The End is a 1978 Black Comedy film directed by Burt Reynolds, who also stars as Wendell "Sonny" Lawson, a man who learns he's got a terminal blood disease, and decides he'd rather kill himself than die a slow death. He decides to settle his affairs by reconnecting with his ex-wife Mary (Sally Field) and his daughter Julie (Kristy McNichol), among others. Along the way, he meets up with mental patient Marlon (Dom De Luise), who is more than happy to help Sonny kill himself.
Also in the cast are Robby Benson, Norman Fell, Myrna Loy, Strother Martin, Pat O’Brien, Carl Reiner, David Steinberg, and Joanne Woodward among others. Jerry Belson wrote the screenplay, with Paul Williams composing the music score.
Though savaged by critics upon its release, the film was commercially successful, grossing over $40 million in the U.S. and Canada.
This film has the examples of:
- Anything but That!: Sonny's reaction to seeing Marlon shooting at him after he'd just decided he wants to live.
- Ax-Crazy: Marlon becomes increasingly unhinged as Bungled Suicides pile up.Marlon: (brandishing a knife) SURPRISE!
- Bungled Suicide: It would be a very short film if Sonny was able to immediately off himself.
- Death Seeker: The entire plot of the movie deals with Sonny having a terminal illness and deciding to go out on his terms. It doesn't help that his personal life is a wreck.
- Forced Euthanasia: The film revolves around a man with a terminal disease (played by Burt Reynolds) asking a mental patient (played by Dom De Luise) to kill him so he can end life on his own terms. Hilarity Ensues when he decides to at least try to correct his life beforehand, which leads to him deciding not to commit suicide, which leads to the mental patient thinking it's a "No Matter How Much I Beg" type of situation and keeps on trying to kill him.
- Hypocritical Humor: Marlon relates how his Polish father mocked him with Polish jokes, then:Marlon: He was a big, loud, hairy, sweaty... POLACK!... He was covered with sweat, always. The only man I know who could sweat... while he was swimming! And I could never have friends over because... he'd challenge them to a nose-picking contest... and he always won!
- I Cannot Self-Terminate: As much as Sonny wants to kill himself, he just can't do it, so he asks Ax-Crazy Marlon to help him do it.
- Mood Whiplash: The biggest criticism of the film was the attempt to combine comedy with suicide often clashed in tone.
- Morality Chain: Sonny is convinced to live when he imagines his daughter screaming, "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" for killing himself.
- Suicide by Sea: The final suicide attempt
has Sonny drowning, which is by far the most successful. However, he makes a Bargain with Heaven and doesn't die. - Unwanted Assistance: Sonny decides in the end he'd rather live his final days rather than kill himself. Marlon, on the other hand, still wants to help him kill himself.
- When You Coming Home, Dad?: Sonny regrets not being there more for his daughter Julie.
- Worth Living For: While drowning, Sonny realizes he doesn't really want to die, and wants to reconnect further with his family.
- Your Days Are Numbered: Wendell's blood disease will kill him in roughly six months.
