Unhinged (2020) Ending Explained: How Rachel Overcomes a Harrowing Road Rage Encounter

Designed by Derrick Borte, *Unhinged* is a gripping American action thriller featuring star performances from Russell Crowe, Caren Pistorius, and Gabriel Bateman. The screenplay, crafted by Carl Ellsworth, unfolds in a tight 90 minutes, captivating audiences with its intense narrative from the opening scene onward.

The plot centers around Rachel, a single mother who finds herself embroiled in a conflict with an unpredictable man during her drive. This individual reveals a deeply disturbed mental state, pledging to teach her a harsh lesson, while threatening the lives of her loved ones.

Throughout *Unhinged*, Tom Cooper becomes the embodiment of terror, relentlessly chasing after Rachel’s vehicle. In his path of chaos, he steals her phone, and commits heinous acts, including the murders of her friend and divorce lawyer, Andy, as well as the girlfriend of her brother. His pursuit nearly results in the death of her son, Kyle, until Rachel musters the courage to fight back, stabbing him in the eye with scissors and halting the madness.

Rachel’s Honking Provokes the Wrath of a Delusional Stranger

Caren Pistorius portrays Rachel Flynn, a single mom grappling with the challenges of recent divorce while aiming to get her son to school amid New Orleans’ frustrating traffic. With the commute stretching painfully, an hour to cover just eight miles, Rachel becomes agitated when the vehicle ahead fails to move after the signal turns green. She gives a couple of honks and decides to overtake him.

Unbeknownst to Rachel, the driver she’s just angered is Tom, a man who had engaged in violent acts the previous night, potentially murdering his wife and her new partner. He begins to pursue her, attempting to lecture Rachel on the perils of road rage and demanding an apology for her honking.

Rachel, standing her ground, declines to apologize, further inflaming Tom’s volatile demeanor as he ominously warns her that she will soon understand what a truly terrible day looks like.

Rachel Rallies to Protect Kyle from Tom’s Rampage

After her troubling encounter with Tom, Rachel drops Kyle off at school and makes a stop at a gas station before heading to meet her friend and attorney, Andy, played by Jimmi Simpson. To her dismay, she realizes Tom has parked his vehicle directly behind hers. A passing good Samaritan tries to help her by confronting Tom, only to become tragically run over.

Witnessing Tom’s violent behavior firsthand, Rachel desperately tries to call the police, but with her phone gone, she finds an alternate device that Tom had left in her vehicle as a sinister means of manipulation. Meanwhile, Tom goes on to murder Andy in cold blood while Rachel listens in horror from her own phone.

Following this, Rachel is faced with an agonizing choice: which recent contact does she want Tom to kill? Opting for a former client who just terminated her services, she is horrified when Tom deceives her and targets her brother’s home instead.

The ensuing chaos sees Rachel and Kyle fleeing from Tom, who has abandoned his car to hijack a minivan from a neighbor. In a desperate bid for help, they try to flag down a police officer but inadvertently trigger a massive traffic accident during Tom’s reckless pursuit.

Seeking refuge, Rachel hides Kyle in their grandmother’s vacant house; however, Tom eventually tracks them down. A harrowing climax ensues as Rachel is brutally attacked, forced to witness Tom as he attempts to strangle her son. In a moment of sheer determination, she stabs him in the eye with scissors, finally fighting back against her tormentor.

Rachel’s Brother Emerges as a Survivor from the Flames

Following Tom’s defeat, Rachel and Kyle are left grappling with the aftermath of their traumatic ordeal. A police officer informs Rachel that her brother Fred, who was set ablaze during Tom’s rampage, has miraculously survived and is receiving treatment at a hospital.

Earlier in the story, Tom had intruded into Rachel’s home while Fred and his fiancée Mary were visiting. After learning of Andy’s murder on the news, Fred bravely confronts Tom but is met with tragedy when Tom forces Mary onto a knife he wields. The confrontation escalates dramatically as Tom tries to burn Fred alive, but thanks to a police intervention, he is saved just in time.

The conclusion of *Unhinged* finds Rachel faced with yet another aggressive driver, but this time she chooses to remain calm and do nothing while the man hurls insults her way. Kyle acknowledges her wise decision, assuring her that her restraint was commendable.

For those interested, *Unhinged* is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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