Gimme Shelter ending explained

What happens

At Altamont, Meredith Hunter is stabbed by a Hells Angel just in front of the stage while the Stones play. Back in the editing room, Jagger watches the killing in slow motion, again and again, then stands and leaves without a word.

The last image

Jagger rises from the editing machine and walks out of the room in silence, leaving the frozen footage behind.

What it says

The ending turns the film into an act of looking. Jagger's silence says no performer or filmmaker controls what a crowd becomes. The footage stops being entertainment and becomes evidence, and you are left watching someone watch.