The Abyss Ending Explained: A Town on the Brink

The Swedish movie The Abyss, released in 2023, tells a fictional story about the series of earthquakes that hit the mining town of Kiruna, Sweden, and how these events led to a tragic but hopeful conclusion for the main characters.

At the center of the film is Frigga Vibenius, who works as the head of security at the Kiruna mine and is currently going through a divorce from her husband, Tage Vibenius. The story kicks off on their son Simon’s birthday, just as disturbing seismic movements begin around the mine.

Despite not knowing where Simon is, Frigga is left with no option but to head into the mine to assess the danger. By coincidence, Dabir—Frigga’s boyfriend—arrives in Kiruna on this very day. He intends to propose to her, but that plan is shelved when news reaches them that Simon is missing.

While Frigga’s daughter Mika starts searching for her brother, Frigga joins forces with Tage and other mine workers to go underground for investigation. During this process, Frigga discovers that a deep crack has formed under Kiruna, which means the entire town could sink if another quake strikes.

They cannot begin the evacuation until they find Simon, and this mission ends with Tage sacrificing his life for the family.

Does Dabir Stay With Frigga After The Abyss Ending?

It Appears Dabir And Frigga Remain Together

When Dabir made his way to Kiruna, he wasn’t aware that he had walked into a disaster zone. His original plan was to propose to Frigga, but the worsening earthquakes and Simon’s sudden disappearance forced him to pause those intentions.

On top of that, Tage informed Dabir that Frigga had been holding onto the divorce papers for a long while without signing them. This left Dabir unsure whether he should still go ahead with the proposal or accept the job offer from the local fire department.

Tage, on his part, didn’t hide his opinion that Dabir was complicating their family situation—but his death eventually shifted everything.

There’s no direct dialogue confirming their relationship status, but a quiet, meaningful look exchanged between Dabir and Frigga strongly suggests that they ended up staying together in New Kiruna, just the way Tage had hoped in his final moments.

As he lay dying, Tage spoke directly to Dabir, asking him to take care of his children. That heartfelt request stood as the closest thing to a blessing he could offer Dabir to move forward with Frigga.

Towards the final moments of The Abyss, Dabir is shown gazing at the engagement ring thoughtfully before glancing at Frigga, who is standing at a distance. Their eyes lock, and Frigga smiles. That is where the story ends.

The silent connection between the two of them, even though no words were spoken, strongly points to the idea that they stayed together after relocating to New Kiruna, just as Tage had hoped before giving his life.

Tage’s Sacrifice In The Abyss Explained

Tage Understood That His Family Needed Dabir

By giving up his own life to rescue his family, Tage created the chance for Frigga and Dabir to build a future together. Despite holding resentment toward Dabir throughout the story, both men worked as a team during the moment of crisis—when Frigga, Mika, and Simon were trapped inside a sinkhole at the high school.

The three were forced to jump onto a vending machine hanging by an electrical cable. Dabir quickly lowered ropes to help pull them out one by one, starting with Mika and Simon, followed by a badly injured Frigga. Eventually, the broken cable started snapping.

Realizing time was running out, Tage rushed over and grabbed onto both the cable and the wall to keep the vending machine suspended long enough for Dabir to save everyone. As he did this, the electric current from the severed cable surged through his body.

After falling to the floor, a dying Tage used his last breath to plead with Dabir, asking him to care for the family he left behind. The film’s closing moments show Tage’s lifeless body being carried out of the high school as Dabir looks down at the ring he once intended to give to Frigga.

What Happened To Frigga’s Son Simon In The Abyss?

Simon Was Still Alive But Got Trapped

Throughout the movie, Frigga and Tage are constantly searching for their son Simon, who vanished shortly before they discovered the massive underground crack threatening Kiruna. Early in the film, a teenage boy is seen falling to his death into one of the town’s sinkholes, and viewers are led to assume this is Simon.

That belief is reinforced by the revelation that Mika’s car was taken to a party near the rift zone. While investigating the area, Mika and Dabir come across a mobile phone at the scene. Upon checking it, they realize the phone doesn’t belong to Simon, raising hope that he might still be alive.

As the search continues, misleading signs suggest various outcomes. Frigga spots a boy resembling Simon getting hit by a car, and Aila’s grandmother tells the family that their son might have left town.

Things become clearer when a teenage girl at the hospital informs them that Simon and his friends have gone to an abandoned high school to play Call of Duty. Without wasting time, Frigga, Mika, Tage, and Dabir rush to the school.

Upon arrival, they find the bodies of some teenagers and, eventually, discover Simon alive but stuck inside a sinkhole. Frigga and Mika enter the hole to rescue him. However, a piece of broken rebar pierces Frigga’s leg, making escape almost impossible.

That exact moment becomes the point where Tage makes his final sacrifice, giving his life so that his family can make it out alive.

Every Death In The Abyss Explained

The Swedish Film Had Many Casualties

Besides Tage, The Abyss recorded multiple deaths before it reached its conclusion. Right at the beginning, a teenager having fun near the widening rift zone accidentally gets swallowed by the earth. At first, viewers think the victim might be Simon, but his real identity is never confirmed.

Another casualty was Erika, Frigga’s colleague and close friend, who joined her and Tage in inspecting the abandoned parts of the mine. Sadly, she died when a narrow tunnel collapsed. Once Frigga discovered the town’s risk of sudden collapse, she returned to warn the public.

However, many people were too slow to react, and several residents lost their lives when new sinkholes started appearing across Kiruna. One of the tragic deaths was Mika’s girlfriend, Aila. She managed to save a baby in a stroller but couldn’t escape herself.

The last few casualties occurred at the high school. Frigga and her family met an injured girl named Tina. Despite their best efforts, the injuries proved fatal, and she passed away before they could get her to safety.

Why The City of Kiruna, Sweden, Collapsed

The 2023 Disaster Film Took Inspiration From a Real Place

At an early stage of The Abyss, it is revealed that Kiruna was already in the process of relocating due to years of mining beneath the ground, which left hollow spaces under the town. Continued mining activities triggered earthquakes that made the situation worse.

During her time in one of the shut-down sections of the mine, Frigga discovered a large cavity directly underneath the town. From what she saw, she understood that the town didn’t have as much time as people thought—they needed to evacuate immediately.

Although The Abyss heightened the drama, it was based on real-life events. Kiruna, Sweden, is indeed being relocated—structure by structure—because the ground is slowly giving way due to mining (as reported by Euro News).

This decision was made after a 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck the mines in 2020. Thankfully, there were no deaths reported from that incident, unlike what happened in the movie.

The Real Meaning Of The Abyss 2023 Ending

This Disaster Movie Carries Emotional And Thematic Weight

While the final act of The Abyss ends with tension and loss, the story holds deeper emotional and symbolic meanings. The film weaves personal experiences into its disaster plot.

Tage’s choice to give his life for his loved ones also speaks to how some people come to terms with the end of a relationship, especially when they believe the other person and the children will be better off.

Tage’s actions show that he understood Frigga and Simon would be safer with Dabir, a man capable of offering what he no longer could. This idea is reinforced by the implication that Dabir intends to propose to Frigga, and by the fact that Frigga’s injury happened during the same event that cost Tage his life.

That injury symbolizes the emotional wounds that come with leaving a past marriage behind and starting over. Tage’s death serves as a clear reminder of what was lost, while Frigga’s suffering becomes a part of what she carries forward.

Beyond its personal themes, The Abyss also highlights how a slow, real-life disaster can have a profound effect on a whole community. The real town of Kiruna may not have faced the violent events shown in the movie, but the emotional burden of relocating an entire population is no less heavy.

Through dramatic visuals and personal loss, the movie reflects the true cost of a disaster that doesn’t strike all at once but builds up over time.