No Country For Old Men Close-Up (Closing Sequence)

Overview

The closing sequence of No Country For Old Men begins with Sheriff Ed Tom Bell conversing with his uncle Ellis, during which aging and violence, after which Ed Tom informs Ellis that he plans to retire as he has become so disillusioned by the recent violence that has plagued the state of Texas.

Afterwards, we cut to a gravestone of Carla Jean’s mother being lowered into the ground, reinforcing the inevitability of death. Carla soon returns home only to be greeted by Anton Chigurh sitting in her living room. As with the petrol station owner, Anton gives Carla a chance to decide her fate by flipping the coin. After she refuses, the viewer is not directly shown the outcome, but we are able to infer that Anton killed Carla after witnessing Anton checking his shoes for blood, an action the viewer has borne witness to at multiple points throughout the film. Afterwards, a car abruptly crashes into Anton’s at an intersection, significantly wounding him. Anton promptly bribes two young boys for their silence and flees.

In retirement, Ed Tom shares two dreams with his wife. In the first, he describes how he lost some money his father had given him. In the other, he and his father were riding through the mountains, after which his father had gone ahead to make a fire in the darkness, awaiting Ed Tom’s arrival.

Ideological Analysis: Nihilism

Ed Tom and Ellis’ conversation reveals that the violence stemming from nihilism that permeates the state has ultimately caused Ed Tom to retire. The film’s title even implies that there is no place for “old men” in society – traditional morals are now devoid of any meaning.

“What you got ain’t nothing new. This country is hard on people. You can’t stop what’s coming.”

Ed Tom’s uncle Ellis remarks upon the inevitable demise of humanity, referring to it as “what’s coming”. The atrocities committed by humankind transcend generation, but instead take a new form – nihilism.

The symbol of Carla Jean’s mother’s gravestone reinforces the fragility and futility of humanity. Anton’s implied decision to kill Carla Jean stems from his nihilistic attitude towards human existence. As she did not let the coin decide her fate, Anton decides to end her life purely due to his belief in the insignificance of human life. Carla remarks that Anton is “crazy”, suggesting that his nihilistic principles are unfathomable.

“I got here the same way the coin did”

Anton remarks upon the chain of causality that brought him to Carla Jean is the same that brought the coin.

The film’s final scene displays the despair of nihilism in a subtly chilling manner. Ed Tom notes in his dream monologue that he appeared to be older than his father, reinforcing the idea of mortality and age. His father riding ahead of him into unknown territory perhaps represents the inevitable void of death that Ed Tom will ultimately concede to, expressing that he will eventually follow his father into this unknown territory. Ed Tom’s resignation about his impending death serves to juxtapose Anton’s nihilistic ideology towards the supposed meaninglessness of human existence.

Sheriff Ed Tom Bell recalls his dreams to his wife