The Reading Ending Explained, The Reading Ending Summary
by A Maria
Updated Mar 13, 2023
The Reading
Courtney Glaude's debut feature film, 'The Reading (2023)', is a skillfully crafted thriller that stars Mo'Nique, an Academy Award-winning actress. Rather than relying solely on the use of graphic violence, the movie strategically employs ominous music, dramatic camera work, and menacing silhouettes to create a sense of impending doom in the audience. The film has a strong beginning that lays the groundwork for the story to unfold naturally. The first act introduces plot points and tools that serve as the perfect building blocks for the rest of the story. However, as the film takes a sharp turn towards genre subversion, these same plot points shift into new places, resulting in an equally gripping but vastly different narrative.
The Reading ending explained
The film relies heavily on misdirection and twists to keep the audience engaged, and it doesn't disappoint in the end. Both Emma and Sky present their versions of events to the talk show host, who serves as a surrogate for the audience. The story revolves around a house full of dead bodies, a lone survivor, and no evidence to support their claims. What's interesting is that throughout the movie, actress Mo'Nique plays three different versions of the same character named Emma Leeden, Ms. Leeden, and Emma. The first version is the loving wife and mother at the start of the movie, while the second is the traumatised, grieving woman seeking justice. The third version, however, is a crazed killer willing to do anything for money and status. When the story takes a sharp turn, the protagonist's name shifts from Emma to Sky, and we learn that the slasher killer Emma is actually a character in Sky's account of events.
The Reading ending summary
The Reading is a supernatural thriller that follows a group of friends who attend a psychic reading, which results in a fatal disaster. Emma Leeden, the protagonist, is cooking at home when an invasion leads to the brutal killing of her family: her teenage daughter Kendall, young son Kyren, and husband Matthew. Although Emma is also attacked and suffers significant injuries, she manages to survive. One year later, she appears on a talk show hosted by Rachel to promote her book, "The Invasion," which is based on her experience. During the show, Emma is shown sympathy by Rachel, who acknowledges the impact the attack has had on her speech. Later, while reconnecting with her friends, Sky starts experiencing strange physical symptoms, leading her to act out the moments before Emma's family's deaths. Emma becomes suspicious and locks the doors. Sky eventually reveals that she was the one who killed Emma's family, and shoots one of their friends, Greg. As chaos ensues, Emma's demeanour changes drastically, and she exhibits perfect speech and swift movements.
The Reading Plot
The Reading is a supernatural thriller that follows a group of friends who attend a psychic reading, which results in a fatal disaster. Emma Leeden, the protagonist, is cooking at home when an invasion leads to the brutal killing of her family: her teenage daughter Kendall, young son Kyren, and husband Matthew. Although Emma is also attacked and suffers significant injuries, she manages to survive. One year later, she appears on a talk show hosted by Rachel to promote her book, "The Invasion," which is based on her experience. During the show, Emma is shown sympathy by Rachel, who acknowledges the impact the attack has had on her speech. Later, while reconnecting with her friends, Sky starts experiencing strange physical symptoms, leading her to act out the moments before Emma's family's deaths. Emma becomes suspicious and locks the doors. Sky eventually reveals that she was the one who killed Emma's family, and shoots one of their friends, Greg. As chaos ensues, Emma's demeanour changes drastically, and she exhibits perfect speech and swift movements.
The Reading ending explained - FAQs
Courtney Glaude directed "The Reading".
Mo'Nique, an Academy Award-winning actress, stars in "The Reading".
"The Reading" is a thriller.
No, "The Reading" does not rely solely on the use of graphic violence. Instead, it strategically employs other cinematic techniques such as ominous music, dramatic camera work, and menacing silhouettes to create a sense of impending doom.
According to the information provided, "The Reading" lays the groundwork for the story to unfold naturally through a strong beginning. The first act introduces plot points and tools that serve as the perfect building blocks for the rest of the story.