The Calendar Killer Ending Explained: Who Really Was the Killer?

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The German thriller “The Calendar Killer,” streaming on Prime Video, keeps viewers in suspense until its chilling conclusion. Directed by Adolfo Kolmerer and co-written by Sebastian Fitzek and Susanne Schneider, this 90-minute film delivers a powerful punch with its lead actors Luise Heyer (from “All About Me”) as Klara and Sabin Tambrea (known for “The Glory of Life”) playing two strangers who must rely on each other when a cunning killer is at large.

The story primarily focuses on Jules, a helpline operator working late nights, as she becomes entangled with Klara, a woman targeted by an unidentified murderer who shares the date of her demise. Tragically for both, that fateful day had arrived. With no other option for survival, Klara resorts to a desperate act: killing her husband Martin (Friedrich Mücke). However, she has until midnight to complete this task. The movie’s narrative unfolds with near misses, family secrets, and unsettling occurrences at both ends, building tension as the clock ticks down towards someone’s inevitable death in the climax. Ultimately, we are left questioning who the true killer is and whether Klara can ultimately break free from this menacing figure.

What Is ‘The Calendar Killer‘ About?

As a movie enthusiast, I find “The Calendar Killer” to be a gripping tale right from the start. One chilly December morning, I find myself disoriented in an unknown basement, with the date ‘Dec 6’ scrawled on the wall above a picture of me and my spouse, accompanied by a chilling message: “Er oder Du. Einer wird sterben,” which means, “Him or you. One will die.” Although I manage to escape, the looming Dec 6th fills me with dread. The media has been abuzz about this killer, who shares a chilling modus operandi with other recent local victims. However, neither the police nor my husband seem to take my fears seriously, making this all too familiar horror trope as relevant today as ever.

The movie next focuses on Jules, who works as a volunteer for a safety program titled “Walk Me Home,” an after-hours helpline aimed at helping individuals in distress when out by themselves. Amidst handling phone calls and managing distractions from his father, Jules makes sure to check on his six-year-old daughter, Fabienne (Romy Miesner), while she sleeps. The audience perceives him as a caring person, going so far as to help a woman over the phone escape potential danger while waiting for a bus. Despite the job being demanding, he excels at it. However, everything changes when he gets a call from Klara.

At first, Klara seems hesitant and breathless, which causes concern. Eventually, Jules manages to coax her into speaking freely. It turns out that Klara is trapped in an abusive marriage and has resigned herself to her fate, but she admits she’s the latest victim of the notorious Calendar Killer. Determined to help, Jules embarks on a mission to guide her to safety, much like he’s done many times before. However, complications arise as Klara’s daughter, Amelie, might be endangered if they simply run away. Despite this, the pair work together to find a way out, all while avoiding pursuit by the Calendar Killer and another dangerous individual lurking closer to home.

A Killer Reveal

In the movie “The Calendar Killer,” the audience is led to suspect an unnamed older man as the villain. He’s often seen prowling around, cruising, and eventually arriving at a secluded vacation house where Klara thought she’d find safety. However, she manages to slip out the back door without being noticed, but he spots her footprints in the snow. At this point, he makes a phone call which Jules answers.

In the story, Jules’ dad had been phoning him throughout the night, offering assistance. During their brief conversation, he fibbed about his whereabouts – a questionable action that made people suspect he might be a serial killer. But later on, it was revealed to be a cleverly executed false lead or a misdirection, often used in mysteries to confuse the audience, known as a red herring.

Following my daring foot chase, I stumbled upon an intriguing figure in a Santa suit – part trustworthy guardian, part unsettling presence. This individual kindly offered to drive me home, but fate had other plans. As I was being transported back into the city, Martin unexpectedly appeared and attacked the helpful stranger. He then compelled me to return with him, but luckily, I was on Santa’s good side (he lent me his taser).

Once we arrived home, I used the taser on Martin and locked him in the car using the child locks. In a last-ditch effort, I sprinted upstairs to fetch Amelie, intending to make a swift exit. However, upon opening the door to a familiar apartment, both I and the audience instantly understood the grim reality: Jules was the Calendar Killer.

In a startling revelation, all the details that the helpline operator had divulged to Klara on the phone seemed to interlock neatly. It turned out that Dajana, wife of Jules, had endured an upbringing marked by physical abuse from her father, which led to a lifelong struggle with severe depression. The tragic events unfolded when Dajana took her own life, and this was followed by a fire that claimed the lives of all their children. It was revealed later that Fabienne was actually Amelie the whole time. Overwhelmed by grief, Jules sought solace in a crisis helpline, connecting with women trapped in violent marriages. His mission was to give these women an opportunity to eliminate their abusers, thus saving their children from Dajana’s destiny. If Klara didn’t act against Martin now, Jules intended to take matters into his own hands and potentially harm her.

Klara’s Happy Ending

Choosing not to continue the cycle of violence, Klara opts to spare Martin’s life instead. The couple found themselves lying on the floor before Jules as the hour struck twelve. Jules reached for his knife, but abruptly, a gunshot rang out, and he collapsed. Although this movie was filled with clever plot twists, it wasn’t hard to deduce that the man who shot Jules was none other than his own father, who had finally tracked him down. As it turned out, while watching the news coverage of the Calendar Killer, he recognized his son’s handwriting detailing the victims’ demise dates. Fortunately, he managed to stop him before it was too late (another expected resolution in this mystery’s conclusion). However, even though the killing has come to an end, the initial danger still lingers.

The film ends with Martin (in his role as Secretary of State) at a press conference. He greedily basks in the spotlight among his peers, pretending to be strong as they question him about the ordeal he and Klara experienced. As he steps forward to address the audience, phones start ringing. During their journey home together, Klara secretly documented Martin’s cruelty. Now, the world can see the monster he really is, his reputation in tatters forever. Two police officers move to apprehend Martin for his actions, and Klara will finally live out her days with Amelie, free from him.

The conclusion encourages viewers to scrutinize those with authority and verify if their public personas align with their true selves. Moreover, it offers a sense of catharsis as it shows that, despite wealth often escaping the usual consequences of wrongdoing in our world, a fictional character like The Calendar Killer has finally been made accountable for his actions.

Stream The Calendar Killer now on Amazon Prime Video.

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2025-01-26 21:02