Event Horizon ending explained: Starck or Cooper may not have escaped hell after all

Paul W. S. Anderson's Event Horizon is a bleak sci-fi horror film that didn't translate well upon its release. Audiences didn't show up at the theaters to help it profit, and critics didn't appreciate its plotline going in circles. However, over the years, it has captivated more and more viewers.

The reason for the revival might be the overarching ideas of sin and hell that blend with the film's scientific jargon. They offer something far more compelling than what the contemporary sci-fi narratives manage to deliver. Another reason might be its production design paired with Adrian Biddle's camerawork, which makes the film an arresting watch.

Toward the end, Miller seems to have defeated Weir in their battle between life and hell. However, the final moments with him and Starck may not be a happy ending for them. They may think they witnessed a nightmare, but all the other signs point to the fact that they might still be living in one instead.

Event Horizon centers around a rescue crew battling their personal demons

A still from Event Horizon 1997 (Images via Paramount Pictures)

Miller (Laurence Fishburne) and Weir (Sam Neill) are at the center of the film's overall conflict. They both board the rescue vessel, dubbed Lewis and Clark, to trace a rediscovered starship, Event Horizon. Weir is the ship's designer, while Miller is the vessel's captain.

Weir ensured that his ship could travel faster than light by folding spacetime, putting them in an experimental gravity drive. In the beginning, there's a distress signal introduced to the crew, which roughly translates to 'Save me.'

Even if everyone's an expert at what they do, their journey is far from smooth or simple. They face a major shock wave, which compels them to enter the starship to check what happened. It puts a crew member in a catatonic state, while others start hallucinating strange things.

The starship seemingly opens a door to hell, introducing the crew to their worst possible fears

In those hallucinations, the crew members confront the darkness from their lives. Miller sees an old colleague whom he couldn't save, while Weir sees his late wife in a horrifying state. She seemingly asks him to be with her. As every member grapples with what they witnessed, they wake up to a realization.

The ship might have opened a portal to hell, as they also realize that the distress signal supposedly said, 'Save yourself from hell.' From that moment onwards, everyone latches on to any bit of life they have left to save themselves. That is made worse as Weir sinks deeper into the misery about his late wife, deepening his sense of darkness.

Here's what might have happened at the end of Event Horizon

Toward the film's end, Miller expects the crew to evacuate despite Weir seemingly standing up against that decision. Weir makes matters worse by hurting himself and letting others not have a winning chance for survival. Eventually, Weir is flung into space, leaving Miller behind with Starck and Cooper.

In the following hallucination, Miller faces Weir again, where his sacrifice leads to the apparent survival of Starck and Cooper. The film's ending shows Starck and Cooper waking up many days later, supposedly surviving the tragedy. However, these final moments leave their fate on an ambiguous note. They may not have escaped the hellish influence of the ship after all.