the enemyEver since its release on Prime Video, its ending has been devastating to viewers as it offers a surprising and heartbreaking twist.
Based on Ian Reed’s novel of the same name, Paul Meskel and Saoirse Ronan’s sci-fi romance follows a married couple living a lonely, unhappy life on a secluded farm in rural America.
The year is 2065, and climate change is depopulating the Earth. A company called Utermor has implemented a new program called the Climate Migration Strategy to test the viability of new human settlements in space, hoping to replace humans on Earth with AI clones known as ‘Human Substitutes’.
In the first scene of the movie, Junior (Mescal) and Hen (Ronan) have an unexpected encounter. Government representative Terence (Aaron Pierre) tells him that Junior has shortlisted him for the program. During the next two years, they just have to live their normal lives while an AI clone of Junior is created.
However, nothing is as it seems.
the enemy Halfway through the film reveals a huge plot twist that will change everything for the couple, but if you’re a little confused, we’re here to help by explaining everything.
Enemy Ending Explained: Who’s Junior?
That first scene of the enemy Not what we thought.
The Junior we’ve been seeing since the beginning was actually an AI surrogate, since the real Junior was already going to test the space settlement. That first scene was their first meeting, AI’s first day at home.
That explains the chicken’s nervousness around him, which we might have assumed was the result of Junior’s normal aggressive behavior. That’s why Terence tells Jr. to take care of the chicken before he goes out, and why Han tells her husband to sleep in the guest room.
After all, he is a total stranger.
Terrance’s visits also suggest that he is monitoring Junior’s AI alternative rather than investigating his new human colonist candidate.
He actually lives with them so he can conduct a series of interviews. Terence says he’s going to make an AI biological version of Junior, but he’s actually trying to monitor the copy and see how far his consciousness extends.
Watch Foi on Prime Video
Gradually, Hen and AI Jr. find themselves reconnecting. It seems that Knuckle can evolve in ways that Human Junior never could. Their passion is back, their toxic routine is slowly fading and he’s not crazy about what she does, like playing the piano.
However, this was always a temporary situation.
The real Junior returns from his mission, and the duplicate is laid to rest. The brutality of the situation hits everyone involved like a truck.
In fact, this experience changed Hen forever. She’s not going back to that unhappy marriage, so arguments begin as Junior settles back into the house.
“We had dreams,” she says, reminding her husband of a time when they had higher hopes than living on a rotting farm in the middle of nowhere.
“There’s nothing for you,” he fires back. But, in reality, it may not be so.
One day, the chicken leaves. Her only goodbye to Junior is a blank letter on the kitchen table. There are no words left to speak between them.
After some time, the chicken comes for dinner to Junior’s surprise. “It’s okay,” she says. “I’m here.” He is polite, cheerful and accommodating – everything he wants his wife to be. But it’s not hers.
In the background of this newfound marital bliss we hear the hen’s voice: “All my life people have been telling me what I like, what I want, what I want. I had to be someone different, someone else. But now I know “There is only one of me.”
And the only true version of herself is now sitting on a plane, heading to a new life she’s been dreaming of for years. That promise of freedom and adventure is the last scene of the film.
We now understand that, during her absence, he provided her memories and image to create a copy sent to Junior’s door. We also assume because of his suspicious appearance that Junior is aware of this being an AI replacement, but he doesn’t really care.
He now has his ideal wife. The chicken is now free.
After the movie’s cinema release in October 2023, the enemy Director and co-writer Garth Davies said he wanted the revelation to “feel as terrifying as the Chicken Factory.”
“They took him down and killed him like an animal because he’s not human. The brutal truth of that, because he’s not human, they think they can treat him any way they want, that was very powerful to me. ,” he explained of the moment. They ‘kill’ the AI version of Junior.
“From a director’s point of view, I really liked the idea that every time the outside world showed its face, there was a distinct difference. So, at the beginning of the film, the green light gave birth to it and then the pink light was its death.”
the enemy Now available to watch on Prime Video.
Deputy Movies Editor, Digital Spy
Mireia (she/her) has been working as a movie and TV journalist for over seven years, mostly for Spanish magazines. frames.
Her work has been published in other outlets such as Esquire And Ale In Spain, and WeLoveCinema In the UK.
He is also a published author, having written essays Studio Ghibli Library: Nicky The Witch’s Apprentice About Hayao Miyazaki Kiki’s Delivery Service.
During her years as a freelance journalist and film critic, Mireia has covered festivals around the world, and interviewed high-profile talents such as Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and many more. She has also participated in juries such as the FIPRESCI Jury at the Venice Film Festival and the Short Film Jury at the Kingston International Film Festival in London.
Now based in the UK, Mireya joins Digital Spy As Deputy Movies Editor in June 2023.
