Why Didn't Edward Show Up? Nocturnal Animals Ending Explained (In Detail) (2024)

The Nocturnal Animals ending is one of Tom Ford-directed movie’s most talked-about aspects, as the 2016 thriller ends on an emotionally gut-wrenching yet ambiguous note. Nocturnal Animals starred Jake Gyllenhaal as a writer called Edward, who sends the manuscript of his latest novel to his ex-wife Susan, played by Amy Adams. As Susan immerses herself in the nail-biting tale of violence and death, she revisits the ups and downs of her own failed marriage with Edward. The novel’s premise itself serves as a parallel storyline in Nocturnal Animals, capturing its protagonist Tony’s pain as he tries to get over the assault and murder of his wife and daughter.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays both Edward and Tony, with the dual role allowing him to capture the emotional nuances of both characters. While Edward struggles with his professional insecurities and romantic missteps, Tony seeks nothing but blood-stained revenge for the drifters that destroyed his family. Interestingly, the neo-noir psychological thriller itself is based on Austin Wright’s 1993 novel titled Tony and Susan. Nocturnal Animals' unique narrative structure and its complex characters build to an ending that is impactful while still leaving questions that are worth exploring.

Where To Watch Nocturnal Animals

Edward Doesn't Show Up At The End To Get Revenge

Susan Is Left Realizing A Reconciliation Was Never What He Intended

In the present-day reality of Nocturnal Animals, Edward never physically meets Susan. Their past relationship is covered in flashbacks, and it is implied that Edward wishes to communicate to Susan after all these years through his novel’s manuscript. Even though Susan never believed that Edward would make it big as a writer, his penmanship finally gets to her. Towards the Nocturnal Animals ending, it is established that Edward is indeed a brilliant author as his unabashedly raw narration manages to make Susan teary-eyed. Suffering from a failed second marriage, Susan wishes to reacquaint herself with her ex only for him to never make it to dinner.

While no direct answers are offered, it is heavily implied that the novel was a strategic move by Edward to seek his revenge from many years ago. Not only did Susan belittle him in their youth, but she also went on to cheat on him with Hutton (who would go on to be her second husband). The betrayal seems to have affected Edward so intensely that he channeled his frustration into his frighteningly dark novel. Standing up Susan was the final blow, completing Edward’s elaborate revenge plan. He knows that Susan might be a wealthy art curator, but she is cursed with solitude.

The Nocturnal Animals ending is ultimately tragic for Susan. Karma catches upon her as even Hutton is revealed to be cheating on her. On the professional front, Susan also seems to be getting disinterested in the art world, as is evident from her cold-hearted behavior towards her co-workers. Edward somehow knows that she’s in a vulnerable state of mind and goes on to exploit her helplessness by giving her hope of rekindling their romance. If he had met her for dinner, Nocturnal Animals would have still ended on a wholesome note. But as Edward’s plans come to fruition, Susan is left alone with her ego bruised.

What Ray's Death Symbolizes?

Nocturnal Animals Theme Of Revenge Show's Its Unsatisfying Results

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Nocturnal Animals Ending Explained – Repeat Replay

In Edward’s novel (also titled “Nocturnal Animals”), Ray is a constant obstacle in Tony’s way. First, he stopped Tony’s car in the middle of the night. Then, he and his minions assaulted him and murdered his family. It takes Tony a year to seek his vengeance with a lot of help from hardened lawman Detective Bobby Andes. However, even when he manages to kill Ray by the novel’s end, the extremely bruised and exhausted Tony doesn’t get any relief as he also shoots himself accidentally. This bitter end to a dark cycle of violence is what makes Nocturnal Animals one of the most disturbing psychological thrillers in recent memory.

Ray, who bleeds to death overnight, gets what he deserves by the ending of Nocturnal Animals. However, his death also symbolizes the futility of violence. Even with him dead, Tony wouldn’t be able to get back to his deceased family members. Edward’s novel grimly touches upon how vigilante justice is ultimately pointless. With not enough evidence against him, Ray couldn’t have been punished by legal methods. When Tony resorted to other means, the result continued to be brutal for himself. He doesn’t even look satisfied on seeing Ray’s corpse. With Ray having snatched his family away from him, Tony didn’t seem to have anything else to look forward to anymore.

What’s all the more shocking about the Nocturnal Animals ending is that the novel serves as a metaphor for Edward’s own life. Much like Tony’s pursuit to kill Ray, Edward desired revenge from Susan. With Susan’s pain and loneliness in the final scene, it is easy to deduce that Edward had the last laugh. However, like Tony, Edward’s pursuit was ultimately pointless. His revenge plan was so extremely intricate that it goes on to show how Edward continued to be a broken man. He might be a great author now but his obsession with his past with Susan has entirely consumed him.

How Nocturnal Animals Foreshadowed Its Ending

The Truth Of Edward's Motivations Present Themselves To Susan

Nocturnal Animals has an anti-climatic finale, but the central theme of revenge is foreshadowed throughout the film. A noteworthy visual giveaway is the painting that features the word “Revenge”. Nobody knows from where the painting appeared, and no explanation is offered either. But the painting serves as an omen for Susan for what is to come. The very title of Edward’s novel proves that he’s still obsessed with Susan (as he used to call her a “nocturnal animal” in the past) and he wants her to still be a nocturnal animal. Susan eventually waits for Edward at a restaurant till closing time, left alone with sleeplessness and solitude.

How The Movie's Ending Differs From The Novel

The Source Material Gives Susan More Hope

The Nocturnal Animals ending slightly differs from the one in Tony and Susan. Much like the movie, the novel’s version of Susan gets stood up by Edward. However, the book also covers the next day’s events. Despite being moved by his words, Susan initially writes a harsh note of criticism for Edward, but she throws it in the trash. Instead, she writes another note in which she says that she wants to express her thoughts on Edward’s writing but will tell him only if he wants to hear them. It is implied that Susan is still trying to find new ways to talk to Edward who continues to ignore her.