Alternative Character Interpretation: Freddie resting by the sandwoman in the final scene. On one hand, it could mean that Freddie is ready to have a normal relationship and has truly changed for the better over the course of the film, as he interacts with it in a comforting way rather than a sexual way than before. On the other hand, it could mean that he hasn't changed at all and he knows that, which changes it into a tragic ending.
Not being nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Director or Picture.
Its score by Johnny Greenwood was seen as something in contention for recognition, but was likewise overlooked.
Critical Dissonance: While the film has been acclaimed by critics (scoring an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86% on Metacritic), it has received an extremely polarized reaction from audiences (as evidenced by the 60% and 7.1 scores on their respective sites).
Unguided Message, a behind-the-scenes short, shows that during one take of the Uncomfortable Elevator Moment, one of the cast members farted, much to the consternation of the crew.
One scene shows Dodd and Freddie unearthing a revolver while digging up The Split Saber manuscript. Dodd inspects the weapon and winds up pointing it at himself, causing Freddie to quickly swing it away. Later on, in another deleted scene, Freddie plays with the gun, including some quick-draw techniques and a silly firing-while-falling-in-slow-motion straight out of a Western.
Genius Bonus: Posters promoting The Cause show a scimitar with a split tip that resembles the Zulfiqar, a sword supposedly given to Ali by his father-in-law; this indicates Dodd isn't above borrowing imagery from other faiths.
Ho Yay: Many critics have commented on the homoerotic subtext of the film and some have even argued that the film is actually a forbidden love story between Lancaster Dodd and Freddie Quell.
Jerkass Woobie: Freddie. The guy is severely mentally ill and the people he falls in with are manipulating him and making him worse with their "treatment." It's easy to pity him, but he's also just so repulsive and far-gone that even modern psychiatry would probably have trouble finding a solution to his dysfunction.
Tear Jerker: When Freddie first talks about Doris and much later, when Freddie not only discovers that Doris married another man and is living happily with him, but also gets evicted from the Cause because of Dodd's inability to permanently reform him.
Too Bleak, Stopped Caring: To be expected when you have a movie whose protagonists consist of a near-animalistic alcoholic pervert and a charismatic yet megalomaniac deluded cult leader, with the latter's cruel Lady Macbeth-esque wife thrown into the mix.
, a sword supposedly given to Ali by his father-in-law; this indicates Dodd isn't above borrowing imagery from other faiths.