Jake Johnson’s movie Self Reliance, currently streaming on Hulu, has generated a lot of discussion among viewers, especially because of its open-ended conclusion.
The story is crafted in a way that encourages people to draw their own interpretations. This deliberate ambiguity has contributed to its popularity and sparked several debates regarding what is real and what is imagined.
Johnson, who serves as the writer, director, and main actor, plays Tommy—a man selected to take part in a strange reality show said to be hosted on the dark web. Throughout the film, there is continuous uncertainty about whether the show is genuine or just a creation of Tommy’s mind.
A Craigslist ad leads to love, danger, and a possible delusion (Photo: Self Reliance/MRC Film)One man’s wild story forces everyone to question what’s true
According to Johnson, both interpretations are valid, but the film still concludes with a defined outcome. The following is a comprehensive summary of the movie and an explanation of how it ends, along with insights into what might be real or imaginary.
Summary of Self-Reliance
Tommy Walcott is a middle-aged man facing a midlife crisis. After his long-term relationship ends, he moves back into his mother’s house. He frequently passes by his ex-girlfriend’s house, unable to let go but too hesitant to approach her.
One day, a limousine pulls up beside him, and comedian Andy Samberg invites him to take part in a mysterious game show on the dark web. Intrigued by the idea of escaping his uneventful routine, Tommy agrees to listen to the offer.
Two mysterious men explain the game: he must survive 30 days while being hunted by trained assassins. They promise he will be monitored constantly through hidden cameras and microphones. However, the attackers can only strike if he is completely alone. Tommy quickly figures out that staying with someone at all times might help him survive the challenge.
Although he agrees to participate, his family—his mother, two sisters, and brother-in-law—do not take him seriously. Due to his history of making up stories, they assume he is fabricating another fantasy.
In the past, he claimed he was moving to Japan to become a samurai and even insisted on being called Michael Jackson. To them, this new idea sounds like another attempt to escape reality.
In a bid to find someone who believes him, Tommy posts an advert online. He also notices what he thinks is a hidden camera in his house. When a suspicious man appears near his brother-in-law’s home, Tommy reacts aggressively and is asked to leave. He then hires a homeless man named James to accompany him, believing this will keep him safe.
Things go smoothly at first, though Tommy loses his job, most likely for bringing James to work. Eventually, he is also forced out of his mother’s home. When James fails to appear one evening, Tommy is attacked by a masked individual dressed like Michael Jackson. He then meets Maddy, a woman who claims to be part of the same game. They team up, and a strong emotional connection begins to grow between them.
Encouraged by Maddy, Tommy finally confronts his ex-girlfriend, who admits she left because he stopped fully engaging in their relationship. This moment gives him the closure he has been needing.
But soon after, a production assistant warns Tommy not to trust Maddy. Things become more confusing when another man contacts him, claiming the game is actually a hidden camera show meant to mock vulnerable people.
Tommy becomes increasingly unsure of who to trust. Maddy eventually admits she was never a contestant; she thought the advert was a joke and played along, not realising Tommy truly believed it.
When Tommy’s family stages a mental health intervention, he runs away and finds shelter in a homeless camp with James, who finally reveals his real name is Walter. Tommy, in turn, confesses that his life has been full of make-believe stories.
Explanation of the Ending
Tommy wakes up alone at the homeless camp, only to be visited again by the production assistant, who tells him the camp is too sad for viewers and directs him to a limousine that will take him to the final stage of the game.
When reality blurs, every shadow starts to look like a threat (Photo: Self Reliance/MRC Film)On the way, Tommy encounters a man in a cowboy hat—one of the hunters—who claims that the entire game was custom-designed based on Tommy’s past: from Michael Jackson references to samurai fantasies and television icons like Ellen DeGeneres.
Tommy eventually finds the limousine. Andy Samberg reappears and offers him a safe way out. Instead of quitting, Tommy chooses to continue. At the warehouse, he avoids multiple costumed characters who reflect earlier parts of his story, such as a sumo wrestler and a samurai.
He finally reaches a cheering crowd, made up of everyone he met throughout his journey. They declare him the winner and award him one million Danish krone—the currency of Greenland.
