The ending of Shudder's 2020 paranormal horror film Anything for Jackson leaves several questions unanswered about the Walsh family, Jackson, and the devil's involvement. It features a family willing to do whatever they can to get their beloved grandson back. At first it starts out as a classic case of spirit transference, but quickly morphs into a horrifying tale of demonic entities and their search for a vessel. However, unlike most demonic possession films, Anything for Jackson It is driven by the desire to make contact with a deceased loved one.
In Anything for Jackson, Elderly couple Audrey (Sheila McCarthy) and Henry (Julian Richings) struggle to cope with the loss of their grandson Jackson, who died in a car accident that left his mother in a wheelchair. Audrey and Henry want to perform a Satanic ritual to try to bring Jackson back, using as a vehicle the fetus growing inside Shannon, a kidnapped pregnant woman. However, the Walsh house becomes haunted when they fail to complete the ritual, leading to what really happens to Jackson, Shannon's unborn baby, and the devil's return to Earth.
What really happened to Jackson?
Jackson's fate remains ambiguous
When Shannon is first brought to the Walsh residence in Anything for JacksonShe sees a small blond boy with a bloody hole in his head. He is said to have died in a car accident, but the real mystery is what happened to him after the pregnant woman escaped. As she escapes, she looks out the upstairs window and sees Jackson being dragged away by an unknown force. While he was initially excited to find a new mother and vessel in the form of Shannon and the unborn baby, he now looks at her with fear and sadness in his eyes.
Audrey and Henry Walsh died in the process of trying to bring him back when Ian, a fellow member of their satanic cult, took the open door as a way to bring the devil to Earth. It is likely that Jackson was taken over by the devil, as the arms wrapped around him are completely white, similar to the creatures'.
At the same time, it is very likely that it was the spirit of his mother or the Walshes who took him to a safe place away from the other demonic entities that roam the house. Very little is known about what actually happened to Jackson, but it is certain that he was not transferred to Shannon's fetus. He is much more likely to remain a restless spirit rather than reunite with the people who loved him most.
How the Walsh family became an instrument of the devil
Henry's loss made him the perfect candidate for Satan.
Ian conjured the devil in Anything for Jacksonbut the way he possessed Audrey and Henry is quite confusing. As the ritual ends, Audrey's back begins to twitch, alluding to the devil taking up residence in her body. As Ian explains, everyone can be a vessel for a spirit, no matter how old or young an individual is, they are still available to be conquered. The room they've been holding Shannon in is filled with potential people for the devil to possess, but Audrey is the weakest and also a mother, making her the perfect candidate.
Except she's not really the perfect candidate because she dies as a result of a fatal wound inflicted on her by Ian. Which causes the devil to take over Henry's body. As the old man writhes and contorts, the devil rises from his flesh to return to Earth. It's a rather confusing five-minute scene as it alludes to the devil being in Audrey but being transferred to Henry when their blood fused.
This was actually used by Anything for Jackson as a way to differentiate their intentions when performing the ritual. While Audrey did it to bring Jackson back, Henry did it to appease Audrey and show her how much he loves her. Henry became a vessel for the devil because he was left with nothing once she died, leaving her soul weakened and open for him to inhabit.
Anything For Jackson ending explained
What the Demon Shannon Sees Really Means
As Shannon walks away from the Walsh house at the end of Anything for JacksonShe slows down and sees a strange human-demon hybrid crossing the street. As he looks at her before entering the opposite side of the woods, she looks down at her pregnant belly and holds it tightly. In doing so, it becomes clear that her unborn child is safe and no restless spirit could have found him the perfect vessel will harm him. The figure crossing the path is the devil who pierced Henry's flesh. He no longer needs a host, having been brought back to Earth. Therefore, he does not need to harm Shannon or her baby, his evil will likely fall in a much more gruesome way in the future.
Director Justin G. Dyck left the ending rather ambiguous as he wanted audiences to interpret it as they wished, but there are several certainties that can be deduced from the final moments of Anything for JacksonJackson doesn't have a new vessel to inhabit and doesn't really need one now that his grandparents and mother have passed away.
It's likely that what trapped the boy in the final moments of the film was the intention of some member of his family to keep him safe from the vengeful spirits of the house. The Walshes became a vehicle for the devil because Audrey died and Henry's will to live weakened. At the end of Anything for JacksonShannon sees the devil as a strange indicator of the newfound security she and her unborn child are finding.
The true meaning of everything related to Jackson's end
A classic tale about being careful what you wish for
While there are many different themes at play in the Reverse Exorcism movie, the central meaning behind Anything for Jackson It is something that is repeated in many films that present cults and rituals: the common saying “be careful what you wish for“. While Audrey and Henry's reasons for attempting to turn Shannon into a vehicle of possession were relatable and motivated by deep grief rather than a desire for power, Anything for Jackson It remains one of many films about the dangers of seeking pacts with demonic beings for personal gain.
As with many of these films, the central meaning ends up being the madness that tries to cheat fate. It's an interesting twist on the thematic message, but it can be summed up in the same sentiment. This doesn't detract from the quality of the film. Anything for Jackson As a horror film, it's still an incredibly gripping movie, but when it comes to the layers of its meaning, it's not as deep as it first appears.
How the ending of Anything For Jackson was received
The ending was considered a bit boring even among the most positive reviews.
Anything for Jackson The film was received incredibly well when it was released in 2020, being considered a win for both Shudder and director Justin G. Dyck. The film sits at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, though the audience score is noticeably lower at 69% (a curiously rare reversal of the way many horror films fall in the critic-audience opinion divide). Critics generally praised the film overall, with most reviews highlighting the cast's performances along with admiration for how Anything for Jackson twists many common tropes of demonic possession movies.
However, when the end of Anything for Jackson While it is mentioned in reviews, it is rarely in a favorable light. The consensus among most seems to be that the ending was somewhat flat compared to the incredibly creepy and chilling tone of the rest of the film. That's not to say that it is being criticized directly, but the final act of the film did not live up to the beginning and middle of the story. Overall, this is not the worst thing and it clearly did not affect the success of Anything for Jackson, But if Keith Cooper's script had ended on a stronger note, it could have significantly elevated the reputation of this cult gem of 2020 horror cinema.
