5 Shocking Twists That Explain The Terrifying Ending Of 'Barbarian' And The Mother's True Fate

The 2022 horror hit, Barbarian, remains one of the most discussed and dissected films in modern horror, and as of December 18, 2025, its terrifying conclusion continues to baffle and intrigue audiences. Director Zach Cregger masterfully subverts genre expectations, delivering a three-act structure that pivots wildly from a simple double-booking nightmare to a deep dive into generational trauma and the monstrous consequences of unchecked patriarchal evil. The final moments, which see one character meet a brutal, shocking end and another make a morally complex decision to survive, are the key to understanding the film’s central themes.

The film’s ending is not just a straightforward monster movie conclusion; it’s a profound statement on who the real 'barbarian' is, using the severely deformed creature known only as The Mother as a tragic symbol. To truly grasp the film's lasting impact, we must break down the fates of Tess Marshall, AJ Gilbride, and the creature herself, exploring the hidden tunnels of the Detroit Airbnb and the dark history that created the horror lurking beneath.

The Fates of the Final Characters: Tess, AJ, and Frank

The conclusion of Barbarian is defined by a series of swift, brutal, and morally charged events that determine who lives and who dies inside and outside the house in the Brightmoor neighborhood. The final act brings the three main surviving characters—Tess, AJ, and the original perpetrator, Frank—together for a chaotic climax.

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Frank’s Suicide and the Origin of The Mother

One of the first shocking twists in the final sequence is the fate of Frank (Richard Brake), the original owner of the house and the architect of the underground terror. After AJ Gilbride (Justin Long) discovers Frank’s secret room of horrors—complete with a makeshift prison and a camcorder detailing his decades of sexual violence and kidnapping—Frank takes his own life. He shoots himself after being confronted, a final act of cowardice that prevents him from facing justice or the full consequence of his actions. Frank’s death is pivotal because it confirms that The Mother is the product of his decades of incestuous abuse and captivity, embodying the physical manifestation of his evil. The creature, The Mother (Matthew Patrick Davis), is not a supernatural entity but a severely deformed human born from his horrific acts, adding a layer of tragic realism to the horror.

AJ Gilbride's Ultimate Punishment

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AJ Gilbride, the narcissistic Hollywood actor and landlord who initially traveled to Detroit to sell the property, meets a gruesome and definitive end. After a brief period of cooperation with Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell), his selfish nature resurfaces. When The Mother pursues them, Tess attempts to help the creature, but AJ, in a desperate, self-serving act, shoves The Mother off the top of a water tower, attempting to save himself. The Mother survives the fall and, in a rage over AJ’s attack on her, whom she views as a threat to her "baby" (a misplaced maternal instinct), she gouges out AJ’s eyes, killing him instantly. AJ’s death is a thematic statement: his toxic masculinity, arrogance, and lack of empathy—which mirror the patriarchal violence that created The Mother—are ultimately what lead to his demise. He is punished for his selfishness, a stark contrast to Tess’s fate.

The Sympathetic Monster: Understanding The Mother’s True Intentions

The Mother is the film’s central monster, yet the ending provides an unexpectedly sympathetic lens through which to view her. Her actions, though violent and terrifying, are driven by a deeply corrupted form of maternal instinct and a desire for connection, not pure malice.

The Mother’s Tragic Relationship with Tess

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Tess Marshall, the film’s final girl, is the only one who survives. Her survival is directly linked to her inherent kindness and empathy. Throughout the film, Tess consistently demonstrates a willingness to help others, even to her own detriment—she risks her life to return and save Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgård) and later AJ. This kindness is what saves her. The Mother, having been raised in isolation and subjected to Frank’s abuse, craves a maternal bond. She initially tries to 'care' for Tess by forcing her to breastfeed, a deeply disturbing yet symbolic gesture of her twisted need for connection.

In the final confrontation, when AJ attacks The Mother, Tess defends the creature, screaming at AJ to stop. This act of compassion solidifies Tess as different in The Mother's eyes—she is not a threat like the men who have abused her. The Mother allows Tess to live, seeing her as a potential ally or, perhaps, a true 'final girl' who is worthy of survival because she represents the antithesis of the violence that birthed the horror.

The Final Sacrifice and the Critique of Patriarchy

The film ends with Tess killing The Mother. This is the most complex moment. The Mother, injured and cornered, hands Tess a firearm, seemingly asking for the release of death. Tess, understanding the creature’s tragic existence as a victim of generational trauma, shoots her. This final act is not a triumphant slaying of a monster; it is an act of mercy. Tess is not just saving herself; she is symbolically ending the cycle of violence perpetuated by Frank. The true monster of Barbarian is not The Mother, but the decades of patriarchal abuse and toxic masculinity that created her and the societal neglect (represented by the abandoned Detroit neighborhood and the uncaring landlord AJ) that allowed it to fester.

The Deeper Meaning: Gentrification, Trauma, and Subversion

Barbarian is a film rich with topical authority, using its setting and structure to comment on modern societal anxieties. Director Zach Cregger has confirmed that the film is a deliberate critique of several contemporary issues.

The Detroit Setting and the Theme of Neglect

The choice of the dilapidated Brightmoor neighborhood in Detroit is no accident. The abandoned, gentrifying area mirrors the house itself: a seemingly normal facade hiding a deep, festering sickness beneath. The house, a stand-in for systemic rot, is a microcosm of a society that neglects its most vulnerable. The characters' initial reactions to the neighborhood—Tess's apprehension and AJ's self-serving desire to flip the property—highlight the themes of gentrification and the commodification of urban decay. The horrors are not just confined to the tunnels; they are reflected in the decaying world outside.

Subverting the Horror Tropes

The film constantly subverts classic horror tropes. The initial double-booking scenario with Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgård) sets up a classic 'creepy man' scenario, only for Keith to be an innocent victim. The shift in protagonist to AJ Gilbride mid-film is another jarring subversion, forcing the audience to follow a deeply unlikable character. Most importantly, the final girl, Tess, survives not through brute force or cunning but through her pure, unselfish empathy—a radical departure from the traditional survival-of-the-fittest horror narrative. Her act of mercy towards The Mother is the ultimate subversion, transforming the "monster" into a tragic victim and the "final girl" into an agent of compassionate closure.

In the end, Barbarian is a chilling and intelligent film that uses the claustrophobia of its underground tunnels to explore the vast, terrifying landscape of generational trauma and male violence. Tess Marshall walks away from the Detroit Airbnb, not just a survivor of a physical attack, but as the witness to and the final executor of a long, dark history.