Unbreakable Ending Explained, Is the Movie Based on a True Story?
by Rubaditsha
Updated May 19, 2023
Unbreakable Ending Explained
Each character in the movie "Unbreakable" is deeply involved in David Dunn's transformation into a hero. Joseph, like many children, idolizes his father and sees him as a heroic figure. He desperately wishes for this perception to be true, which makes it difficult to witness. Unlike other kids, Joseph's wish actually comes true.
On the other hand, Audrey, David's wife, has mixed feelings. It is implied that she suppresses David's heroic aspirations. If it weren't for her views on the violence in football, David could have been a football star—a quintessential American hero.
David himself avoids embracing heroism and lives a mediocre life, almost like taking the coward's path. He works as a security guard because he has a natural inclination to protect others. However, he is afraid to explore the full extent of his abilities and refuses to confront his fears.
Elijah Price serves as the catalyst in the story. He is not interested in turning David into a hero; rather, he seeks to find a hero himself. Proving the existence of a spectrum of extremes would mean that he is not a freak, but rather another type of "sole survivor" living a lonely existence.
Initially, Elijah searches for evidence of superheroes through their ability to survive extreme situations. He is looking for someone whose bones never break, in contrast to his own condition of osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes exceptionally fragile bones. Eventually, he discovers that David is strong, perhaps even superhuman. However, David only truly becomes a hero when he takes action to save others.
In essence, David is born, discovered, and chosen to be a superhero. Each character in the movie plays a role in his transformation. In the French romantic comedy "Amélie" (2001), there is a character named Monsieur Dufayel who also has osteogenesis imperfecta. Others refer to him as "the Glass Man."
The concept of seeing the world upside down is significant in the movie. To change the world, one must perceive it differently, which is Elijah's perspective. His mother explains that his skewed viewpoint, reminiscent of a comic book supervillain, stems from his past trauma.
Elijah sees the world in an inverted way. He refuses to limit his beliefs to the laws of physics and genetics. Instead, he envisions a world where he is not alone but merely one end of a spectrum. Ultimately, he discovers his exact opposite in David Dunn.
When Elijah receives a comic book as a gift from his mother, he looks at it upside down. This visual cue, accompanied by the camera angles, symbolizes his perspective being turned around. As an adult, he recreates this pose just before realizing that David's weakness is his fear of water.
Elijah perceives the world with the innocence of a child. He believes in the impossible and in the existence of heroes. Joseph shares this belief as well. In fact, Elijah and Joseph are parallel characters in the movie.
Joseph also sees the world upside down. The first time he is shown, he is hanging off the sofa watching TV in an inverted position. Later, Elijah mirrors this pose precisely when he falls on the subway stairs. Each instance of seeing the world upside down reveals a hidden truth: David's train has derailed, or David was right about the gun.
Another example of Joseph's upside-down perspective is when he assists his father in lifting weights in the garage. By defying the limitations of physics and self-belief, he helps David realize his true potential.
The idea of superheroes versus saviors is explored in the movie. Superheroes risk their lives to save the weak, often unable to refuse the call for help. This archetype has its roots in Biblical stories of Jesus as the Messiah.
Is The Movie Unbreakable Based on a True Story?
No, the movie "Unbreakable" is not based on a true story. While the film incorporates elements of reality, such as the rare condition called osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) that affects one of the characters, Elijah Price, the overall storyline and characters are fictional.
"Unbreakable," released in 2000, is an American superhero thriller film written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars Bruce Willis as David Dunn, a former star quarterback who miraculously survives a train crash without any injuries, leading him to discover his superhuman abilities. He meets Elijah Price, played by Samuel L. Jackson, a comic book enthusiast with brittle bone disease who believes in the existence of real-life superheroes.
While the film draws inspiration from comic books and the superhero genre, its narrative and characters are entirely the creation of M. Night Shyamalan. The director aimed to present a grounded and realistic portrayal of superheroes by exploring extraordinary abilities in ordinary individuals.
The characters, such as David Dunn and Elijah Price, are fictional. David's journey of self-discovery and realization of his superhuman strength, invulnerability, and extrasensory perception is a product of Shyamalan's imagination. Elijah Price, the antagonist, is also a fictional character inspired by classic comic book supervillain archetypes. Although the condition of osteogenesis imperfecta portrayed by Elijah exists in reality, the depiction in the movie includes creative liberties.
While the film incorporates some real-life elements, it combines them with comic book-inspired fiction. For example, the psychological aspect of how individuals cope with discovering extraordinary abilities and the impact on their relationships and lives resonates with viewers, even though it is not based on a specific true story.
"Unbreakable" is a work of fiction that combines elements of reality, such as the rare medical condition, with a superhero-inspired narrative. M. Night Shyamalan's approach to the superhero genre offers a unique and grounded perspective, making the film relatable and thought-provoking. However, it is important to note that the events and characters depicted in the movie are not based on true events or real individuals.
Unbreakable Movie
"Unbreakable" is a superhero thriller film released in 2000 and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The movie stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright, Spencer Treat Clark, and Charlayne Woodard. It serves as the inaugural installment in the Unbreakable film series. The story revolves around David Dunn (played by Bruce Willis), who miraculously survives a train crash without any injuries, leading him to realize that he possesses superhuman abilities.
As he grapples with this newfound understanding, he attracts the attention of Elijah Price (played by Samuel L. Jackson), a disabled comic book store owner who manipulates David in an attempt to understand him. M. Night Shyamalan structured the narrative of "Unbreakable" to mirror the traditional three-part structure found in comic books.
After deciding on the origin story, Shyamalan crafted the screenplay as a speculative script with Bruce Willis already cast in the lead role and Samuel L. Jackson in mind for the character of Elijah Price. Filming took place from April to July 2000. The film was released on November 21, 2000, and received generally positive reviews. It garnered praise for Shyamalan's direction, screenplay, aesthetics, performances, emotional depth, cinematography, and the musical score composed by James Newton Howard.
Over time, "Unbreakable" has developed a strong cult following. Known for its realistic approach to the superhero genre, it is often regarded as one of Shyamalan's finest works and considered among the best superhero films. In 2011, Time magazine included it in their list of the top ten superhero films of all time, ranking it at number four. Quentin Tarantino also included it on his list of the top 20 films released since 1992.
Following years of development on a sequel, a thematic follow-up film titled "Split" was released in January 2017. It featured Bruce Willis reprising his role as David Dunn in a cameo appearance. The financial and critical success of "Split" prompted Shyamalan to immediately begin working on a third film called "Glass," which was released on January 18, 2019. This made "Unbreakable" the first installment in the Unbreakable film series.
Unbreakable Plot
David Dunn, a former star quarterback, miraculously survives a devastating train crash without any injuries. After attending a memorial service for the victims, David discovers a note on his car inviting him to an art gallery called "Limited Edition," owned by Elijah Price, an expert in comic books. Elijah, who suffers from a rare condition known as brittle bone disease, shares his theory with David about the existence of real-life superheroes and suggests that there must be someone on the opposite extreme who is "unbreakable."
Although David is unsettled by Elijah's claims, he eventually realizes that he possesses extraordinary strength when he effortlessly bench presses 350 pounds (160 kg), exceeding his own expectations. However, David sees himself as an ordinary man and rejects the idea of being a superhero, despite his son Joseph idolizing him and believing in his extraordinary abilities.
During a conversation with Elijah, David recounts a childhood incident where he almost drowned and developed pneumonia. Elijah proposes that superheroes often have a weakness, suggesting that David's vulnerability might be water-related. David also recalls a car accident in which he emerged unscathed and used his bare hands to rescue his girlfriend from the wreckage. He feigned injury from the crash to quit football, as Audrey disapproved of the sport's violent nature.
Under Elijah's guidance, David discovers that his intuition as a security guard, which helps him identify dangerous individuals, is actually a form of extrasensory perception. As he hones this ability, David realizes that physical contact with people enables him to witness the criminal acts they have committed. In crowded places, when people bump into him, he experiences visions of their past crimes, such as theft, assault, and rape.
One such vision compels him to intervene: a sadistic janitor who has invaded a family's home, murdered the father, and is holding the mother and children captive. David tracks down the janitor and successfully frees the children. However, during their struggle, the janitor pushes David into a swimming pool, putting him at risk of drowning since he cannot swim. Thankfully, the children save him from the water. In the end, David strangles the janitor to death but discovers that the janitor has also killed the mother.
The following morning, David shows Joseph a newspaper article featuring a sketch of an anonymous hero, whom Joseph recognizes as his father. Overwhelmed with emotion, Joseph promises to keep his father's secret. David later visits Elijah's elderly mother, who explains the distinction between villains who rely on physical strength and those who utilize their intelligence.
Elijah, in an attempt to solidify his own identity as a supervillain, asks David to shake his hand. However, this gesture reveals that Elijah was responsible for orchestrating numerous high-profile "accidents," including the train crash that led to David's discovery of his superhuman abilities. Elijah, embracing his childhood moniker, "Mr. Glass," as his supervillain alias, shares with David his newfound knowledge of his own identity. David reports Elijah's crimes to the police, and Elijah is subsequently confined to a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.
Unbreakable Cast
Bruce Willis
David Dunn
Davis Duffield
20-year-old David
Samuel L. Jackson
Elijah Price/Mr. Glass
Johnny Hiram Jamison
13-year-old Elijah
Robin Wright
Audrey Dunn
Laura Regan
20-year-old Audrey
Spencer Treat Clark
Joseph Dunn
Charlayne Woodard
Mrs. Price
Eamonn Walker
Dr. Mathison
Leslie Stefanson
Kelly
Michaelia Carroll
Babysitter
Whitney Sugarman
Physical Therapist
Bostin Christopher
Comic Book Clerk
Elizabeth Lawrence
School Nurse
Chance Kelly
Orange Suit Man
Michael Kelly
Dr. Dubin
Joey Hazinsky
Five-Year-Old Boy
Dianne Cotten Murphy
Woman Walking By
Cast
Character
Unbreakable Where to Watch?
"Unbreakable" is currently available for streaming on Hotstar. If you prefer to own a digital copy, you can purchase the movie on platforms such as Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Apple TV. Alternatively, you have the option to rent "Unbreakable" on Google Play Movies, YouTube, or Apple TV for online viewing.
Unbreakable Ending Explained:FAQs
The main actors in "Unbreakable" are Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright, Spencer Treat Clark, and Charlayne Woodard.
Bruce Willis portrays the character of David Dunn, a former football player with superhuman strength who has the ability to see the crimes of those whom he touches.
Samuel L. Jackson plays the character of Elijah Price, also known as Mr. Glass, who is a comic book theorist and a deranged terrorist with brittle bone disease.
No, "Unbreakable" is not based on a true story. It is a work of fiction.