‘The Voyeurs’ (2021) Movie Ending Explained

Pippa (Sydney Sweeney) and Thomas (Justice Smith), a young couple in a seemingly healthy relationship, move into a new apartment with large windows overlooking the city. It doesn't take long for them to notice that their glamorous neighbours, Seb (Ben Hardy), a photographer, and Julia (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), an actress, live a much more open and intriguing life. Seb and Julia’s apartment has no curtains, offering Pippa and Thomas an unfiltered view of their intimate moments.

Fascinated, Pippa and Thomas start watching their neighbours regularly, becoming increasingly invested in their personal lives. Their casual interest soon morphs into an unhealthy obsession, and they go as far as listening to their private conversations through a hacked laser device. Over time, Pippa learns that Seb is cheating on Julia, which starts to disturb the balance in her own relationship with Thomas. As they dig deeper, events spiral out of control, with tragic consequences.

Initially, Pippa and Thomas’s interest in Seb and Julia starts off as mere curiosity. The appeal of watching their glamorous neighbours’ lives from a distance provides a sense of excitement that contrasts their relatively routine existence. As they spy on Seb’s photography sessions and romantic gestures toward Julia, they become engrossed, feeling as if they are part of the couple’s drama.

Things take a dark turn when they witness Seb cheating on Julia with models from his photography sessions. This revelation plants a seed of discontent in Pippa, who begins to question the integrity of relationships, including her own with Thomas. As she becomes more consumed by her neighbours’ lives, Pippa’s relationship with Thomas suffers. Their once playful voyeurism becomes an addiction, driving a wedge between them.

The movie takes a shocking turn when Pippa sleeps with Seb. This act is not driven by love or affection but by a mixture of revenge and guilt. Pippa, after witnessing Julia's struggles and heartbreak over Seb’s infidelity, feels an overwhelming sense of guilt for having intruded on their lives. Pippa’s decision to sleep with Seb is her attempt to destroy his relationship with Julia further, though she masks it with a mix of emotional confusion and moral justification.

Her seduction of Seb is an impulsive move, driven by a combination of anger, curiosity, and self-doubt. She is conflicted, feeling responsible for Julia’s eventual suicide but also resenting Seb for his infidelity. In a way, Pippa uses the encounter to punish Seb for his betrayal of Julia, though the consequences of this act prove to be far more catastrophic than she anticipates.

Thomas’s death is one of the most shocking moments in the film. His demise stems directly from the tension and emotional strain caused by Pippa and his voyeuristic activities. Once Pippa becomes overly involved with Seb and Julia, it becomes clear that their relationship is crumbling. Thomas, feeling betrayed by Pippa's growing obsession with their neighbours and eventually discovering her infidelity with Seb, becomes overwhelmed with jealousy and despair.

The emotional weight of these revelations proves too much for Thomas, leading him to take his own life in a tragic moment of hopelessness. His suicide is a culmination of the couple’s descent into obsession and the breakdown of trust and communication in their relationship. His death underscores the destructive power of unchecked curiosity and serves as a grim reminder of the personal cost of their voyeurism.

One of the most jaw-dropping revelations in The Voyeurs comes toward the end when it is revealed that Seb and Julia were never victims at all. In fact, they had orchestrated the entire scenario from the beginning. Julia did not commit suicide; her death was staged as part of an elaborate plan to manipulate Pippa and Thomas. The goal was to entangle the young couple in their web of deceit, leading to Thomas’s tragic death and Pippa’s emotional breakdown.

Seb and Julia, both seasoned manipulators, used their exhibitionist lifestyle to lure Pippa and Thomas into a false sense of voyeuristic security. Their open displays of intimacy and turmoil were part of a meticulously planned performance designed to push the couple to their limits. In the end, it is revealed that they have done this before, using their attractiveness and charm to exploit others’ weaknesses for their own amusement.

The film concludes with Pippa seeking revenge on Seb after discovering the truth about their manipulative scheme. In a daring act of defiance, Pippa breaks into Seb's photography studio and destroys his prized work, hitting him where it hurts the most: his career and reputation. By exposing his manipulation through his art, Pippa turns the tables on Seb, ensuring that his professional life is as ruined as her personal life became.

The ending leaves Pippa in a state of reflection. She has survived the ordeal, but at a tremendous cost. Her relationship with Thomas is destroyed, and she is left grappling with the guilt and trauma of her actions. In the end, The Voyeurs closes on a sombre note, with Pippa walking away from the wreckage of her life, changed forever by the choices she made.

The ending of The Voyeurs speaks to the dangers of voyeurism and the moral consequences of becoming too involved in others’ lives. Pippa and Thomas’s downfall is a direct result of their inability to look away from the spectacle unfolding in front of them. The film’s final message is clear: when you invade someone’s privacy, you not only jeopardize their life but also your own.

Pippa’s final actions show a degree of self-awareness and empowerment, as she chooses to fight back against Seb’s manipulations. However, it also highlights the irreversible damage caused by her choices. By the time she exacts her revenge, it is too late to save her relationship with Thomas or reclaim her innocence.

The film’s ending left many viewers stunned and divided. Some praised the film for its unexpected twist and exploration of voyeurism’s darker side, while others felt that the plot's escalation into psychological manipulation was too extreme. Critics admired the film’s sleek visual style and bold narrative choices, though some viewers found the ending unsettling and morally ambiguous.

The reveal of Seb and Julia’s master plan was particularly controversial. While some audiences appreciated the unexpected twist, others were left feeling disturbed by the depths of manipulation portrayed in the film. The film sparked conversations about privacy, trust, and the ethical boundaries of watching others, with many viewers questioning how far they might go if put in a similar situation.

The Voyeurs is a film that delves into the human fascination with other people’s lives, examining how easily that fascination can morph into obsession. Pippa and Thomas are relatable characters whose initial curiosity turns into something far more dangerous, and the consequences of their voyeurism are tragic and irreversible.

The film’s exploration of manipulation, guilt, and revenge raises important questions about the ethics of watching and the consequences of crossing boundaries. By the end, Pippa is left to grapple with the emotional wreckage of her choices, while viewers are left to reflect on the dangers of allowing curiosity to overpower morality.