The Machinist ending explained

What happens

Trevor realises he killed a child in a hit-and-run a year ago and buried the memory. Ivan and the plot against him were his own inventions, a way to dodge his guilt. He confesses to the police and is jailed.

The last image

In his cell, Trevor closes his eyes and sleeps, after a year without rest.

What it says

The film argues that guilt, once buried, will wreck you from within, and only telling the truth brings relief. That is why it ends on sleep rather than punishment: his sentence begins, but his torment finally stops.