Silent Night’s Twist Ending & Deeper Meaning Explained

In the spirit of admiration, allow me to share my perspective on the movie “Silent Night.” Initially, it seemed like a delightful holiday tale with just the right blend of family dynamics and Christmas melodies. However, as the story unfolds, set in what appears to be contemporary England, it becomes clear that things aren’t quite as jolly as they seem. The gathering at Nell, Simon, Art, and the twins Hardy and Thomas’s country home is not just a festive reunion but a final gathering before a grim reality sets in – the world is on its last legs, and a government-issued “exit pill” has been distributed to spare everyone an agonizing demise by poison gas.

In the festive apocalypse movie directed by Camille Griffin, a stellar cast of British actors headlined by Kiera Knightley and Matthew Goode shine, but it’s Camille’s son, Roman Griffin Davis as Art, who truly steals the show. Art’s performance adds a profound layer to the peculiar yet captivating movie Silent Night, especially during its climax. The only characters challenging Art are Sophie, who has just learned she is pregnant, and Art himself. As their last night on Earth approaches and toxic gas threatens to engulf the house, Art takes a brave stance, and his actions result in him being the lone survivor.

Silent Night’s Christmas Title is About More Than Christmas

Though It Does Play On A Classic Song

The title of the movie, Silent Night, goes beyond just referring to the Christmas carol; it carries a deeper meaning. As the characters succumb to their terror and take their “exit pills,” an unusual phenomenon arises. They all lose the power of speech. After stabbing Bella, she tries to speak to Alex but can’t due to her voiceless state before collapsing. Young Kitty also loses her voice and uses her doll to express her love for her deceased father, eventually embracing her mother in a silent, poignant moment.

The carol “Silent Night” concludes by implying that everyone quietly departs, perhaps to face the end, while Art awakes to a tranquil dawn following a peaceful night, serving both as a subtle hint within the story and a clever play on words.

What Is The Gas In Silent Night?

It Never Gets An Official Name

In the chilling Christmas horror flick “Silent Night,” the mysterious gas that terrorizes the town remains unidentified, but its eerie presence and unsettling impact are unmistakable. The film subtly hints at supernatural undertones as it unfolds, leaving me on the edge of my seat.

Initially appearing like swirls of dust and later transforming into whirlwinds reminiscent of tornadoes, this harmful gas arrives in what could be likened to an extraordinary storm, complete with lightning, thunder, and powerful winds. Art’s mother, Nell, terms it airborne, while everyone else in the story Silent Night calls it a gas. Towards the end of the movie when Alex turns on the tap, the water that flows is brown, has an unpleasant smell, suggesting that the water supply too might be contaminated.

Essentially, the gas behaves similarly to other well-known lethal gases in its impact on the nervous system. Following exposure to a harmful dust cloud in “Silent Night,” Art seems unscathed by the poison or any noticeable symptoms due to the emotional trauma of witnessing a deceased family in the car. Alone in his room, with his father thinking he’s safe asleep, Art starts convulsing and struggling for breath. Afterward, as his mother holds him on the bed, Art experiences paralysis linked to poisons that affect nerves, such as Sarin. Nell initially thinks he’s merely subdued.

In Silent Night, when I’m eventually freed, it’s my limp form, streaked with blood from my nose and eyes, that convinces my family and me that I’m gone. Yet, no one bothers to check if I still have a pulse before we all grab our suicide pills in a panic. Contrastingly, in real-life Sarin gas situations, the effects are swift, occurring just seconds after exposure. With other poisonous substances targeting the nervous system, victims often lose control over their bodily functions – something that was missing during my ordeal.

One alternative could be a kind of sulfur mustard, reminiscent of the tainted mustard gas idea proposed in the 2017 film “Wonder Woman”. Exposure symptoms include irritation of mucous membranes, which may explain Art’s bleeding eyes and nose. Unlike Sarin, it doesn’t cause seizures as seen in “Silent Night”, but it does affect the respiratory system like Sarin. However, unlike Sarin, sulfur mustard is not a nerve agent. Furthermore, while Sarin is often fatal, sulfur mustard is less likely to be lethal, which might explain why Art survives.

It’s worth noting that water can become polluted by both Sarin and Mustard Gas (Sulphur mustard). Unlike Sarin, which is odorless and colorless, Mustard Gas may give water a yellow or brown tint and emanate an odor similar to onions, garlic, or mustard. This could explain the earlier incident involving Alex.

Silent Night Is Not Really A Movie About Christmas… Or The End Of The World

That’s Part Of What Makes It So Unique

Camille Griffin’s movie, “Silent Night,” initially gives off a warm and humorous vibe typical of Christmas films. However, it takes an unexpected turn into horror when Art resurrects his deceased family, making him a survivor in a world plagued by people consuming “exit pills.” But “Silent Night” is not just a holiday-horror-comedy; it’s much more complex than that.

In the play “Silent Night“, Art repeatedly queries whether scientists’ findings might be flawed and if the government could be deceiving the public. Through the other characters’ discussions on suffering and dread, Art remains skeptical, yet their apprehensions serve as illustrations of how fearmongering and false information proliferate in our contemporary society. When Art is the last survivor, his endurance underscores the underlying messages in “Silent Night” that governments can err, news may be misleading, and cowardice and fear pose the most significant dangers to humanity.

How Silent Night’s Ending Was Received

Critics Were Mixed On The Movie

Global responses to the initial theater release of “Silent Night” were a mix from critics worldwide. This divided reaction extends to the film’s conclusion as well. However, the performances of Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, and Roman Griffin Davis are widely commended across the board. Critics seem to be at odds regarding whether the movie successfully conveys its narrative or delivers a satisfying ending.

Critical Outlet	Score
Rotten Tomatoes Critics	66% (Of 100)
Rotten Tomatoes Audience	47% (Of 100)
Internet Movie Database	5.8 (Of 10)
Meta Critic	(52) (Of 100)

The London Evening Standard finds Davis’ comedic rhythm “charming”, however, it criticizes that the movie’s ending is “subtly disastrous and leaves an unpleasant odor”. Conversely, The Chicago Sun Times appreciates the film more, stating that as midnight approaches, the movie takes “grisly and darkly rebellious twists” making us regret not knowing these characters sooner.

The AV Club points out that the film’s characters being so hard to like for most of it makes watching less enjoyable. Additionally, they note that the movie vividly portrays the frustration of debating with vaccine skeptics in 2021, a feeling many can relate to given the ongoing global pandemic – the constant repetition, dwindling impact, and loss of empathy. For some viewers, this reflection of their reality might have been uncomfortable.

Different interpretations of “Silent Night” can be found in various critic reviews, with each one offering a unique perspective. Consequently, viewers are encouraged to form their own opinion once they’ve witnessed the film’s conclusion unfold.

2025-04-29 00:20