Night Swim, the latest horror movie from Blumhouse, has hit the screens, and while it presents a straightforward yet chilling premise, the ending may leave viewers with lingering questions.
If you were too engrossed in the film to catch every detail, don’t worry; we’re here to help. We’ve outlined the eerie origins of the pool, the fate of the Waller family, and whether the conclusion hints at a possible sequel, including insights from director Bryce McGuire.
If you haven’t seen Night Swim, turn back now to avoid major spoilers! For those who are caught up, read on for everything you need to know about the film’s ending.
A powerful spirit helps in the fight for Elliot’s survival (Photo: Night Swim/Atomic Monster and Blumhouse Productions)The Shocking Fate of Elliot and the Pool
Elliot is drawn to the pool by the promise of finding his missing cat. When he reaches for a floatie, he slips into the water and is instantly pulled beneath the surface.
As Eve realizes the pool demands a sacrifice, she understands that if she doesn’t save her son in time, he will become yet another ghost doomed to haunt the pool forever. While Eve plunges into the water, Izzy rushes to call 911 but is quickly intercepted by Ray, who is now fully possessed by the pool’s dark spirit.
As Eve swims to the pool’s depths, she encounters the bloated and grotesque bodies of those who have been “chosen” before her, all rushing towards her. Fortunately, the spirit of Rebecca, the daughter of the family that lived in the house previously, helps Eve retrieve Elliot.
Meanwhile, a violent Ray confronts Izzy, but she manages to defend herself with a baseball bat. Regaining control of his body, Ray realizes that although Elliot has been saved, he isn’t breathing.
The pool still intends to claim his son, allowing Ray to recover from his terminal illness. He bids a final farewell to his family and walks into the pool, becoming the new sacrifice. The waters calm, and Elliot awakens.
The film concludes with an emotional montage of Ray’s recorded messages to his family, where he speaks lovingly about their future. Eve, Elliot, and Izzy gather around the pool as workers fill it with dirt, contemplating whether they should leave the house.
However, realizing that another family will occupy the house only to fall victim to the pool, they choose to stay—Izzy reminding them that it’s what their father would have wanted.
What is Possessing the Pool?
The situation is quite complex; the water possesses a life of its own, along with the spirits of those who have died within it. After investigating the many people who went missing after living in the house over the years, Eve visits Rebecca’s mother, whose daughter vanished while her family resided there.
Rebecca’s mother reveals that her son was once gravely ill but suddenly recovered upon moving into the house. The water healed him, but it demanded a price—Rebecca’s life in exchange for her brother’s health. Eve realizes that the same curse has befallen her husband, who started mysteriously recovering from his illness after moving in.
During one scene, the Waller family attempts to escape the house, but Ray suddenly convulses in the front seat, indicating that the water’s malevolent spirit has bonded with him, making it impossible for him to leave.
At its core, the water is inhabited by an evil, supernatural entity. The physical pool holds the spirits of those who were sacrificed throughout the house’s history. Although the exact nature of this spirit remains unclear, it is evident that it selects a new sacrifice each time a new family arrives.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, director Bryce McGuire explained his decision to give the pool a sacrificial, wish-fulfillment aspect rather than maintaining a straightforward haunting theme.
He remarked, “Every time I would see a pool in a movie, it was always this photogenic environment. The pool always steals the show. But I always felt that the pool had a Jungian value where it becomes a dreamscape for our desires.”
McGuire continued, “I saw the water as something that reflects and gives back your dreams to you. There’s a subconscious element to that. It became about the sacrifices required to achieve our dreams and what we are willing to give up to attain happiness.”
Ray’s Transformation
Throughout Night Swim, Ray, who initially appears defeated by his worsening condition, begins to regain strength. The more he immerses himself in the water, the more his health improves.
Unfortunately, with this newfound vitality comes a violent nature, leading him to harm a neighborhood child during a game. When the Waller family attempts to escape, Ray begins convulsing, revealing that he risks becoming gravely ill or even dying without proximity to the water.
Towards the film’s climax, Ray becomes completely possessed by the spirit and tries to prevent Izzy from interfering with the pool’s plan to sacrifice Elliot. After Izzy knocks him out with a baseball bat, Ray regains his senses and realizes the choice before him: save his son or himself.
In a final act of sacrifice, Ray enters the pool and quickly disappears into the water, becoming the latest victim. Ray has likely joined the other spirits haunting the pool, but with the pool drained and sealed with dirt, the terror seems to have come to an end—at least for now.
Does the Ending Hint at a Sequel?
There are indications that a sequel may be in the works. The film concludes without revealing the true origins of the water, and there is no post-credits scene. Although the pool has been drained and covered, the evil within the water has merely shifted elsewhere. In an interview with SFX Magazine, McGuire hinted, “There’s a little Easter egg in one of the early scenes that, to me, points a path to where I’d like to go.”
The grotesque bodies of past victims float in the depths of horror (Photo: Night Swim/Atomic Monster and Blumhouse Productions)It seems plausible that the key scene in question involves the pool cleaner mentioning that the water comes from an external source—an unusual characteristic for swimming pools.
This raises the questions of where the water originates and where it has now gone. We see the pool water drain into a storm drain, which could potentially spread it throughout the town. Additionally, what happens to Ray, who has joined the legion of drowned souls in the pool? Regardless, McGuire suggests that the story has much more to reveal.
“Well, anyone who’s been a homeowner knows that water will always find the weakest point. You block one hole, and it simply moves to another. So, there’s a larger history to this water.
It’s not just about this pool; this pool is part of a broader ecosystem,” McGuire elaborated in his conversation with GamesRadar+. “That history still exists, and there’s more to see regarding the pool.”
Night Swim is currently playing in theaters. For further insights, check out our interviews with director Bryce McGuire about the film’s origins, star Kerry Condon discussing her experience in her first horror film, and Wyatt Russell on preparing for the lead role.
