The Descent ending explained

What happens

Sarah leaves Juno to the crawlers, escapes the cave and drives away, only to be haunted by a vision of Jessica's birthday. In the original ending, the escape was imagined: she is still trapped underground.

The last image

Sarah sits in the dark of the cave, the vision of her daughter's birthday still before her, with no way out.

Two readings

1 · Sarah never escapedThe escape is a dying dream, and she is still alone in the cave.

2 · Escape, but not freedomShe got out, but her grief and guilt have followed her.

What it says

Sarah's descent is a descent into grief. The bleak ending lets the cave stand for darkness she can't leave. The US cut softened this, but the original is usually preferred.